Eichmann Trial -- Session 88 -- Cross-examination of the Accused about membership in the Nazi party and antisemitism
Creator(s)
- Leo Hurwitz (Director)
- Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation (Producer)
- F. Csaznik (Camera Operator)
- J. Jonilowicz (Camera Operator)
- Milton Fruchtman (Producer)
- Emil Knebel (Camera Operator)
- Rolf M. Kneller (Camera Operator)
- Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
- J. Kalach (Camera Operator)
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
The footage begins near the end of Session 88 during cross-examination of Eichmann by Attorney General Gideon Hausner. Hausner questions the accused about his dismissal from the Austrian Vacuum Oil Company. Eichmann maintains that he was dismissed because of his marital status and not because he joined the Nazi party. A small part of this section is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2123 (at 01:06:39). Hausner then asks about Eichmann's membership in the NSDAP, the SD, whether he joined these organizations of his own free will (00:03:52), and whether he ever tried to leave the Nazi party. Hausner asks Eichmann where he was when the war broke out (00:11:13), to which Eichmann responds that he was in either Vienna or in Prague. Hausner questions Eichmann about his attendance at the 1937 Nazi party rally in Nuremberg and whether, while at that rally, Eichmann recruited an American named Elmhurst to publish an antisemitic pamphlet called The World Hoax (00:15:09). The last question posed concerns Eichmann's regard for the Jews in 1937 (00:19:29). Eichmann states that he viewed the Jews as adversaries but that he thought the solution to the Jewish question should be solved to the mutual benefit of both the Germans and the Jews, by placing them in their own country. A small section of this is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2120 (at 00:37:24). Hausner wants to continue questioning Eichmann, but Judge Landau concludes the session for the day (00:22:01). All rise as the judges exit (00:23:44). Eichmann is shown leaving the booth (00:23:56). Shots of the courtroom as the audience files out.
Note(s)
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.
Subjects
- NAZI PARTY
- EICHMANN TRIAL
- JUDGES
- PROSECUTORS
- EICHMANN, ADOLF
- DOCUMENTS
- HAUSNER, GIDEON
- SS (SCHUTZSTAFFEL)
- LANDAU, MOSHE
- TRIALS
- SERVATIUS, ROBERT
- COURTS/COURTROOMS
- WAR CRIMINALS/WAR CRIMES TRIALS
- HALEVI, BENJAMIN
Places
- Jerusalem, Israel
Genre
- Unedited.
- Film