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Eichmann Trial -- Session 99 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1999.A.0087 | RG Number: RG-60.2100.165 | Film ID: 2165

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    Eichmann Trial -- Session 99 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

    Overview

    Description
    Footage begins near the opening of Session 99. Hausner continues with cross examination asking the accused about meeting Heinrich Müller, head of Section IV (Gestapo) of the Reich Main Security Office, after witnessing the Einsatzgruppen units in action and telling him that their method was making them into sadists suggesting that another method for executions had to be found. When Eichmann replies that he is not familiar with the last phrase, Hausner notes that during his interrogation he was shown an excerpt from the LIFE article and did not comment on its contents (00:01:38). An excerpt from LIFE discussing the need for another method of extermination is read out loud by Hausner in German. Eichmann contests the statement given in the article and testifies that it is a wrong interpretation of his words and either way, whether by shooting or gas, he was against the killing (00:04:40). Hausner continues to ask questions to the accused in German. The entire opening segment of footage is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2164 (from 00:03:38 to 00:12:19). The footage on Tape 2164 is more complete.

    Footage cuts (00:09:16 to 00:09:18) A large section of the proceeding is missing and footage resumes in the middle of the session. Hausner questions Eichmann about whether Rudolf Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz, showed him the camp and the extermination process. The Attorney General continues asking the accused if he had any authority over the extermination camps (00:10:09). Eichmann denies having any authority (00:10:12). This segment of footage is duplicated on Tape 2164 (from 00:39:49 to 00:41:17).

    Footage cuts (00:11:01 to 00:11:03) Another large section of the session is missing from the tape. The remaining portion of the session found on this tape is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2163 (beginning at 00:17:26). Footage resumes with Hausner asking the accused why a document shows that he was involved in the issuing of death certificates for the Jews of Warsaw (00:17:26 on Tape 2163). Eichmann testifies that he does not know anything about this and Hausner continues to question him about his involvement in counter-signing instructions concerning the Warsaw Ghetto. When Hausner states that this matter of signing and counter-signing concerned half a million Jews, Eichmann states that he had nothing to do with the killing of those half-million Jews (00:16:32 and 00:24:13 on Tape 2163).

    Another document is read, in German, by Hausner concerning the Warsaw Ghetto. The document notes that "special circumstances would make it necessary to segregate the ghetto inhabitants to a greater extent than previously from the rest of the population" (00:18:08 and 00:24:31 on Tape 2163). Eichmann testifies that he does not know anything and that the Foreign Ministry and the General Government must have dealt with this matter. Hausner tells the accused that his signature is on the document. Judge Landau asks that the accused be shown the document (00:20:50 and 00:27:13 on Tape 2163). Eichmann responds testifying that there were plans for deportations and that the Reich Main Security Office and Department IVB4 had to ensure that the Jews with foreign nationality were removed but denies that his section was responsible for the deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto (00:25:47 and 00:28:14 on Tape 2163). Footage continues a little longer before cutting.
    Film Title
    Eichmann Trial
    Duration
    00:29:18
    Date
    Event:  1961 July 17
    Production:  1961 July 17
    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
    00:00:49:00 to 00:30:07:00
    Film Format
    • Master
    • Master 2165 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2165 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2165 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2165 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
    • Preservation 2165 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2165 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2165 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2165 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: 2435
    Source Archive Number: VTEI 340
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:46:30
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1001840

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