The Blog of
Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Manfred Gerstenfeld: Antisemitism integral to European culture
For about 20 years, the EU has been largely inactive, incompetent, negligent, and at times even evil in the battle against antisemitism. During that period, Jew- and Israel hatred has greatly increased in the EU.
Lithuania's Hidden Holocaust
The Zoom interview of Dr Efraim Zuroff on his latest book, Our People: Discovering Lithuania’s Hidden Holocaust, co-authored by Rūta Vanagaitė. The interview addresses the problem of Holocaust distortion and the double genocide theory i.e. the equivalency between Nazi and Communist crimes.
Press Release: Nazi Hunter joins NZ Holocaust Foundation's International Council
Dr Efraim Zuroff, the Coordinator of Nazi war crimes research for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, has joined the Holocaust Foundation as member of our International Council. Zuroff’s recent comments on the “local hero” status of Mt Hutt’s former Waffen-SS soldier Willi Huber have been widely reported in international media.
Guest Post: A controversial “legacy”
At 17, Huber volunteered for the Waffen-SS, and served as a machine-gunner, earning two Iron Cross medals on the eastern front. After the war, he was held as a PoW for 16 months. Despite this, Huber has been the subject of several laudatory media stories, including a controversial TVNZ programme in 2017, which was heavily criticised for glossing over and minimising his Nazi past.
Dane Giraud: The Strange Case of Herr Huber
“Watch me kill Nazis, Dad”.
That was my youngest son, probably about 8 or 9 years old at the time, desperately wanting his old man to witness his gaming prowess and thinking the fact he was mowing down Nazis might sweeten the deal…
Guest Post: Antisemitism in the black community
Since George Floyd’s abhorrent death, a number of confirmed Farrakhan fanboys - Black people with big platforms and blue checkmarks - have apparently concluded that combatting racial hatred and uplifting the Black community requires rolling out a medley of Farrakhan’s greatest hits of antisemitic tropes, stereotypes and conspiracy theories.
Nazi Hunter Reacts To Death Of Local “Hero” SS-Waffen Soldier
As a historian, I can state unequivocally that serving in a Waffen-SS unit on the Eastern front, there is no way that Mr Huber could possibly not have been aware of the massive atrocities carried out by the SS and the Wehrmacht…
Disturbing Phenomenon of Antisemitism Amongst Children
“It seems that generic education against racism will not address this problem, because many younger people fail to see antisemitism as a form of racism. They see Jews as part of the privileged, white elite who are immune from racism…”
Winona Ryder, Antisemitism and the Holocaust
A spat with actor Mel Gibson also resurfaced when Ryder revealed that he had once asked her if she was an ‘oven dodger’.
"I survived the war living as a Nazi"
Having convinced the Germans that he was a Russian-born German, Shlomo became a translator for the Nazis.
From AIJAC: Poignancy and controversy in Holocaust commemorations
“The memory of the Holocaust is under attack from many quarters – from deniers to those who would distort the history through re-writing, relativising and universalising.”
From J-Wire: MP's challenged at "Auschwitz. Now." opening at NZ Parliament
Seventeen MP’s from across New Zealand’s political spectrum attended the official opening of the new exhibition “Auschwitz. Now.” at Parliament on Tuesday.
“Auschwitz. Now.” to open in NZ Parliament
“Auschwitz. Now.” will open in Parliament next week. Sponsored by Hon Alfred Ngaro MP, the staging will be held in the Bowen House exhibition space. An invitation-only event will be held on 2 March, attended by MPs and dignataries. Thereafter, public viewing will be possible Wednesdays and Thursdays 10am-3pm through the month of March.
From Newsroom: NZ's Troubled Relationship With The Holocaust
Our nation has the dubious distinction of being the only Western country in which a tertiary institution holds a thesis denying the Holocaust. In addition, New Zealand is also one of the few western-style liberal democratic nations that has not joined the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance…
The Ritchie Boys: The Jews who Escaped the Nazis and Returned to Fight Hitler
A small group of several hundred Jewish teen-age boys who had managed to escape from Nazi Germany before the Holocaust began, eagerly sought an opportunity of fighting against Hitler when the United States entered the Second World War at the end of 1941.
Images of UNIHRD Event, 25 January, Bethlehem
Five hundred turned up to the beautiful Performing Arts Centre at Bethlehem College on a sweltering evening, with many other events competing for attention.
Guest Post: The Train
I am not sure if the Jewish civilisation can heal from this atrocity yet, can let it pass into history in order to build a more whole and undefended persona. No matter what intent, such an event will stay buried in the collective psyche for years.
From NZ Herald - Auschwitz: A Personal Reflection
Twelve years ago I began interviewing Holocaust survivors. I have spent countless hours listening to stories of hell on earth. With reluctance, I realised it was time to visit the place where many of these incomprehensible events occurred - Auschwitz.
Bethlehem Remembers Auschwitz
At least twenty-eight locations around the world carry the name Bethlehem. Best known of these is, of course, the birthplace of Jesus, twenty minutes drive from Jerusalem. The Bethlehem most distant from Jerusalem can be found in Tauranga, New Zealand – adjacent to a suburb named Judea.
Two Holocaust Foundation Trustees Honoured
Two of our Holocaust Foundation board members have been awarded special honours in the New Year honours list.