War Crimes Trials: Einsatzgruppen Case

(Munich 638) War Crimes Trials - Subsequent Trial Proceedings, Case 9 (Einsatzgruppen Case). US assistant prosecutor John Glancy reading prosecution's opening statement and discussing the evidence against the four units of the Einsatzgruppen. He specifically addresses the crimes of Adolf Ott (Commander of Sonderkommando 7b of Einsatzgruppe B), Waldemar Klingelhoefer (Leader of Vorkommando Moscow of Einsatzgruppe B), and Franz Six (Leader of Vorkommando Moscow of Einsatzgruppe B). Einsatzgruppe C killed 80,000 people. Glancy specifically refers to the crimes of Erwin Schulz (Leader of Einsatzkommando 5) and Ernst Biberstein (Leader of Einsatzkommando 6) both sub-Kommandos of Einsatzgruppe C. Einsatzgruppe D, lead by defendant Otto Ohlendorf, was responsible for the murder of 90,000 people. Willy Seibert, Gustav Nosske, Felix Ruehl, and Heinz Schubert are all implicated in the crimes. Evidence indicates that on average 340 people - including Jews, Roma, Asiatics, and undesirables - were killed per day by Einsatzgruppe D. 07:06:20 Chief prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz reads from the indictment. He defines the charges of war crimes (Count 1) and crimes against humanity (Count 2). He makes a distinction between the two, indicating that crimes against humanity can be committed outside of war, against civilians, and can happen at any time and any place. 07:09:45 During the reading of evidence by Ferencz, defendant Ernst Biberstein's attorney Dr. Berger objects to the submission of evidence. Ferencz resumes entering evidence, reading document No. 3824 against Paul Blobel into the record. Paul Blobel's attorney objects against Blobel's affidavit. He wants the interrogator Ralph Wartenberg to be made available for cross-examination. Presiding Judge Michael Musmanno speaks briefly. HS, tribunal comprising Musmanno, John J. Speight, and Richard D. Dixon. Ferencz continues with the submission of evidence.