“Holocaust denial is based on negating the very existence of the Holocaust or greatly belittling its significance. It has taken on various forms: from significantly reducing the estimated number of victims, through casting doubt on the existence of gas chambers and extermination camps, to the claim that genocide in German Nazi camps never took place,” reads the introduction to the lesson.
"By greatly downplaying or outright repudiating the Holocaust, Holocaust denial de facto seeks to spread antisemitism, which indeed lies at its base, and legitimises neo-Nazi and neo-Fascist opinions in public debate," the lesson explains.
The lesson is divided into chapters that cover various aspects, including Holocaust denial strategies, ideological foundations, and a detailed analysis of specific myths and lies promoted by deniers.
"The lesson is grounded in years of historical research, documents, and testimonies of survivors to expose disinformation and reveal the mechanisms behind the questioning of historical facts. Importantly, the structure of the lesson has been designed to allow for the addition of future content if new forms of Holocaust denial emerge," said Agnieszka Juskowiak-Sawicka, Head of E-learning at ICEAH.
The development of the internet and thus easy access to a very wide variety of materials facilitates the spreading of such ideologies, which is why Holocaust denial can only be countered with constant historical education and the raising of public awareness regarding the significance of the Holocaust.
Deniers describe the work of scholars researching the Holocaust as a ‘exceptionally suggestive propaganda war’, and all works documenting the leading role of gas chambers in the mass extermination of Jews they describe as ‘sponsored publications commissioned most frequently by the foundations and financial organisations of the Jews themselves,’ or state institutions ‘subordinate to their interests’.
“Holocaust denial is nothing more than a conspiracy theory built on lies and hatred. Although it resembles flat-Earth claims in its approach to facts, it is, in reality, a dangerous and vile vehicle for antisemitism and hatred. Deniers ignore or manipulate facts solely to attack the memory of the victims,” said Paweł Sawicki, deputy spokesperson for the Museum, who is also responsible for the institution’s presence on social media.
"The Museum does not engage in dialogue with deniers. However, we know that many people are exposed to their content on social media platforms, especially on X. Therefore, it is crucial to educate people who encounter these harmful narratives. They need to understand the foundation of this manipulation," Sawicki added.
The lesson and podcast on Holocaust denial strategies are available in both Polish and English.
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