Eichmann Trial -- Session 92 -- Cross-examination of the Accused about the Madascar Plan, deportations, "im Auftrage"

The camera fades in on Hausner and Servatius seated in the courtroom. Assistant State Attorney Gavriel Bach enters (00:01:34). The camera pans to the empty booth. Adolf Eichmann enters the booth (00:02:51). All rise as the judges enter and Presiding Judge Moshe Landau opens the ninety-second session (00:04:58). Hausner begins cross-examination of the accused (00:05:23). Hausner continues his questioning from the previous session about the term "by order" (im Auftrage) which Eichmann used when he signed documents. This is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2133 (at 00:00:45 and again at 01:01:32). The footage on Tape 2133 is less complete. Eichmann is then questioned about when he first learned of Hitler's order for the "Final Solution" (00:24:48). Hausner attempts to determine exactly when Eichmann learned of the order and he presents a series of documents that show that Eichmann knew of the order much earlier than he claims. Hasuner questions Eichmann about the Madagascar Plan and asks when the plan was shelved in favor of the plan to exterminate the Jews (00:28:30). The Madagascar Plan predated the Nazi period but was revived during the war. Under this plan, Europe's Jews were to be expelled to the island of Madgascar, which belonged to the French. Hausner presents a series of documents to the accused asking him to indicate when, in the documents, the phrase "Final Solution" no longer means the Madagascar Plan but instead means extermination (00:37:06). Judge Raveh asks Eichmann to show them a particular document concerning deportations to the East (00:45:22). There is some visual interference but the audio continues uninterrupted (00:46:19). Some of the footage repeats. Judge Halevi questions the accused about a document which makes reference to the deportation of 50,000 Jews from Austria, Germany, and Czechoslovakia to Riga and Minsk (00:52:07). Hausner points out that Eichmann participated in a meeting in Prague on 10 October 1941 during which the deportation of 50,000 Jews was discussed, and that by this point Eichmann was aware that the "Final Solution" meant deportation to the East and then extermination. Eichmann is then questioned about his department, Section IVB4, and their involvement with other departments of the Reich Main Security Office (RSHA), in matters concerning the press and radio (00:56:38). Eichman testifies that the term "participate" did not mean actually taking part in the work. Hausner asks Eichmann whether he was aware that Eichmann's murderous activities were reported in journals outside Germany (00:59:54). The Attorney General cites a London-based journal called Die Zeitung dated 24 October 1941 which refers to Eichmann as the murderer of the Jews of Germany. Eichmann states that he has found many errors in such documents, and goes on to testify that other documents clearly show that he had nothing to do with "the killing and destruction." Hausner returns to the Madagascar plan, asking Eichmann if he ever made any practical attempts to promote it (01:04:23). The accused states that he did preliminary work after the plan had been approved and that he was the initiator of the idea itself. Hausner asks if the Madagascar Plan was meant to be implemented after the war with France was over (01:07:53). Eichmann begins to state that it would have been initiated once the peace treaty was signed when the footage ends. This section is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2134 (at 00:00:35). The footage on Tape 2134 is more complete.