Letter: Why Hitler must have known

Sir: reading your summary of the opening gambits of Irving versus Sereny ("Irving and Sereny go to war", 6 June) reminded me that in 1977 Albert Speer commented on David Irving's book. Speer said that "it was ludicrous for anyone to claim that the extermination of the Jews could have been anyone's idea but Hitler's."

He goes on to say, "It shows a profound ignorance of Hitler's Germany, in which nothing of any magnitude could conceivably happen not only without his knowledge but without his order."

That coming from the man who was probably closest to Hitler is far more convincing than any little game Mr Irving might like to play.

DAVID G GILES

London SW1