Höss' Testimony
One example of this might be the testimony of Rudolf Höss, an SS officer who served
as commandant of Auschwitz. In its Judgment, the Nuremberg International Military
Tribunal quoted at length from his testimony to support its findings of extermination.
(note 14)
It is now well established that Höss' crucial testimony, as well as his so-called
"confession" (which was also cited by the Nuremberg Tribunal), are not only false,
but were obtained by beating the former commandant nearly to death. (note 15) Höss'
wife and children were also threatened with death and deportation to Siberia. In his
statement -- which would not be admissible today in any United States court of law --
Höss claimed the existence of an extermination camp called "Wolzek." In fact, no
such camp ever existed. He further claimed that during the time that he was
commandant of Auschwitz, two and a half million people were exterminated there,
and that a further half million died of disease. (note 16) Today no reputable historian
upholds these figures. Höss was obviously willing to say anything, sign anything and
do anything to stop the torture, and to try to save himself and his family.
Forensic Investigations
In his 1988 book, Professor Mayer calls for "excavations at the killing sites and in
their immediate environs" to determine more about the gas chambers. In fact, such
forensic studies have been made. The first was conducted in 1988 by American
execution equipment consultant, Fred A. Leuchter, Jr. He carried out an on-site
forensic examination of the alleged gas chambers at Auschwitz, Birkenau and
Majdanek to determine if they could have been used to kill people as claimed. After a
careful study of the alleged killing facilities, Leuchter concluded that the sites were
not used, and could not have been used, as homicidal gas chambers. Furthermore, an
analysis of samples taken by Leuchter from the walls and floors of the alleged gas
chambers showed either no or minuscule traces of cyanide compound, from the active
ingredient of Zyklon B, the pesticide allegedly used to murder Jews at Auschwitz.
(note 17)
A confidential forensic examination (and subsequent report) commissioned by the
Auschwitz State Museum and conducted by Institute of Forensic Research in Krakow
has confirmed Leuchter's finding that minimal or no traces of cyanide compound can
be found in the sites alleged to have been gas chambers. (note 18)
The significance of this is evident when the results of the forensic examination of the
alleged homicidal gas chambers are compared with the results of the examination of
the Auschwitz disinfestation facilities, where Zyklon B was used to delouse
mattresses and clothing. Whereas no or only trace amounts of cyanide were found in
the alleged homicidal gas chambers, massive traces of cyanide were found in the
walls and floor in the camp's disinfestation delousing chambers.