Resistance

GERMAR RUDOLF, RESISTANCE IS OBLIGATORY3. Critique of Prof. Dr. Ernst Nolte’s AssessmentAnalysis of the “Expert report on the question of the scientific or unscientificnature” of the book Grundlagen zur Zeitgeschichte by Prof.em. Dr. Ernst Nolte (undated, 1996) including the “Addendum 2006” of5 Feb. 2006.A. IntroductionThe following analysis of the above mentioned expert report addressesthe following questions:1. Has the expert adhered to the limits of his assignment for an expertreport, that is to say, has he dealt exclusively with the question of the(un)scientific nature of the assessed book, or has he transgressed thislimit and dealt with other issues as well, and if so, to which degree?2. Has the expert with his considerations – be they within or withoutthe limits of his assignment – moved within the area of his competenceas a historian or has he transgressed this area, and if so, towhich degree?3. Has the expert conducted his assignment in a professional manner,which is to say, has he examined the book to be analyzed for themost important criteria of scientific nature, and has he himself donethis in a scientific way?As the most important criteria the following will be considered:1. The principle of the free choice of an initial hypothesis is recognized(“de omnibus dubitandum est”).2. It is conceded that the outcome is undetermined, which is to say thatexpectations of third parties are rejected and that no dogmatism isadvocated.3. Factual allegations are substantiated with verifiable or comprehensibleevidence.4. Counter-arguments are discussed and, if published, identified in averifiable manner.5. A matter-of-factual language style prevails; in particular no rights ofthird persons are violated, and this is not advocated or approved of.6. Data and evidence are selected by objective criteria (source criticism).292