Advanced Search

Learn About The Holocaust

Special Collections

My Saved Research

Login

Register

Help

Skip to main content

Eichmann Trial -- Session 107 -- Eichmann explains his oath to the Party

Film | Digitized | Accession Number: 1999.A.0087 | RG Number: RG-60.2100.198 | Film ID: 2198

Search this record's additional resources, such as finding aids, documents, or transcripts.

No results match this search term.
Check spelling and try again.

results are loading

0 results found for “keyward

    Eichmann Trial -- Session 107 -- Eichmann explains his oath to the Party

    Overview

    Description
    Session 107. Tape starts midsentence when Eichmann is asked what his opinion was concerning the Nazi outlook that the Jews must be removed from Germany. (Footage duplicated from Tape 2195.) Eichmann says that he never thought about it, which the Judge quickly disputes. The tape is interrupted by a slate at 00:03:32 and resumes with Eichmann explaining that he had to not make waves in his position in the Reich. 00:04:41 Tape is interrupted again by a slate and resumes with the same footage. Eichmann insists he worked as a low-ranking official in the head office of Reich Security and regretted taking that job. Eichmann says that he thought positively about forced relocation (emigration). Eichmann insists that he was doing good, the lesser evil, a solution to a problem, but had no actual inner feelings aside from that.

    00:11:50 Eichmann is asked about his history as a soldier and the oath of loyalty that he has mentioned. He was never with the Waffen (fighting) SS, the closest he came to this was the Waffen SS Reserve. He was a Police Officer, mobilized by the SD for the war. 00:16:47 The Judge is brought the records of a previous session looking for a quote of Eichmann's. He cannot find it, but says he will do so later. Eichmann is pressed concerning his oath versus his ability to leave the Party. Eichmann insists, rather emphatically, that he could not break his oath and leave under any circumstances, not during the war. Eichmann is asked about the meaning of a red ticket. This meant mobilization for the duration of the war. He stresses his inability to leave his position or the party after receiving a red ticket. The Judge asks if he could have relinquished his post and gone to the front, Eichmann says he would never get any such permission. The Judge asks if anybody could have stopped him, Eichmann answers that he would have been reprimanded and could not have done it. The Judge presses, saying that a complaining employee would have been gotten rid of, and Eichmann says that those people were sent to task forces, not the front.

    00:24:44 Eichmann is asked about how tough Mueller was, he answers that he was a true bureaucrat, and begins comparing him to Heydrich. (Footage duplicated from Tape 2195.) The Judge stops him, saying that Heydrich should be left out of this. Eichmann is arguing with the Judge about the toughness and tolerance of various leaders that Eichmann has previously referenced, along with his own. Eichmann is saying that he is not tough, not a hard man, that toughness towards others was unimportant, rather it was important to be tough towards yourself, to be obedient.

    00:28:37 The Judge returns to a previously inadequately answered question, asking why Eichmann wasn't fired based on all of this information. He answers that he was organized, loyal, disciplined, and did not ask question. He became friends with his superior, Mueller, and had no ambition to take over. The Judge cites previous testimony where Eichmann said he was an inefficient bureaucrat, and he answers that Mueller was the same way with always asking for orders.
    Film Title
    Eichmann Trial
    Duration
    00:32:41
    Date
    Event:  1961 July 24
    Production:  1961 July 24
    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
    00:00:29:00 to 00:33:10:00
    Film Format
    • Master
    • Master 2198 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2198 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2198 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
      Master 2198 Video: Digital Betacam - NTSC - large
    • Preservation
    • Preservation 2198 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2198 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2198 Video: Betacam SP - NTSC - large
      Preservation 2198 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: 2473
    Source Archive Number: VTEI 174
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:40:36
    This page:
    https:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn1001878

    Download & Licensing

    In-Person Research

    Contact Us