The Hitler Diaries are revealed as a hoax after being examined by experts.

The saga of the Hitler Diaries, known in German as the Hitler-Tagebücher, represents one of the most audacious and embarrassing journalistic hoaxes of the 20th century. This elaborate deception involved a series of sixty handwritten volumes, purportedly the personal journals of Adolf Hitler himself, chronicling his thoughts and actions from 1932 to 1945. These documents, however, were not genuine historical artifacts but rather a masterful fabrication by a West German forger named Konrad Kujau, crafted between 1981 and 1983.

In 1983, the prestigious West German news magazine Stern acquired these alleged diaries for an astonishing sum of 9.3 million Deutsche Marks, equivalent to approximately £2.33 million or US$3.7 million at the time. The magazine, eager to capitalize on this purported historical scoop, promptly sold serialization rights to several prominent international news organizations. Among these was the British newspaper The Sunday Times, which entrusted its independent director, the highly respected historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, with the task of authenticating the documents. Initially, Trevor-Roper, despite some reservations, pronounced them genuine, a judgment that lent immense credibility to the sensational find.

However, the grand unveiling at the press conference to announce the publication quickly took an unexpected turn. Trevor-Roper, having reconsidered his position, publicly stated that he had changed his mind and now harbored significant doubts about the diaries' authenticity. His concerns were swiftly echoed by other historians and experts, who began to raise serious questions regarding their validity. This initial skepticism soon led to rigorous forensic analysis, a crucial step that had surprisingly not been performed before the substantial purchase. The subsequent scientific examination unequivocally confirmed that the diaries were, in fact, sophisticated fakes, exposing the colossal deception.

The Architect of Deception: Konrad Kujau

Konrad Kujau, born and raised in East Germany, possessed a long-standing history of petty crime and various acts of deception, skills he honed throughout his life. By the mid-1970s, Kujau had established himself in the illicit trade of Nazi memorabilia, which he smuggled from East Germany into the West. He soon discovered that he could significantly inflate the prices of ordinary souvenirs by forging additional authentication details, fabricating links between common items and the highest echelons of the Nazi leadership. This talent for creating convincing false provenance gradually escalated. Kujau began forging paintings attributed to Hitler, followed by an increasing number of fabricated notes, poems, and letters, steadily honing his craft. This progression eventually led him to produce his first full-fledged "Hitler diary" sometime in the mid-to-late 1970s, setting the stage for the massive fraud that would captivate the world.

The Journalist and the Acquisition

The West German journalist with Stern magazine who was instrumental in the "discovery" and subsequent purchase of the diaries was Gerd Heidemann. Heidemann was known for his intense, almost obsessive fascination with the Nazi era, a passion that arguably clouded his judgment and made him susceptible to Kujau's elaborate scheme. He maintained a clandestine relationship with Kujau, securing the diaries piece by piece over an extended period. During the acquisition process, Heidemann also engaged in significant financial impropriety, siphoning off a considerable proportion of the money allocated by Stern for the purchase, further complicating the already fraudulent transaction.

The Aftermath and Lasting Legacy

The unmasking of the Hitler Diaries as an elaborate hoax led to significant legal repercussions for the individuals involved. Konrad Kujau and Gerd Heidemann both faced charges for their roles in the fraud and were subsequently imprisoned. Beyond the criminal justice system, the scandal caused immense professional damage and embarrassment. Several high-ranking newspaper editors, particularly at Stern, lost their jobs as a direct consequence of the catastrophic error in judgment and the failure of due diligence. The sensational story of the scandal, with its blend of ambition, deception, and journalistic failure, proved fertile ground for dramatization. It served as the basis for two notable films: Selling Hitler, a 1991 production for the British channel ITV, and the acclaimed German cinema release Schtonk! in 1992, both of which captured the absurdity and gravity of one of the most infamous hoaxes in modern history.

FAQs About the Hitler Diaries Hoax

What were the Hitler Diaries?
The Hitler Diaries were a collection of sixty handwritten volumes, purportedly the personal journals of Adolf Hitler, covering his life and thoughts from 1932 to 1945. They were later confirmed to be an elaborate forgery.
Who created the Hitler Diaries?
The diaries were forged by Konrad Kujau, a West German forger with a history of creating fake Nazi memorabilia, between 1981 and 1983.
How much did the Hitler Diaries cost and who bought them?
The diaries were purchased in 1983 for 9.3 million Deutsche Marks (approximately £2.33 million or US$3.7 million) by the West German news magazine Stern.
Why were they initially believed to be authentic?
Initial belief in their authenticity stemmed from a strong desire for new historical insights into Hitler, Kujau's skill in creating believable forgeries, and, crucially, an initial endorsement by respected historian Hugh Trevor-Roper, despite his later retraction. The sheer volume and the mundane details mixed with political commentary also contributed to their initial perceived credibility.
How were the Hitler Diaries proven to be fake?
The diaries were proven fake through rigorous forensic analysis, which was conducted after widespread skepticism arose. This analysis examined the paper, ink, and binding materials, revealing that they were all of post-World War II origin, not from the era of the Third Reich. Handwriting analysis also pointed to inconsistencies.
What happened to the forger and the journalist involved?
Both Konrad Kujau (the forger) and Gerd Heidemann (the Stern journalist who "discovered" them and was involved in their purchase) were imprisoned for their roles in the fraud. Heidemann was also found to have embezzled a significant portion of the money used to buy the diaries.
What was the lasting impact of the Hitler Diaries hoax?
The hoax resulted in widespread embarrassment for the media organizations involved, particularly Stern, and led to several newspaper editors losing their jobs. It highlighted critical failures in journalistic due diligence and raised important questions about the vetting of historical documents. The scandal also inspired films like Selling Hitler and Schtonk!, cementing its place in popular culture as a cautionary tale of deception and credulity.