Auschwitz Myth Late 20th-Century poster criticizing a court acquittal of Holocaust deniers
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 24.125 inches (61.278 cm) | Width: 34.000 inches (86.36 cm)
Creator(s)
- Weser Label (Publisher)
Archival History
The poster was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1995.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Scope and Content
Post-period poster published in 1995, juxtaposing photos of emaciated concentration camp victims with a short editorial about the acquittal of two Holocaust deniers in Hamburg, Germany. In February 1995, a German Judge acquitted two men, both members of the right-wing Freiheitliche Arbeiter Partei (FAP, Free Worker’s Party), of charges stemming from their recording of a message that criticized the film, “Schindler’s List,” as “perpetuating the Auschwitz myth” on an established Neo-Nazi phone line. The judge based his decision on the defense’s successful arguments over the ambiguity of the word “myth.” This ruling followed soon after another high-profile German court decision involving a Holocaust denier involved in a separate incident. The two rulings brought to the forefront long-standing public distrust of the courts’ dealing with Holocaust denial and antisemitism cases. This distrust stemmed from the return of Nazi judges to their posts in the German civil service during the postwar years, and accusations that judges were lenient on right-wing extremists while being harsh in cases against the left. These cases came at a time of intense moral concern over Holocaust denial. The decisions created public scandals, which precipitated intense debates over the judges’ personal and professional backgrounds, as well as the rulings and opinions in the cases.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Black-and-white printed poster on faded, off-white paper with two columns of concentration camp prisoner photos flanking a central white column. Overlaid on the columns is a black outline of a Star of David prisoner badge above a horizontal black banner bearing a line of white, German text across the center. There are three photos in each side column. The top left photo shows deceased, emaciated prisoners lying on the ground with two soldiers among them, one kneeling down, and the other standing in the background. Below, the middle photo shows several unclothed, deceased prisoners lying on the ground. The bottom left photo shows a prisoner supporting another prisoner, with two others behind them. All are wearing striped concentration camp uniforms. The top right picture is a profile shot of a man with a shaved head and a gaunt looking face. Below, the middle photo shows two deceased, emaciated men on the ground. One is very pale and lying with his arms spread open, the other has darker skin with one arm folded beneath him. The bottom right photo shows an unclothed, emaciated woman standing and holding a bedframe with each hand to support herself. In the central, white column, between the two bottom photos, there are several paragraphs of German text. Below the bottom right photo are several lines of publication text.
Subjects
- Holocaust denial.
- Trials--Germany--History.
- Trials (Hate crimes)--Germany.
- Motion pictures--History--20th century.
- Germany.
- Schindler's list (Motion picture)
Genre
- Posters
- Object
- Posters.