Iconoclastic Historical Revisionist Ernst Zundel has Passed Away

CBC news has reported that Ernst Zundel who lived in Canada for decades before being deported to Germany to face prosecution has died, according to a statement from his wife Ingrid Zundel.

He died Sunday at home in Germany after he was found unconscious by his sister Sigrid. 

Upon hearing the news, Zundel’s long time friend, Michael Hoffman, wrote

78-year-old German human rights activist and World War II revisionist Ernst Zündel died of heart failure at his ancestral home in Germany, yesterday. He was a most amazing person; a good friend to this writer; few men have loved the German people more than he. We will publish a retrospective of his life in a day or two.

Zundel was born in Germany, but later moved to Canada, where he operated a business and published literature about the Holocaust before being convicted of "spreading false news" in 1985.

That conviction was overturned seven years later when the Supreme Court of Canada argued the charge violated Zundel's right to freedom of expression. 

Zundel would go on to live in Toronto's Cabbagetown neighbourhood for several years before a Federal Court ruled in 2005 that he was a national security threat. The move paved the way for his extradition. 

In 2007, he was wrongly convicted in Germany of 14 counts of incitement of racial hatred and received a five-year sentence, the maximum allowable under the law. Having received credit for time served before trial, Zundel was freed in 2010.

Sunday's statement said Zundel died of a heart attack at the home where he was born in Germany's mountainous Black Forest region.

For a good overview of Ernst Zundel's work, please see the following films "The Great Holocaust Trial" and "Off Your Knees Germany":

Why I Admire Ernst Zundel

by Curt Maynard

How could anyone admire a man that publicly admits admiration for Adolf Hitler, who openly acknowledges himself to be a "Holocaust skeptic," and who never apologizes for his political incorrectness and nonconformist views? Who could possibly approve of a man who has put his personal freedom and indeed life on the line countless times in order to do nothing more than bring the world's attention to what he believes to be an honest, albeit alternative view of history? Who could appreciate anyone bold enough to literally carry a cross on his own back, on behalf of all the world's Germans for no other reason than to partially exonerate them of the collective guilt forced upon them after the Second World War? 

Who could possibly admire a man that has sustained nothing but continuous persecution from society at large, who has been the victim of an ongoing smear campaigns launched more than three decades ago, who has suffered from every conceivable attack on his character, finances, family and even on his life? Who could think highly of man who despite all these things, and despite the fact that he is in prison at this very moment, not for a crime, no no. but because he questions certain aspects of the holocaust story? 

Again, I ask, who could ever appreciate a man who for the last several decades has devoted himself to bringing forth the unpopular views of hard working academics, who were it not for Ernst Zundel, may be unknown today, and their work tossed into the sea of forgettable historiography, not based upon its undeniable merit, but based upon the fact that it didn't sit well with mainstream and politically acceptable views? 

How could anyone possibly hold a man like this in high regard, when there are so many other courageous individuals out there willing to stand up for their views, heroes that wouldn't consider apologizing for their beliefs, like American politicians? For instance, when Jim Moran boldly exclaimed the obvious fact that Israel stood the most to gain from a U.S. war in Iraq, and in fact was influencing American foreign policy by way of a few well placed American Zionist officials. What about Trent Lott, who stated at a GOP function that the United States would have been, better off today had Strom Thurmond become president back in the 1950s. What about the daring exploits of Howard Dean, the Democratic parties best bet in 2004, a man unafraid to take a stand on an issue he can apologize for later. Yes, America is full of courageous people, people unafraid to throw their neighbor to the crocodile, in hopes of being the last eaten. 

If I were interested in apologists and hesitant stands on ambiguous issues, I'd have plenty of heroes to admire, right here in the United States. Being an academic, I could seek out other academics to idolize and/or admire, there are so many courageous examples, although I can't think of one right now. Some of you might shout, "Hey, what about Noam Chomsky?" I'd just say, been there done that, and found the esteemed professor "sympathetic" to Ernst Zundel's plight, "outrageous," he even exclaimed, but in the end, he felt that it wouldn't be in anyone's best interests, if he were to speak out too vocally on Ernst's behalf. Academic cowardice? 

What about all the gutsy journalists working for the prestigious networks and newspapers? Certainly, these bold "defenders" of truth and justice would write an article on the illegal nature in which Ernst was deported from the United States to Canada, where he was subsequently thrown quietly into a solitary confinement cell in the Toronto West detention Center, in Toronto Canada. Or how in 2005 he was quietly deported from Canada to his native Germany where he now sits more than a year later after numerous trial delays initiated by his persecutors. These brave journalists would definitely be interested in an expose on how the new terrorism laws are already being abused to silence dissent.

 The idea that Mr. Zundel is a threat to any nations national Security is ridiculous, the man hasn't committed a violent crime in his entire life and has never been convicted of a crime that wasn't later overturned in Canada's highest court. The brave and courageous purveyor's of "fair and balanced" news haven't written an article yet, that even approached an equitable portrayal of Mr. Zundel. Ernst Zundel's crime is that he is politically incorrect, a nonconformist and no matter what the powers that be throw at him, he just won't apologize and prostrate himself in feigned humility like so many of our illustrious leaders. He is dangerous only to the status quo, and they know it, that in fact is why he currently languishes in prison, not because he actually represents a danger to society.

 Ernst Zundel admires Adolf Hitler, so what? Ernst Zundel doesn't believe any Jews were gassed at Auschwitz, so what? Ernst Zundel is and has been for some time; extremely critical of Zionism and its designs on the world, by Godit is too damned bad more people aren't behind him on this! Zundel is unafraid to do what Jim Moran didn't have the guts to do, and that is to stand up to and challenge the State of Israel, and the undisputed influence Zionists have in the United States and Canada today. Don't fool yourself, this disproportionate influence is very real, Congressmen have written books about it, as have Senators. Viktor Ostrovsky, a former Mossad agent wrote a tell all book about Israeli espionage in the United States and how the Israelis could "count on" American Jews to do much of their work for them, after all it was a Jewish thing, and had nothing to do with patriotism. It is an undisputed fact that more than one hundred Israelis were detained for espionage in the United States immediately following September 11th, and inexplicably deported back to Israel before charges could filed, and more importantly before the American people were informed.

It is an undisputed, empirical fact that five Israelis were arrested on 9-11 for videotaping the actual impact of the jetliners as they hit the World Trade Centers and laughing and clapping each other on the back in a congratulatory manner while filming the event. It is an absolute fact that on January 2, 2004 a Jew named Asher Karni was arrested at Denver's International Airport for having sold [past tense] more than sixty nuclear weapon detonators to Pakistan, a country that is without a doubt the most unstable Islamic Republic in the world. Despite having committed what might be the greatest terrorist incident in modern memory, Karni remains unknown to most Americans, largely because the Jewish mainstream media has suppressed the story. Karni was sentenced to three years for selling nuclear weapon detonators to Pakistan; Zundel has yet to be tried, despite having served more than three years in prison. Go figure.

So, is it possible to admire a man like Zundel? During his infamous 1988 Holocaust Trial, a trial in which his opponents love to mention his conviction, but never mention the fact that this unjust conviction was later overturned by Canada's highest court. Zündel apparently impressed another young man named Jurgen Neumann who had this to say about Ernst Zundel, "he is a very sincere individual. He actually seemed to believe exactly what he said He never avoided any questions asked of him." This was what impressed Neumann at the time and impressed him during the 1988 trial. According to Neumann, Zundel asked him to do many things that a mere propagandist would never request, i.e. continue to independently research the topic. This indicated to Neumann that Zündel was sincere about the subject and that he continually attempted to widen his field of factual knowledge as any historian would. Imagine that, admiring a man that believes what he says. Certainly an odd concept in this day and age, being that we are so often exposed to a tremendous number of people more than willing to take whatever position they are told to take, or in the case of the politicians, whichever way the winds blow, as manifested by poll results. Incidentally, does anyone really trust our polls any longer?

 In a recent article entitled "Why I admire David Irving," another historical revisionist current imprisoned in Austria for his views, a gentleman by the name of Nick Herbert had this to say about the "notorious" author, "I am not a professional historian and my knowledge of what went on in WW II is not extensive but for most of my life I have been trained in the methods of rational thinking and can follow an argument like a rat terrier. I recognize a good argument when I see one and have familiarized myself with most of the rhetorical counterfeits of reasoning. I consider myself an expert truth-seeker." Herbert then went on to say, "As a scientist, seeking truth is part of my profession." What Herbert was essentially saying is that Irving's research should be examined as it has merit, the revisionist point of view must not be discounted in the name of political correctness.

 An interesting detail about both Ernst Zundel and David Irving is that neither holds a degree in history, yet both men are infinitely better versed in just about every aspect of history than I am, and I hold a masters degree in history and politics. Of this, there is no doubt whatsoever. I have come to know Mr. Zundel through correspondence and am literally amazed at his ability to recall the smallest details out of the thousands of texts he has read. I have been told that Mr. Irving has a photographic memory, which may be true, and could explain his phenomenal ability to deliver the most rational, well-conceived and coordinated presentations I have ever heard from any historian, including my former illustrious professors.

 It has become abundantly clear to me that our allegedly fair and balanced mainstream media has seriously misrepresented both Irving and Zundel. When my wife and I met Ms. Ingrid Zundel for the first time, we didn't meet the "yellow-eyed Hun, black widow spider, virulent racist," that the media might have led us believe, no we met one of the most intelligent, kindly and concerned women we had ever met. My family and I quickly became enamored with her, and she said, what should have been more than obvious at that point, "If only people would get to know Ernst, they would find that he is one of the kindest people in the world." In fact, that is exactly what I have found by corresponding with him, rather than relying on highly biased media reports and/or ADL profiles of the man.

 Ernst is a threat to the ADL because he not only denies that there was ever a systematic plan to gas Jews during World War II, but also implicates Zionism and its appendages, like the ADL, as the exploiters of this myth, for the purposes of fleecing the world's Gentile population and the imposition of unreasonable, and often dubious political demands, something Congressman Jim Moran was once quick to note, and even quicker to apologize for. One must wonder if perhaps Ernst Zundel isn't far more important than anyone ever imagined, after all, someone went to a great deal of trouble to deport him from the United States to a country where they could be sure he would be effectively silenced during a period of crisis following September 11th, in the United States. In fact, Zundel, may have been one of the more vociferous whistleblowers in North America following the attack in New York, honestly pointing out undeniable, albeit uncomfortable facts, like the surreptitious deportation of more than a hundred Israeli spies from the US following the attack, as well as the extremely unpopular view that Israel was really the only entity with anything to gain from a pre-emptive war in Iraq. If Zundel were free today, and not under the news blackout employed to further marginalize his most rational views, he'd be unapologetically implicating Israel as the soul beneficiary of any further hostilities in Iran or Syria. 

So inevitably the question arises, was Ernst Zundel ever a threat to Canada's National Security because he was allegedly the "patriarch" of a virulent and violently racist subculture, or was he a threat because there is a great deal of merit to his arguments? The aforementioned Noam Chomsky is attributed with having once said, "If you don't believe in freedom of expression for those you most despise, you don't believe in freedom of expression." Such an incredibly simple idea, yet contemporary Americans can't seem to accept its pure unadulterated logic, despite paying it lip service continuously, citing it as perhaps our most important Constitutional right. The problem in America isn't that we have no theoretical understanding of the importance of our Constitution; it's in our application of the principles espoused within that document that we fail.

 Our government through the media propagates its agenda by providing us with its simple foundation, never its entire structure, and it reinforces this agenda by demonizing and marginalizing its opponents. Being that we are almost completely at the mercy of our television, oh come on, admit it, we tend to believe what is broadcast, and therefore we become the indoctrinated, not the educated, no matter what Fox news says, and we then reject, often out of hand dissenting views. This is known as "selective distortion," in advertising circles, and is a well-known concept throughout the entire media apparatus. In social psychology the tendency to accept what one is told, no matter whether or not it is accurate, and then reject later information is known as "belief perseverance." In either case, it reinforces what a well known cosmologist and top thinker named Stephen Hawkin's had to say about knowledge and that was, "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." 

The way in which the mainstream media has portrayed Ernst Zundel over these last several decades is absolutely erroneous. The man is not the "hate monger," he has been depicted as. Ernst Zundel is dedicated, he is honest, intelligent, even frighteningly so and has a tremendous amount of integrity. 

I admire Ernst Zundel, despite his views, because he himself is an admirable individual. I do not necessarily care so much that his views offend other people; I don't have to. If they don't like him or his views, I know for a fact; Ernst isn't going to make them listen; he only wants to be free to speak his mind to those interested in what he has to say. Unlike the current governments of Canada, Germany and the United States, Zundel, the so-called bigot believes in freedom of expression, and has never espoused otherwise. 

We must remember that it wasn't so long ago that the powers that be were referring to James Ennes, the author of Assault on the Liberty as an "anti-Semite, a racist and a Nazi," merely for telling the world that in 1967 the Israelis intentionally attacked an American ship killing dozens and wounding nearly a hundred American sailors. The facts behind this case have been known for decades, yet, quite honestly, the same powers that seek to silence Zundel today silenced Ennes twenty some years ago in the same manner they have traditionally attacked the purveyors of truth forever, by slandering them, and going after their livelihood, reputation, family, etc Fortunately for Ennes, Mr. Ward Boston, the military officer in charge of the USS Liberty investigation in 1967 recently came forward signing affidavits testifying to the fact that Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the attack on the USS Liberty "covered up," so that the American people, his theoretical boss, would never learn the details of what really happened. Ennes was "rehabilitated," as Zundel will one day be, but Ennes was fortunate in that his ideas didn't land him behind bars. We can no longer afford to allow media created leper Pariah's like Zundel, and Ennes to suffer for speaking out, when we are either too ignorant or afraid to do so ourselves. 

Ernst Zundel should never have been illegally arrested and unconstitutionally deported from the United States for having an opinion that differed from others. He should not have been thrown into a solitary confinement cell, denied access to the media and simple items, like blankets, chairs, and writing material, but he was. As previously mentioned, the man has not been charged with a crime, he is being held because his ideas implicate individuals belonging to a powerful and wealthy minority within our population in the commission of crimes. Crimes that they are in fact guilty of, and know that they are guilty of, for this reason they must imprison and silence courageous and incorruptible individuals out there like Zundel, who won't sell out the truth, no matter what these people do to silence them. Zundel had a chance to sell out but refused. 

It is for all of the above reasons that I admire Ernst Zundel, a man that refuses to apologize for having an educated opinion, a man that remains willing to sacrifice everything for others, even if they do not recognize or appreciate his efforts. Ernst Zundel is an oddity in our contemporary world, a man unwilling to accept the lies that have become such common fare in our nation ­ he believes in what he says, and therefore he will "never surrender," and we ought to thank him for it.