Uffe Østergård :
'Holocaust, Genocide and European Values'

The article offers a conceptual analysis of the different spellings and renderings of the word Holocaust. When spelled with capital H The Holocaust refers to the unique catastrophe of the Jews in Europe, when spelled with small h as in Nazi holocaust it refers to the specific historical event during the Second World War. It is discussed whether the word should be spelled with Greek kappa or latin c, the latter being an English/American tradition. The relative merits of the denominations holocaust versus destruction of the Jews (Förintelsen in Swedish) are debated. The present relationship between understanding and recognition of responsibility for the holocaust among European politicians as a contribution to defining the 'European values' in the preambles to the various treaties on European integration is analyzed together with an analysis of David Irving's denial of the holocaust and his verdict in spring 2000. Finally the Danish rescue of the Danish Jews in October 1943 is debated in a historical context. The article ends with a brief presentation of the activities of the recently established Danish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.