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Eichmann Trial -- Sessions 70 and 71 -- Witnesses R. Kagan, E. Goldstein, V. Alexander; film screenings

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1999.A.0087 | RG Number: RG-60.2100.087 | Film ID: 2087

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    Eichmann Trial -- Sessions 70 and 71 -- Witnesses R. Kagan, E. Goldstein, V. Alexander; film screenings

    Overview

    Description
    Footage begins with testimony from witness Raya Kagan, who describes a meeting with Untersturmbannführer Maximilian Grabner, in which she was told that she was forbidden to talk about the office work she performed (registration of supposed causes of deaths among prisoners), on pain of death. She also provides an account of her contact with the women of the Aussenkommando and the female Slovakian intelligentsia, as well as a description of the kapos and block elders.

    The remainder of Kagan's testimony is missing from the tape and the footage begins again with a witness account from Esther Goldstein. Goldstein describes her arrival at Auschwitz and the process of separation of the men, women and children (a picture of women and children is shown at 00:06:58). She then describes the roll call/selections headed by Dr. Mengele, noting that in one instance the orchestra played music and that Mengele had a woman assistant. Goldstein also gives an account of the living conditions and food.

    The remainder of Goldstein's testimony is missing and the footage continues with the presentation of film evidence by the prosecution. Portions of this footage are visible on screen. Shots of Eichmann watching the film. Topics of the footage shown include the Einsatzgruppen and the Auschwitz camp. After a brief break in the footage, evidentiary film continues, including shots of the hospital and surgical blocks in Auschwitz. Another break in the footage, then film evidence continues with scenes of the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops, then still photographs of prisoners being punished and examined. There are various shots of prisoner badges and tattoos and atrocities.

    The film stops and Attorney General Hausner addresses the court and describes the next segment of film to be presented, from liberated camps in the American sector. Eichmann takes notes. (00:31:14) Footage of General Eisenhower viewing the atrocities in a liberated camp (probably Ohrdruf). American GIs aid survivors. The next segment of footage shows bodies and captured camp staff being held at gunpoint. Americans view mass graves. Sign indicates some of the footage is from Landsberg (00:34:23).

    Another break, and then film onscreen continues with shots of captured German/Nazi POWs and camp staff, supervised by American GIs, placing bodies in a mass grave. The presentation of film ends and the court adjourns until the afternoon session. All rise as the judges exit.

    Footage resumes in the middle of Session 71 with the testimony of witness Vera Alexander. Hausner shows the witness a drawing made by a survivor after liberation and asks her to authenticate the events depicted in the drawing. These pictures are shown on screen and include topics such as arrival, the shaving of women's heads, the bunks, the infirmary, and punishment, distribution of food, selections, sorting, suicide, and hangings.
    Film Title
    Eichmann Trial
    Duration
    00:54:08
    Date
    Event:  1961 June 08
    Production:  1961 June 08
    Locale
    Jerusalem, Israel
    Credit
    Accessed at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of The Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archives of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    Contributor
    Director: Leo Hurwitz
    Producer: Milton Fruchtman
    Camera Operator: Rolf M. Kneller
    Camera Operator: F. Csaznik
    Camera Operator: J. Jonilowicz
    Camera Operator: J. Kalach
    Camera Operator: Emil Knebel
    Producer: Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation
    Biography
    Emil Knebel was a cinematographer known for Andante (2010), Adam (1973), and Wild Is My Love (1963). He was one of the cameramen who recorded daily coverage of the Eichmann trial in Jerusalem (produced by Capital Cities Broadcasting Corp and later held academic positions in Israel and New York teaching filmmaking at universities. Refer to CV in file.

    Physical Details

    Language
    English German Hebrew
    Genre/Form
    Unedited.
    B&W / Color
    Black & White
    Image Quality
    Mixed
    Time Code
    00:00:39:00 to 00:54:47:00
    Film Format
    • Master
    • Master 2087 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2087 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2087 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2087 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
    • Preservation 2087 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2087 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2087 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2087 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large

    Rights & Restrictions

    Conditions on Access
    You do not require further permission from the Museum to access this archival media.
    Copyright
    Public Domain
    Conditions on Use
    To the best of the Museum's knowledge, this material is in the public domain. You do not require further permission from the Museum to reproduce or use this material.

    Keywords & Subjects

    Administrative Notes

    Film Provenance
    Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation recorded the proceedings of the Adolf Eichmann trial in 1961. The original recording was made on two-inch format videotape. One set of videotapes contained selected portions of the trial for distribution to television stations. The "selected portions" version remained in Israel and was later turned over to the Israel State Archives. Capital Cities Broadcasting retained the set of videotapes containing the complete trial proceedings at offices in New York City until 1965, when they gave the videotapes to the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith. The Anti-Defamation League, in turn, gave the complete set to the Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1972. With a grant from the Revson Foundation, Hebrew University transferred the two-inch videotapes to U-Matic format. During the transfer process, Hebrew University created three duplicate sets. One set was given to the Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive, one to the Israel State Archives, and one set to the Jewish Museum in New York City. In 1995, the Israel State Archives transferred the trial footage to digital videoformat with a grant from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. Three subsequent digital videotape copies resulted from this transfer of footage. The Israel State Archives retained one digital copy and a second set was deposited at the Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Steven Spielberg Film and Video Archive at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum received the third set of digital videotapes in May 1999.
    Note
    See official transcripts, published in "The Trial of Adolf Eichmann", Vol. I-V, State of Israel, Ministry of Justice, Jerusalem, 1994. Also available online at the Nizkor Project.

    * Until 10 minutes into tape there are bad creases in the tape, reflected in image quality.
    Copied From
    2" Quad
    Film Source
    Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
    File Number
    Legacy Database File: 2303
    Source Archive Number: VTEI 313
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:45:32
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1001715

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