Eichmann Trial -- Sessions 16 and 17 -- Documents admitted as evidence; witnesses M. Fleischmann and F. Meyer testify
Creator(s)
- Emil Knebel (Camera Operator)
- Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation (Producer)
- Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
- Rolf M. Kneller (Camera Operator)
- J. Kalach (Camera Operator)
- J. Jonilowicz (Camera Operator)
- Leo Hurwitz (Director)
- Milton Fruchtman (Producer)
- F. Csaznik (Camera Operator)
- Moritz Fleischmann (Subject)
Biographical History
Moritz Fleischmann was born in Vienna, Austria on June 2, 1889. Prior to the Nazi invasion, Fleischmann held several public offices within the Jewish community including Commissions of the Council of the Jewish Community, Zionist National Committee, President of Charitable Associations and of the Association of Furriers, and a former member of the Presidium of the Jewish National Fund. He also held offices outside of the Jewish community such as the executive position of the Association of Austrian Fur Manufacturers and Merchants, and a member of the City Council in Vienna. After Nazi occupation, most of the Jewish organizations were abolished, and Jewish leaders arrested. The leaders who avoided arrest, including Fleischmann continued to meet and organize assistance for the Jewish community in Vienna. In March 1938, the remaining Jewish leaders received an invitation to meet with the Gestapo in a local hotel. When Fleischmann and the leaders arrived, an SS officer led them to Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann told the Jewish leaders that he demanded obedience and cooperation with his directives for making Austria, 'judenrein' (clean of Jews). A few days later, Fleischmann went to visit Emil Engel, the Director of the Office; SS officers saw Fleischmann approach, and forced him to scrub the pavement with a bucket full of boiling hot water and corrosive acid and a rag. The acid soon caused Fleischmann's hands to become swollen and burnt. Toward the end of 1938, Fleishmann received another invitation from the Gestapo to hear Eichmann speak; Eichmann spoke about his disappointment with the rate of Jewish deportations, and demanded the Jewish leaders expedite the process. In August 1939, Fleischmann left Vienna for England without any identification or visa, and remained there permanently.
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
Sessions 16 and 17. Attorney General Gideon Hausner reads excerpts from Dieter Wisliceny's statement: "The Final Solution of the Jewish Question was Eichmann's life mission" After a blip at 00:03:40, Hausner continues to read from Wisliceny's statement about Eichmann's interactions with the Grand Mufti. Wisliceny mentions a Jewish child transport from Poland to the Theresienstadt camp to exchange for civilian prisoners. The Grand Mufti objected: "...he protested vigorously to Himmler, using the argument that these Jewish children would, within a few years become adults and would strengthen the Jewish element in Palestine." Blip at 00:11:30. Hausner discusses Huppenkothen's affidavit, and Eichmann's opinions about Huppenkothen. The Prosecution submits an affidavit, and examination of Eberhard von Thadden, officer in the German Foreign Office. Following a blip at 00:18:56, Court officials discuss the prospect of bringing von Thadden into Court rather than relying on his affidavit. Defense Attorney Dr. Robert Servatius believes von Thadden should be brought to Court as a witness. Hausner contends that von Thadden is a war criminal, and therefore he cannot come to Israel without threat of arrest. Servatius argues that von Thadden should receive free passage and temporary immunity as provided by the agreement of judicial aid with German Federal Republic. The Prosocution asserts it will not request von Thadden's presence, even if such a provision exists. After a blip at 00:27:02, Judge Benjamin Halevi comments on the validity of an article found in Life magazine. Another blip at 00:32:06. The Court discusses the possibility of bringing in witnesses for the Defense. Hausner states that von Thadden will not receive immunity, and should he appear, he will be arrested and prosecuted. After a blip at 00:38:55, witness Moritz Fleischmann describes SS treatment. He recounts a raid upon the synagogue on the Tempelgasse. 00:40:10 Fleischmann makes a statement that is not in the official transcripts: "And while I was lying down on my stomach doing this job, the SS sentries threw out the chief rabbi, Dr. Tagliech-a man of seventy, and he like myself was ordered to brush the pavements. I should feel the full force of the degradation and the inhumanity of it. He was thrown out wearing his gown and with his prayer shawl on-his talit. While he was lying down on the pavement, the same sentry asked him in a spirit of cynism, 'Well, how do you like it?' And he replied, 'If God thinks that this is right, then I am His servant'" Blip at 00:42:11. Witness Dr. Franz Eliezer Meyer discusses 1936-37 meetings with Eichmann in Prinz Albrechtstrasse. Assistant State Attorney Ya'Akov Bar-Or questions Meyer about Eichmann. After a blip at 00:49:10, Meyer continues to describe Eichmann, and he notes a change in Eichmann's demeanor between 1937 and 1939: "Now, here was this man with the attitude of an autocrat controlling life and death..." Meyer discusses Eichmann's request to transfer Jewish foreign currency for emigrations. Bar-Or asks Meyer about identity cards for Jews.
Note(s)
*First part of tape out of synch with Hebrew. General hum in picture, some distortion. See official transcripts, published in "The Trial of Adolf Eichmann", Vol. I-V, State of Israel, Ministry of Justice, Jerusalem, 1994, pp. 242-244, 249-252, 259, 260, 265, 266, 268, 269. Also available online at the Nizkor Project.
Subjects
- HOESS, RUDOLF
- BAR-OR, YAACOV
- TRIALS
- HUSSEINI, HAJJ AMIN AL
- EICHMANN, ADOLF
- EICHMANN TRIAL
- DOCUMENTS
- COURTS/COURTROOMS
Places
- Jerusalem, Israel
Genre
- Film
- Unedited.