Issue #153 | September 2008
The 20th Anniversary
of
the Leuchter Report
An Interview with Fred A. Leuchter
By Richard A. Widmann
Arguably the most important of all Revisionist studies, “The Leuchter Report: An Engineering Report on the Alleged Execution Gas Chambers at Auschwitz, Birkenau and Majdanek, Poland” celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its publication this year. Although most revisionists are familiar with the background of this trailblazing work, a brief review is called for.
In 1988 Ernst Zündel found himself on trial for violating a “false news” law in Canada. Zundel’s “crime” was having published a work which questioned the orthodox version of the Holocaust story, Did Six Million Really Die? by Richard Harwood. Following the recommendation of Professor Robert Faurisson, the Zündel defense team sought out a gas chamber expert who could evaluate the alleged gas chambers in Poland and report on their efficacy for execution purposes.
Bill Armontrout, the Warden of the Missouri State Penitentiary named Fred Leuchter as the only consultant in the United States in the design, operation, and maintenance of gas chambers. From 1979 to 1988, Leuchter had worked with most of the states in the United
Fred Leuchter
States that carried out capital punishment. He specialized in the design and manufacture of execution equipment including electrocution systems, lethal injection equipment, gallows, and gas chamber hardware. Leuchter was a perfect choice, he was the only expert on execution gas chambers in the United States, and he believed in the Nazi genocide of the Jews.
Leuchter was asked by the Defense team to go to Poland and undertake a physical inspection and forensic analysis of the alleged execution gas chambers. On February 25, 1988 Leuchter set out to Poland to examine the alleged gas chambers at Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Majdanek. Leuchter examined the buildings described in the literature to be execution gas chambers. He also conducted a forensic examination in which physical samples of brick and mortar were removed and returned to the United States for chemical analysis.
The results of Leuchter's findings were submitted to the Court in Canada. Leuchter wrote in his report, "the author finds no evidence that any of the facilities normally alleged to be execution gas chambers were ever used as such and finds, further, that because of the design and fabrication of these facilities, they could not have been utilized for execution gas chambers."
The presiding judge, Ron Thomas, decided that Leuchter was qualified as an expert in the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of gas chambers. Leuchter was allowed to give his opinion on the operation and suitability of the various facilities to function as execution gas chambers. The Report itself, however, was not allowed into evidence. Although the Report was not accepted by the court, it still had a staggering effect. Many would become skeptical of the establishment version of the Holocaust story based on its findings.
Perhaps the most important impact of Leuchter’s work was on British historian David Irving. Shortly after seeing the Report for the first time, Irving wrote, "Shown this evidence for the first time when called as an expert witness at the Zündel trial in Toronto in April 1988, the laboratory reports were shattering." Irving goes on, "No significant trace [of cyanide compounds] whatsoever was found in the buildings... labeled as the camp's infamous gas chambers. Nor, as the reports' gruesomely expert author makes plain, could the design and construction of those buildings have made their use as mass gas-chambers feasible under any circumstances." (Leuchter Report: Focal Point Edition p. 6)
Despite being universally acknowledged for his expertise in the area of execution equipment, Leuchter now found himself under attack for his testimony. One can argue that it was the power of Leuchter’s Report, the irrefutable scientific analysis and the credibility of its author which caused those who would uphold the orthodox version of the Holocaust story to attack him as viciously as they did. Threats were made to prison officials who chose to do business with Leuchter. He was vilified in newsprint and on television. Legislation was used to prevent him from working at his chosen profession. Even criminal prosecution was brought against Leuchter.
There is no doubt that Fred Leuchter paid an extremely high price to defend the freedom of Ernst Zündel. Fred, however, is one of those rare types who understands that when one person’s freedom is challenged, everyone’s freedom is challenged. Fred also knew the importance of historical truth. His Report had no axes to grind. It wasn’t opposed to anyone and did not come with any hidden agenda despite what his detractors would have you believe. Then, as now, Fred Leuchter is the real deal. Germar Rudolf called him a “pioneer.” I would call him a hero.
On June 30th of this year, Fred Leuchter allowed me to conduct the following interview:
Continued on page 3
Continued in the September 2008 issue of Smith’s Report. (http://www.smithsreport.com)
