Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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British Historian Pleads Guilty to Criminal Charges of Denying
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Holocaust
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=110AAAA:3919ACA David Irving, 67,
faces up to 10 years in prison





British historian David Irving holds his book "Hitler's War" when
arriving at a court in Vienna, on Monday, Feb. 20, 2006. Irving is
accused of denying the Holocaust and is facing up to 10 years in
jailBritish historian David Irving has pleaded guilty to criminal
charges in Austria of denying the Nazi Holocaust during World War II,
even though he says his views have changed.

Irving entered his plea Monday at his trial in Vienna.  Before the
proceedings began, he told reporters he has learned a lot since
allegedly denying the Holocaust in speeches delivered in Austria in
1989, and he now acknowledges the systematic slaughter of some six
million Jews at the hands of the Nazis.  

The 67-year-old Briton faces up to 10 years in prison.  Irving has
been held in custody in Austria since he was detained there last
November.

It is illegal in Austria to publicly deny or justify the Holocaust.

Irving is the author of a number of controversial books including
"Hitler's War," in which he challenges the extent of the Holocaust.  
In the book, Irving says Hitler knew nothing about the extermination
of six million Jews, and actually tried to protect them. 

Irving has questioned the Nazis use of gas chambers and has said the
numbers of those who died in concentration camps was far lower than
reported.  A German judge fined Irving in 1992 for publicly insisting
the gas chambers at the Nazis Auschwitz death camp in Poland were a
hoax.

Irving has been quoted in the past as saying there is "not one shred
of evidence" the Nazis carried out their "Final Solution" plan to
exterminate the Jewish population on such a scale.

Over the years, Irving has lost several legal battles over his views.


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