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Eichmann Trial -- Session 71 -- Testimony of G. Ben-Zvi and M. Chen

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1999.A.0087 | RG Number: RG-60.2100.091 | Film ID: 2091

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    Eichmann Trial -- Session 71 -- Testimony of G. Ben-Zvi and M. Chen

    Overview

    Description
    The tape begins in the middle of Session 71, with testimony from Gedalia Ben-Zvi. Ben-Zvi describes his attempt to get into the commando unit in "Canada" and his duties in that unit. "Canada" was the nickname for the looted property taken from arriving transports, and referred the supposed riches possessed by people who lived in Canada.

    A portion of the last segment is repeated. Ben-Zvi gives an account of seeing Zyklon B gas, its usage in "Canada" as a disinfectant, and the storage of the gas in a Red Cross truck. The witness goes on to describe the types of clothing received in "Canada" (00:05:39) and the processing of clothes. He also testifies to the stealing of items from "Canada." Ben-Zvi is asked to describe the transport of Jews from Bedzin (00:11:37). The Jews in this transport were well aware of their fate and many of them attempted to escape before arrival at the camp. A portion of the last segment is repeated. The witness continues with his account of the Bedzin transport and compares that transport to others. He also describes the treatment accorded to those suspected of swallowing valuables (00:19:55).

    A portion of the last segment is repeated. Ben-Zvi describes what he remembers of the arrival of Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz, his transfer to the Stutthof camp, and the conditions there. The witness goes on to describe the forced foot march from Stuffhof westward and his escape with another prisoner (00:31:52). Judge Halevi briefly questions the witness about his duties on the night shift and the arrival of trains to Auschwitz. Testimony from Ben-Zvi ends and the witness leaves the stand (00:39:48).

    Judge Landau calls the witness Mordechai Chen to the stand and the camera focuses on the audience as they wait for Chen. The witness walks down the aisle, takes the stand, and gives his oath (00:41:48). Testimony from Mordechai Chen begins with his experience at Bergen-Belsen following the liberation of the camp. Chen notes that he met a BBC photographer at the camp and subsequently received pictures from this man. Attorney General Hausner questions the witness while holding these photographs. The photos appear onscreen as the witness describes them, detailing the enormous numbers of corpses at the camp. Chen concludes his testimony and leaves the stand (00:54:17). Judge Landau adjourns the session and all stand as the judges exit the courtroom. Eichmann is escorted out.
    Film Title
    Eichmann Trial
    Duration
    00:56:05
    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
    Good
    Time Code
    00:00:38:00 to 00:56:43:00
    Film Format
    • Master
    • Master 2091 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2091 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2091 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2091 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
    • Preservation 2091 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2091 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2091 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2091 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.
    Copied From
    2" Quad
    Film Source
    Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
    File Number
    Legacy Database File: 2307
    Source Archive Number: VTEI 154
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:46:25
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1001719

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