Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Austria Ousts British Historian Who Was to Speak in Vienna on Hess

Advertisement

The British historian David Irving was arrested in Vienna and ordered to leave the country after trying to deliver speeches about Rudolf Hess. A decision by the Interior Ministry declared Irving persona non grata in Austria.

Irving intended to speak about Hitler’s deputy, whose 90th birthday is being celebrated by the extreme right all over Europe. A so-called working committee for correct current history had invited Irving to Vienna. The chairman of this committee is a well known figure of the far right.

Irving has been popular among rightists for his thesis that the guilt for the outbreak of the Second World War War is to be shared between Nazi Germany and the Western democracies. Recently Irving served as a historic consultant for Stern magazing in the affair of the forged Hitler diaries, which he claimed to be authentic.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement