Eichmann Trial -- Session 97 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

There is visual interference throughout the footage. Footage begins in the latter portion of Session 97 at the end of a discussion on an apology sent to Eichmann by the Foreign Ministry for actions taken in unoccupied France concerning Jews without his consultation. Footage cuts (00:02:39 to 00:02:50) Attorney General Gideon Hausner cross examines the accused about the agreement between Theodor Danneker and Alexander Belev to deport Bulgarian Jews reached after Dannecker had received authorization from Eichmann to draw up the agreement (00:04:35). Belev was the Jewish Commissar for the Bulgarian Government. Eichmann replies that based on the documents this is correct but that Dannecker went to Bulgaria based on instructions from Heinrich Müller and Luther. Dr. Servatius interrupts cross examination, asking the court to request that Hausner ask relevant questions to the accused (00:06:56). Judge Landau tells Servatius that he believes Hausner's questions to be relevant (00:07:38). Cross examination continues. Eichmann is asked whether or not he remembers the agreement (00:10:19) and if it is true that he gave instructions to Dannecker (00:11:46). The accused states that naturally he was involved in this matter (00:12:24). Hausner presents a document noting a telephone conversation between him and Dannecker (00:12:53) but Eichmann testifies that the conversation could only have been a notification from Dannecker that an agreement had been reached (00:13:31). Hausner proceeds with the examination, asking Eichmann if he was satisfied with the agreement (00:14:51) and why there was a paragraph within the agreement stating that the Bulgarian Government would not ask for the Jews to be returned (00:16:23). Eichmann's answer is that it simply meant that "the responsible parties in the Reich attached importance to no Jew who had been deported from some country - in this case Bulgaria - being able to come back again and telling what he had experienced and seen" (00:18:05). Hausner states that he knew that the Jews being deported were going to extermination camps and it was therefore impossible to bring them back and that is why the notation was in the agreement (00:18:38). A letter with a note by Franz Rademacher stating "Eichmann proposes shooting" is presented by Hausner (00:21:18). Rademacher was an official of the Foreign Office heading department D III, the so-called Jewish desk. The accused states that the document reflects Rademacher's poor documentation of facts (00:22:09) and acknowledges that the document is in Rademacher's handwriting (00:24:58). Hausner asks why Rademacher would write this statement (00:25:07) and Eichmann states that it was merely a correction Rademacher made to the document so that he would not be punished by Ernst von Weizäcker, an official in the Foreign Office (00:25:43). There is a discussion on the date in which the correction was made and about a telephone conversation between the accused and Rademacher during which Eichmann is said to have ordered shootings. Hausner notes that Rademacher had been surprised by the accused's proposal to shoot the Serbian Jews (00:30:25). Eichmann denies the allegation and suggests that the document is a forgery. Footage cuts (00:35:25) The camera focuses on Servatius talking to an unidentified man. The prosecution including Hausner, Bach, and Bar-Or are seen leaving the courtroom.