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5.6 OPC observations 1991.

5.6.1. The importance of the revisionist campaign in 1991 is substantiated by the various VSBs, both on the federal and state levels. They noted that the revisionist campaign had become enmeshed in neo-Nazi strategies to widen their political influence, especially in eastern Germany and to initiate a new Neo-Nazi movement in Germany.

The so-called revisionists intensified their endeavour to spread their opinions that no crimes were committed, certainly not the Holocaust which is a propaganda lie put about by the victorious Allies of World War II. Neo-Nazis and the "national democrats" tried four times to arrange meetings with Holocaust deniers from Germany and abroad:

* the first attempt took place on the 23-3-91 in Munich...,

* on the 29-6-91 the NF leader, Schönborn tried to organise a meeting in Cham, amongst others with Faurisson...

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* the third. attempt was made by-the NPD leader Deckert; this meeting, planned for the 1.9.91 in Weinheim was banned. Karl Philipp and Udo Walendy, (both former NPD members) were to address the gathering.

* finally Deckert was successful on the 10.11.91 and Leuchter addressed more than 100 people.<405>

5.6.2. The VS Report added, `But again the most active speaker on German soil was David Irving, who spoke in Passau, Rothemburg ob der Tauber, Munich. Augsburg. Stuttgart, Hamburg, Pforzheim, Lentförden (county Seegeberg) and Halle an der Saale amongst others.'

5.7 1992: the `International Campaign for Real History' falters.

5.7.1. Irving was in Germany at least four times in 1992; from 13[?] - 23 March, 3-18 May, in June briefly on his way to Moscow, and 10 -15[?] September. Again diary entries are missing, namely the entries .for. February 24 to March 22, and 10 and 11 (partially) May.

5.7.2. In an unusual move, Irving took the initiative into his own hands in attempting to organise the year's tours. On 1 January, Irving sent a circular letter to his contacts in Germany offering his services -['...ich stelle mich gem zu Verfuegung] and advising them of his availability during the forthcoming year. The letter went out to Guenter Deckert, Christian Worch, Karl Hoeffkes, Klaus Ewald, Dr. Gerd Sudholt, Dr. Dreher [who passed it on to Dill<406>], Renate Werlberger, Carl-Arthur Buehring, Joachim Siegerist, Lars de Flon, Pedro Varela, Althans, Arwed Sader, Thies Christophersen, Michael Swierzeck, Dr. Michael Koll, and Andreas Jahrow.<407>

5.7.3. The March tour was organised by Worch and Michael Swierczek (who was meant to organise two meetings in South Germany), with help from Zündel.<408> On 13 March Irving had planned to arrive in Munich and wanted to pick up books from Althans's

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book store.<409> On 14 March Irving spoke to the DVU in passau.<410>

5.7.4. On 15 March Irving spoke in Hetendorf [Lüneburger Heide] near Hamburg on the destruction of Dresden, under the auspices of a "Dresden-Holocaust-Monument" project, thought up by Zündel and Worch.<411> Worch had written to Irving in January trying to interest him in the project. In the process he ruminated on the day-to-day problems in Germany

The year begins for me with stress: street fighting got out of hand at Michael Kühnen's funeral. only the day after renewed confrontation with the left in Wilhelmshaven (but there without brawls), yesterday the news that Gottfried Küssel had been arrested in Vienna...<412>

5.7.5. In trying to interest Irving for the project, Worch explained that one of his problems was that although he could easily gather a 'powerful' [`schlagkräftiges'] public and although he could protect halls, speakers, and public against `enemy attacks' [feindliche Angriffe'] his `powerful' public was not usually `affluent' [`zahlungskräftig']. This was the job of Harder for example. or the people around the NPD, DVU, Republicans, and the independent national-conservatives, entities that could attract older people who paid an entry fee.

5.7.6. Worch added that the project had an important role for NL. `It would be no problem with precisely such a project if the more radical wing, represented by me, unite with the more reserved moderate wing.' He suggested Irving speak in Hetendorf where there were some `middle-class national associations, that are partly scared' [`bürgerlich-nationalen Vereinen, die Leilweise angstlich sind.']. For instance an event with Fred Leuchter would be too dangerous for them.

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5.7.7. If Irving had any scruples about the politics of his role, he repressed them in appearing.<413>

5.7.8. On 16 March Irving spoke at the Bonn university, as arranged by the AVÖ's Stephan Wiesel.<414> This is an important speech because the contents of Irving's stock speeches would seem to have remained constant. In a report on the speech Dr. Michael Koll reported Irving as having said,

Main thesis: "In 18 months the horrific episode with the gas chambers finished." Irving referred to the fact that earlier predictions of his had come true.

"When this pack of lies (i.e. the "Holocaust" - M.K.) collapses, it will be very embarrassing for German politicians". The Germans payments for "gaschambers that did not exist" will be- stopped and "without this money the state of Israel will collapse".

The Jews according to Irving, have to free themselves from the Holocaust legend, "otherwise there will be a wave of anti-Semitism".

[...]

Comment:

Concepts like "final victory", "total victory", "total truth" fall hard on the ears. [...] Quote Irving: "When Auschwitz falls then the Jews have lost the battle".<415>

5.7.9. On 19 March Irving would appear to have tried to speak in Ausburg, at a meeting arranged by Michael Swierczek.<416> This might coincide with one of the meetings attributed to Irving in the VSB for 1992, which recorded Irving speaking to an NO

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meeting in Engen/Welschingenin near Konstantz in March 1992.<417> ' On 23 March Irving breakfasted with Zündel in Munich.<418>

5.7.10. In May Irving announced his intention to 'continue ...his "International Campaign for Real History" in the FRG with speeches in Berlin. Munich, and Stuttgart.<419> On 4 May Irving gave a press conference in Munich.<420> The room was booked for Irving by Althans.'<421> The hotel `Bayerischer Hof' cancelled the room on learning that Althans had booked it on Irving's behalf and the press conference had to take place elsewhere.<422> On 5 May Irving appeared before a Munich court, where he was fined DM 10,000 (see below).

5.7.11. During 1991 there had been new attempts to organize a bigger neo-Nazi camp, that would also include members of the Republicans, the NPD, and others. On the 31 October 1991 a new party was formed in Villingen-Schwennigen called the German League for People and Home [Die Deutsche Liga für Volk and Heimat - DLVH]. In Berlin the neo-Nazis around the DLVH organized a group to stand for elections, called `We Are The People' [`Wir Bind das Folk']. Early in 1992, they re-named themselves `the Nationals' together with a group of known neo-Nazis like Peter Boche, Dr. Bernd Witte, Frank Schwerdt and Andreas Storr (the latter from the JN) and together they intended to stand in the forthcoming Berlin elections.<423> Thilo Kabus explained the change of name to Irving.

To steer round the guile of the Berlin electoral law a change of our name to "the Nationals" was necessary. Independently of this the number of members and sympathisers has approximately tripled. So everything is getting better.<424>

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5.7.12: As part of their campaign to profile themselves in the forthcoming Berlin local elections a big rally was organized for the 9 May 1992, the day after the anniversary of the unconditional surrender of 1945. The venue was provocatively to be the former communist museum dedicated to the surrender in Berlin-Karlshort.<425> Irving was announced as the star speaker.<426> In planning the rally Irving had long been in contact with prominent members of the Nationals, such as Dr. Bernd Witte, Thilo Kabus, and Frank Schwerdt.<427>

5.7.13. Ultimately the .rally was cancelled. This would seem to have been for a number of reasons, not all of them to do with Irving.<428> As far as Irving was concerned, it was intended to ban his speech.<429> But Salomon had written to Irving informing him that because of developments the organisers were of the opinion that they did not want to involve Irving in the `incalculable risks' that had come up.<430>

5.7.14. After a total defeat in the local elections, the strategy of the Nationals was altered and a decision was made to expand through decentralization and to concentrate on recruitment of youngsters. In the following years, this group became one of the successful organizers of the neo-Nazi Comradeship and adhered to the concept of so-called `nationalbefreite Zonen', freed national zones, where foreigners were driven out.<431>

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5.7.15. The diary record for 10 and 11 May is mostly missing. A journalist for the Independent suggested that Irving spoke in Poland instead. and was then off to Auschwitz. `Yesterday, he was due to address 800 Germans in Oppeln, a small town in Poland. [...] After that [meeting in Oppeln] he planned to head for Auschwitz to "have another look at the place" and, no doubt, to strengthen his conviction that the gas chambers there are fakes erected after the war for the benefit of tourists and those "clever opponents" seeking financial retribution from the German state.'<432> To Althans Irving conveyed that he would be in Dresden.<433>

5.7.16. On 11 May Irving ate dinner with Stephan Niemann, functionary in the AVÖ.<434> From 12 to 14 Irving recorded with Althans his plea [`Schlupwort'] of his Munich trial `which we shall now market as a propaganda tool.'<435>

5.7.17. On 15 May Irving was in Echterdingen, outside where Stuttgart Irving's tour started to falter

Peter Moller broke to me here the news that the police have in writing banned tomorrow's function at Sindelfingen Holiday Inn. Sicne [Since] they cite "Auschwitz" as the motive, it is plain that the unauthorised National Offensive leaflet issued "from Munich" (I.e. by Althans!), which already muddled up the starting,time, starting 3 p.m. instead of 5 p.m., is to blame. The leaflet gave no topic. I am furious. [...] I remain stoical, however, and hope another location can be found. Saur (NO) states: "Herrenberg", and by fax (for security) he informed us the location, Cafe Neumann'<436>

5.7.18. A meeting with the NO in Sindelfingen, near Stuttgart, on 16 May suffered a similar fate.<437> The meeting had been organised with Hans Joachim Dill, Klaus Ewald, and Peter Willer.<438> Klaus Ewald had assured Irving that Dill could `make a storage hall

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