Eichmann Trial -- Session 100 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

The camera fades in on a long shot of the courtroom. Attorney General Gideon Hausner and Assistant State Attorney Gabriel Bach can be seen standing at the prosecution table to the right and the camera zooms into a medium shot of the two men. Assistant to the Attorney General Ya'akov Robinson enters (00:01:46) and talks with Hausner and Bach. The camera cuts to Eichmann entering the booth carrying documents and escorted by three Israeli guards (00:02:25). From another long shot of the courtroom defense counsel Robert Servatius can be seen entering the courtroom (00:03:25). The camera then cuts to a medium shot of Servatius seated at the defense table. All rise as the judges enter the courtroom (00:05:38) and the attorneys bow to the judges (00:05:45). Judge Landau opens the one-hundredth session of the trial (00:06:25). Hausner continues the cross examination of Eichmann by questioning him about whether or not Rolf Günther, his deputy, was present at the Wannsee Conference (00:06:51) and if the accused's notation at the conference that eleven million Jews were to be liquidated was correct (00:09:48). Eichmann denies Günther's presence at the conference (00:07:01), stating that he must have been mistaken when he wrote it in his memoirs, and that it was only later he found out that the number stated at the conference was wrong but that at the time he believed it to be correct in reference to the number of Jews in Europe (00:09:56). Hausner continues, asking Eichmann about Reinhard Heydrich receiving Alfred Rosenberg's proposal called "Brown Folder" shortly after the Wannsee Conference (00:12:26), Heydrich's disagreement with Rosenberg's draft (00:13:05), and request for corrections. The accused states that he does not remember the proposal and only read about it recently. Eichmann is asked whether the corrections made to the "Brown Folder" project reflected the decisions made at the Wannsee Conference (00:15:17). There is a long discussion concerning the amendments made to the "Brown Folder" proposal during which Hausner presents a document showing that Heydrich indicated to Rosenberg that Eichmann would make the corrections to the proposal (00:16:29) which Eichmann denies having done stating that had he made the corrections he would have initialed the document. The accused notes that the corrections made to the document are in the handwriting of a typist from department IIA2 (00:17:39). When asked whether he is disputing the fact that Heydrich named him to make corrections to the document, Eichmann states that he does not deny it (00:24:11). The discussion concerning corrections made to the "Brown Folder" draft continues and Eichmann repeatedly denies having made the amendments. Footage cuts (00:32:17 to 00:33:22) Footage resumes without missing any of the session. Eichmann is further questioned about his role in amending the draft for the "Brown Folder" project. Hausner asks the accused if the project was in reference to the Final Solution (00:36:30) and contained directives in all spheres of life for the Eastern Territories including the Jews (00:46:43). The time codes change from 00:50:08 to 09:07:09 and continue from the new time code to the end of the session. The following footage is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2167 (at 00:00:25). Hausner asks the accused whether he read Friedel's report on the Bialystok matter and notes that Friedel states that the order to liquidate the ghettos came directly from department IVB4 (09:07:15 and on Tape 2167 at 00:00:45). Eichmann testifies that Bialystok was part of the incorporated Eastern Territories and his section merely had to carry out the deportations ordered by Heinrich Himmler (09:07:52 and on Tape 2167 at 00:00:58). Hausner asks Eichmann to indicate on a map (hung on the wall to the left of the accused's booth) the territories incorporated into the Reich (09:09:15 and on Tape 2167 at 00:02:21). Judge Landau allows the accused to move out of the booth and go over to the map. Eichmann is escorted out of the booth by guards and given a pole to indicate places on the map (09:10:11 and on Tape 2167 at 00:03:15). There are shots of Eichmann pointing to the map and of the audience watching him. The camera cuts to a larger shot of the courtroom and people can be seen watching Eichmann from the balcony (09:10:35 and on Tape 2167 at 00:03:41). Eichmann is unable to locate Bialystok on the map and Hausner approaches and points to the city on the map with the queue (09:12:44 and on Tape 2167 at 00:05:48). The Attorney General proceeds to present two publications noting the boarder changes of Europe during World War II (09:13:12 and on Tape 2167 at 00:06:21). There is a brief summary about the possession of Bialystok during the war followed by a notation by Hausner that it was not until 1942 that the Political department in concentration camps was transferred to the jurisdiction of the Economic-Administrative Head Office. Hausner further states that as far as assignments and the release of prisoners from concentration camps is concerned that responsibility stayed with the Reich Security Main Office and did not change (09:17:03 and on Tape 2167 at 00:09:21). There is a technical problem with the simultaneous translation (09:18:03 and on Tape 2167 at 00:14:40). Servatius asks whether only the geographical portion of the documents being presented by Hausner will be used as evidence (09:19:25). Hausner begins to proceed with the cross examination and Judge Landau notes there is still a problem with the translation (09:21:33). The camera cuts to a shot of the technician's booth (09:22:23 and on Tape 2167 at 00:15:29). The interpreter begins to translate Hausner's previous statement in German (and on Tape 2167 at 00:15:51). Cross examination of the accused continues with Hausner noting that control over assignments to concentration camps did not change when the Economic-Administrative Department took over control of the concentration camps (09:23:09). A report from Odilo Globocnik is presented to the accused indicating that Operation Reinhardt has been concluded because resettlement has ended (09:24:19). Hausner tells the accused that the document means that all the Jews had been sent to concentration camps. There is a medium shot of the translator as Hausner's statement to the accused is translated into German (09:25:03). Hausner further notes that later in the document, dated 3 November 1943, that all workers were sent to labor camps (09:27:26). Eichmann acknowledges that the reference in the first part of the document means that the Jewish Question had ended (09:25:36). As he looks in the document for the second portion indicated by Hausner, Judge Landau corrects the Attorney General stating that the document reads "withdrawn from the labor camp" (09:28:39). Hausner recognizes the correction and notes that the document refers to the liquidation of the last inmates from Majdanek- that Globocnik was reporting that the extermination camps had been liquidated in the General Government (09:28:47). Eichmann testifies that although he had nothing to do with this matter he agrees based on the document (09:29:50). Reading on, Eichmann is told that the concentration camps have been handed over to the jurisdiction of the Economic-Administrative Department and Hausner asks the accused whether he agrees that until November 1943 the camps were controlled by the Reich Main Security Office (09:30:58). Eichmann denies the claim and goes on to suggest that Globocnik and Heydrich may have been involved in this matter (09:32:11).