What is Holocaust denial?

The false claim that the Holocaust was exaggerated or did not happen is rooted in Holocaust denial, a form of historical inaccuracy and revisionism that seeks to distort the facts of the Holocaust, minimize its severity, or deny its occurrence altogether. Holocaust denial is widely regarded as a form of antisemitism because it seeks to undermine the truth of Jewish suffering, deny the reality of Nazi crimes, and erase the memory of the six million Jews murdered during World War II. Holocaust denial has been universally condemned by historians, scholars, and governments alike.

Those who deny or distort the Holocaust commonly argue that the number of Jewish victims has been inflated, or that gas chambers and the systematic extermination of Jews were fabrications. These arguments are not based on credible historical evidence, and are often deliberate attempts to ignore overwhelming documentation, and/or to promote an antisemitic agenda.

Holocaust denial is often linked to broader antisemitic conspiracy theories, such as the idea that Jews exaggerate their victimhood for political gain or to manipulate global opinion. These claims play into deeply ingrained antisemitic stereotypes that have fueled hatred and violence against Jews for centuries. By suggesting that the Holocaust was exaggerated or did not happen, deniers attempt to delegitimize Jewish historical suffering, discredit the Jewish people and Israel, and/or create space for ideologies like Nazism and white supremacy to resurface.