Eichmann Trial -- Session 11 -- Israeli police interrogation of Eichmann
Creator(s)
- Emil Knebel (Camera Operator)
- J. Kalach (Camera Operator)
- Leo Hurwitz (Director)
- Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
- F. Csaznik (Camera Operator)
- Milton Fruchtman (Producer)
- Rolf M. Kneller (Camera Operator)
- J. Jonilowicz (Camera Operator)
- Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation (Producer)
Biographical History
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.
Scope and Content
Session 11. Court is not in session. Camera focuses on the prosecution as they discuss among themselves. The Judges enter and there is a blip at 00:04:13. An audio reel of Eichmann's pre-trial interrogation (in German) is being played. Following a blip at 00:06:43, the court translates the recording into Hebrew/English which discusses child deportation in 1942. During the interrogation, witness Avner Less presents Eichmann with a document concerning child transports. Eichmann's reponse is choppy, and he claims a faulty memory. District Attorney Gideon Hausner requests the tape be played from page 711 of the interrogation transcripts, and the translation describes Less questioning the participation of Eichmann's department IVB4' in Jewish transports. Hausner requests an excerpt on page 716 of the interrogation transcripts; in the recording, Less asks Eichmann, "Was the Final Solution of the Jewish question also a law of the Reich?" Eichmann explains the Final Solution. Following a series of blips, the court translates page 855 of Eichmann's interrogation where he discusses 'natural selection,' and treatment of the Jews as defined by Himmler. Hausner questions Less about page 932 in the interrogation transcripts and the Prosecution requests page 932 be played in court. There is a blip at 00:36:46 which skips to the presiding Judge Moshe Landau disputing the interrogation recording; he states there is a discrepancy between the audio reel and the official transcripts. Hausner agrees to check the discrepancy, and continues to question Less about Eichmann's pre-trial interrogation. During the interrogation, Less and Eichmann discuss the Nationalist Socialist faith in God, and Less questions Eichmann about an article that appeared in Der Stern, vol. 28 of July 9, 1960. Less highlights marginal notes Eichmann wrote in the book, "Die Letzten Tage der Reichskanzlei" [The Last Days of the Chancellery of the Reich]. Eichmann's marginal notes discredit author Gerhard Boldt as a scoundrel, villain, and traitor after reading of Boldt's disloyalty to the Fuehrer. The interrogation continues to be played in court, and is repeatedly interrupted by blips in editing.
Note(s)
See official transcripts, published in "The Trial of Adolf Eichmann", Vol. I-V, State of Israel, Ministry of Justice, Jerusalem, 1994, pp. 147, 148, 149, 151, and 155-157. Also available online at the Nizkor Project. *In first ten minutes of master, bursts of noise (low response frequency) from previous dub; the sound is centered in the translator's booth. Hum in master; digital hits-improper playback of source. Blips: 00:04.13 to 00:04.16 00:06.28 to 00:06.34 00:06.43 to 00:06.46 00:20.32 to 00:20.35 00:24.05 to 00:24.09 00:36.46 to 00:36.48 00:49.06 to 00:49.11 00:54.59 to 00:55.02 00:58.47 to 00:58.48 01.50.19 to 01:55.05
Subjects
- EICHMANN, ADOLF
- LESS, AVNER
- COURTS/COURTROOMS
- TRIALS
- EICHMANN TRIAL
- POLICE
Places
- Jerusalem, Israel
Genre
- Unedited.
- Film