Lendle

The total absence of evidence permits the official historians to give free rein to the most diverse speculations.

Walter Laqueur acknowledges:

To the present day a written order by Hitler regarding the destruction of the European Jewish community has not been found, and, in all probability, this order was never given.

Colin Cross admits:

There does not exist then, anything like a written order signed by him for the extermination of the Jews in Europe.

Christian Zentner acknowledges:

One cannot fix the exact moment when Hitler gave the order … without doubt never drawn up in writing … to exterminate the Jews.

Saul Friedländer admits:

It is not known precisely when the idea of the physical extermination of the Jews imposed itself on Hitler’s spirit.

Joachim Fest acknowledged:

o the present day the question of knowing when Hitler made the decision for the Final Solution of the Jewish question is in abeyance, and for the simple reason that not a single document on the subject exists.