‘Denial’: 15 facts about the trial between a Holocaust denier and historian

An unlikely lawsuit

Lipstadt was sued for libel by writer David Irving when she accused him of being a Holocaust denier. 

The real David Irving

Author David Irving is now 78 years old. He lives in England and has been widely discredited as a historian.

Timothy Spall

David Irving is played by British actor Timothy Spall in the film. Spall is best known for the film Mr. Turner. 

A tough trial

In England, a person accused of libel bears the burden of proof. Lipstadt had to prove that the Holocaust did exist. 

Lipstadt’s book

The screenplay is adapted by David Hare from Lipstadt’s book, History on Trial: My Day in Court with a Holocaust Denier.

Weisz and Lipstadt

On Facebook, Lipstadt wrote, “Very grateful to have spent two days with Rachel Weisz discussing DENIAL, the movie.”

Concentration camps

Lipstadt and a friend on her tour of the former concentration camps in Birkenau, Auschwitz and Krakow. 

Rachel Weisz’s own family

Of Jewish descent, Weisz’ mother’s family fled the Nazis in Austria during World War II. 

Irving’s poem to his daughter

This poem was written by Irving in his own diary for his daughter. It was used as evidence in the trial against Lipstadt to prove that Irving was racist.

“I am a Baby Aryan, Not Jewish or Sectarian, I have no plans to marry an Ape or Rastafarian.”

Lipstadt’s victory

Lipstadt successfully proved that the Holocaust happened and won the case Irving filed against her. 

Memorial at Dachau

Irving was found liable to pay for the costs of the trial (nearly $2 million), but ended up declaring bankruptcy. 

Real ovens

This photo depicts the real ovens used to burn victims of the Holocaust at the Stutthof camp in Poland. 

Hitler’s legacy

According to Explaining Hitler by Ron Rosenbaum, Irving wants to remove the “slime” from Hitler’s legacy. 

Gas chamber at Auschwitz

“I say the following thing: there were no gas chambers in Auschwitz,” said Irving in a speech in 1990. 

‘Denial’ opens Sept. 30

Check out the movie trailer for Denial by clicking here.