The Hitler Diaries hoax

The biggest hoax of 1983 happened in April, when the German news magazine Stern announced that it had paid almost 9 million Deutschmarks for a series of small books, purporting to be the diaries of Adolf Hitler. Supposedly, these diaries had been recovered from a crashed aeroplane near Dresden and smuggled out of what was then East Germany, by a mysterious "Dr. Fischer".

The publishers of Stern had the handwriting analysed; three separate analyses concluded that it was indeed Hitler's handwriting. They were fearful that the diaries would be leaked however, so forensic analysis did not take place immediately, but two historians (one sent by Times Newspapers, who were bidding for UK publishing rights, the other by the US magazine Newsweek) who were given brief access to the material did verify their authenticity.

Nevertheless, doubts remained and conspiracy theories abounded, some thought that it may have been a Soviet plot to destabilise the West German state, while then-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt also refused to believe that the diaries were genuine. At the press conference announcing the publication, both historians began to backtrack on their previous verification of authenticity, resulting in embarrassment for Stern magazine.

It got worse, when the German national archives (Bundesarchiv) pronounced the diaries as forgeries; noting that modern-day ink and paper were used, and that there were many historical inaccuracies.  Further confirmation came from forensic analysts in London, and the whole thing degenerated into fiasco.

The affair resulted in the resignation of two editors from Stern, while the editors of both The Sunday Times and Newsweek also stepped down from their positions. The mysterious "Dr. Fischer" was unmasked as forger Konrad Kujau, working alongside journalist Gerd Heidemann. Both were imprisoned for forgery and embezzlement in 1984, although Kujau was later able to use his notoriety to start a studio producing artworks in the style of famous artists. He died in 2000 aged 62.

A television dramatisation of the hoax, 'Selling Hitler' was shown on ITV in the UK in 1991, with a cast including comedian Alexei Sayle as Konrad Kujau.
The drama was based on a book by Robert Harris, who can be seen talking about the book below: