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Eichmann Trial -- Session 96 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1999.A.0087 | RG Number: RG-60.2100.149 | Film ID: 2149

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    Eichmann Trial -- Session 96 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

    Overview

    Description
    The camera fades in on a medium shot of the prosecution table. Attorney General Gideon Hausner is seated at the desk. Assistant to the Attorney General Ya'akov Robinson stands to Hausner's right talking to an unidentified man. Assistant State Attorney Gabriel Bach enters (00:00:40) and talks with Robinson. The camera cuts to a shot of the empty booth (00:01:29). Assistant State Attorney Ya'akov Bar-Or enters and walk right to the prosecution table (00:02:19). Dr. Servatius enters the frame, standing behind the defense attorney table (00:02:29). Eichmann enters the booth carrying documents (00:02:47) and is seated. There are various shots of the attorneys at their tables and of Eichmann. All rise as the judges enter the courtroom (00:05:11). Judge Landau opens the ninety-sixth session of the trial (00:05:32).

    Hausner begins the cross examination for the session (Session 96) by questioning the accused about the transcripts he received from Sassen (00:05:55). There are some discrepancies about whether Eichmann received three drafts or three packages from him. Hausner continues, asking about the accuracy of the transcripts and whether Eichmann ever corrected Sassen (00:07:32) Eichmann testifies that he can not remember precisely but is sure that he must have but after a while gave up making corrections (00:08:02). Cross examination concerning Eichmann's corrections to the Sassen transcripts continue with Hausner asking if he ever accused Sassen of falsifying his statements given during their interviews. Hausner states that Eichmann never accused Sassen of falsifying any of his statements (00:13:14). The corrections made in the transcripts are discussed at length as Eichmann attempts to show that the words inserted or changed by Sassen affected the content of his statements. Eichmann is accused of admitting that Sassen never falsified anything (00:19:42). Hausner reads an excerpt from the transcript noting that Eichmann was aware of how many tapes his interview with Sassen comprised (00:23:25). Eichmann states that he did not concern himself with the number of tapes used and if he did state a number, it was because Sassen had told him the number (00:24:00).

    The fact that Eichmann signed a contract with Sassen allowing him to edit the accused's testimonies and whether Eichmann suspected him of falsifying his statements is raised (00:26:16). Hausner asks Eichmann if his attitude towards the extermination of the Jews was the same in 1957 as it was expressed at the present during an earlier session (00:30:54). Eichmann states that his attitude has been the same since before 1945 however he avoids directly answering the Attorney General's question (00:31:41).

    When asked again, Eichmann, hesitantly states "no, that was not my attitude in 1957" (00:34:05).

    The following section is all duplicate footage found of Tape 2150. Cross examination continues with Eichmann being questioned about regret he expressed in 1957 that Jews managed to survive in Hungary which he denies (00:36:51 and on tape #2150 at 00:00:49). Hausner points out that this fact has already been accepted by the court and goes on to note that in 1957 the accused stated that it was Krumey and Wisliceny's fault "that the Magyar people were exposed to the terror of a Jewish secret police" (00:37:34 and on Tape 2150 at 00:01:15). Eichmann replies that he can not remember saying that but does recall saying something about the revolt (00:38:05 and on Tape 2150 at 00:01:46). Hausner reads an excerpt from the Sassen interview in German (00:38:42 and on Tape 2150 at 00:02:25) in which Eichmann states that he has no regrets. The paragraph read by Hausner in German is not complete and the English translation is not given.

    Footage cuts (00:39:23), (00:39:34 to 00:39:43), (00:39:52) Hausner presents a document, accepted in its entirety by the accused; containing no hint that Eichmann felt that the crimes against the Jews should not be repeated (00:39:53 and on Tape 2150 at 00:10:56).

    Footage cuts (00:40:52 to 00:41:02) Footage resumes without missing any portion of the session. Cross examination of the accused continues. When asked if in 1957 he had the opinion that the Jews were an enemy and should be destroyed (00:41:32 and on Tape 2150 at 00:12:34), Eichmann replies that his opinion did not relate to the physical extermination of the Jews (00:41:47 and on Tape 2150 at 00:12:50).

    The following footage is not duplicated on Tape 2150. Eichmann is presented with a document in his own handwriting concerning the supposed declaration of war by Chaim Weizmann in which Eichmann writes "The slogan on both sides was `the enemies must be destroyed!' And Jewry throughout the world had obviously declared war on the German Reich through their leader, Dr. Chaim Weizmann." (00:43:16). There is some confusion about the passage read and Eichmann replies noting again that the word "destruction" did not mean physical destruction (00:45:58). Hausner asks the accused if he agrees that he did not give the slightest indication that the extermination of the Jews had been a crime (00:50:21).

    The following section is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2150. Hausner reads a passage, in German, of the accused's reflection on the survival of a portion of the Jewish population (00:51:37 and on Tape 2150 at 00:13:45). Eichmann responds that he is unable to say definitively "yes" or "no" that these were his opinions (00:52:11 and on Tape 2150 at 00:14:18). Another quote is read in German by Hausner (00:54:15 and on Tape 2150 at 00:16:23) and again Eichmann states that he does not know if these statements were his (00:59:18 and on Tape 2150 at 00:20:19).
    Hausner asks to turn to another topic. Eichmann is asked about Dannecker, Wisliceny, Brunner, Guenther and Richter and whether they received instructions from him (01:01:55). Eichmann begins to answer when the footage cuts. This last segment is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2151 (at 00:00:23).
    Film Title
    Eichmann Trial
    Duration
    01:02:14
    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
    00:00:31:00 to 01:02:45:00
    Film Format
    • Master
    • Master 2149 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2149 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2149 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2149 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
    • Preservation 2149 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2149 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2149 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2149 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: 2418
    Source Archive Number: VTEI 184
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:43:59
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1001824

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