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Eichmann Trial -- Session 95 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1999.A.0087 | RG Number: RG-60.2100.146 | Film ID: 2146

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    Eichmann Trial -- Session 95 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

    Overview

    Description
    Footage begins in the middle of Session 95 with the continuation of cross examination of the accused by Attorney General Gideon Hausner. Eichmann is asked to indicate when he learned about Rolf Günther's involvement with gassing operations. Günther was head of a subsection of department IVB4, headed by Eichmann, and was involved in procuring and delivering Zyklon B gas for the extermination camps. Eichmann maintains that he does not remember ever talking to Günther about this matter (00:01:36). Judge Landau reminds Eichmann that he should testify from his memory (00:06:17). While translating the Judge's comments, Landau interrupts the interpreter and gives the remaining German translation to the accused himself (00:06:54). Judge Halevi asks Eichmann to indicate when he first read the Gerstein Report (00:09:37) and follow-up questions trying to decipher when he learned of the report. The Gerstein Report was an eyewitness account written by SS officer Kurt Gerstein of his experiences involving the extermination process during the war. Gerstein was the head of the Technical Disinfection Department and involved in procuring gas for the extermination camps which he visited in 1942 and witnessed, firsthand, the use of Zyklon B gas.

    Hausner redirects his questions back to Eichmann's conversation with Günther about the gassing operations (00:11:49). Eichmann testifies that there was friction between him and Günther that arose after their conversation about Günther's "special assignment." Hausner presents a segment from Eichmann's interrogation in which the accused stated that while he was in Hungary Günther was involved in a gas assignment and he confronted him about it (00:15:08). The Attorney General presses Eichmann about what he and Günther discussed. Questions are raised about Eichmann's insistence that these "special assignments" were done in secrecy and implies that there was no reason for his supervisors to withhold this information because he already knew about the gassings taking place (00:21:14). Eichmann replies that the gassings were general knowledge but the order to procure gas was something new (00:22:46). Hausner tells the accused that there was no reason to keep the operation a secret from him and that the accused's answer that he was not told does not make sense. The Attorney General continues noting that if Eichmann considered Günther's task a "special assignment" the accused's statement that his supervisor would send him to hell for this does not make sense (00:24:43). Eichmann states that he was confused at the time (00:26:56). Judge Halevi asks Eichmann, in German, if he reported this to the head of his office (00:30:19) and Eichmann replies that he does not know.

    Cross examination continues with questions regarding the Gerstein Report. Eichmann is asked if he knew of the Gerstein Report then he must have known that Günther's first assignment with gas happened in 1942 (00:31:02). Hausner turns to section IVB4's contact with commanders of the Security Police and the SD and the issuing of instructions to them in special cases (00:33:08). Eichmann states that he could not give the Security Police or the SD orders but could write a letter signed "by order" on Müller's behalf (00:35:39). Hausner cites a document in which Eichmann gives orders to the Security Police and the SD in Prague to leave the Jews in Theresienstadt. The Attorney General continues to read from documents in German. The camera shows a close-up of Eichmann's hands (00:42:10) while Hausner reads.

    Judge Landau calls for a recess (00:50:27) and all rise (00:50:40) as the judges exit the courtroom. Eichmann can be seen exiting the booth (00:50:48). There are shots of the attorneys at their table and the audience filing out of the courtroom.
    Film Title
    Eichmann Trial
    Duration
    00:52:03
    Date
    Event:  1961 July 13
    Production:  1961 July 13
    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
    00:00:17:00 to 00:52:20:00
    Film Format
    • Master
    • Master 2146 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2146 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2146 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2146 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
    • Preservation 2146 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2146 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2146 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2146 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: 2415
    Source Archive Number: VTEI 150
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:43:25
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1001821

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