Eichmann Trial -- Sessions 100 and 101 -- Cross-examination of the Accused
Creator(s)
- Emil Knebel (Camera Operator)
- Rolf M. Kneller (Camera Operator)
- J. Kalach (Camera Operator)
- Capital Cities Broadcasting Corporation (Producer)
- F. Csaznik (Camera Operator)
- Milton Fruchtman (Producer)
- Leo Hurwitz (Director)
- Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive
- J. Jonilowicz (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
There are shots of the courtroom, Eichmann in the booth, and medium shots of people in the audience. All rise as the judges enter the courtroom (00:35:45). Judge Landau opens the one-hundred first session of the trial (00:36:06). Attorney General Gideon Hausner presents a document to the court as proof of Heinrich Himmler's appointment to the Ministry of the Interior (00:36:28) and proceeds with the cross examination (00:39:20) asking Eichmann if Theodor Dannecker carried out his orders in Italy. The accused states that he had nothing to do with Dannecker's actions in Italy. Hausner proceeds to ask Eichmann about various activities he was involved in including whether the deportations of Norwegian Jews was organized by his department (00:42:24), why he went to Denmark (00:42:54), and if he was angry at Werner Best for the failure of the operations in Denmark (00:44:06). There is a long discussion on whether or not Eichmann was angry about the failed Denmark campaign. Cross examination continues with Hausner asking the accused about instructions he gave to prevent priests from visiting Jewish labor camps (00:51:42) and his refusal to allow two brothers, Heinz and Alexander Bondi, to leave for Sweden citing security reasons (00:54:52). Eichmann testifies that the Bondi case did not involve security reasons but the Security Police instructions and bans issued by Himmler (00:55:51). Hausner notes that the accused did not refer to instructions or orders but to reasons of security and Eichmann replies that he could not authorize any exceptions (00:57:37). Judge Halevi and Landau question the accused on this matter noting that in the same document in which the Bondi children are refused permission to emigrate, three people are authorized to go to Sweden. The English translation for this last section is partially given. The translation of Eichmann's answers to both judge's questions are delayed and only a portion of his answers are translated into English. Judge Landau and Judge Halevi's questions are immediately translated into English.
Note(s)
The VHS (User Copy) contains no audio from the beginning of the footage until 00:35:05. 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
- PALESTINE
- CONFERENCE (WANNSEE)
- BERGEN-BELSEN
- PROSECUTORS
- GERMANS
- JUDGES
- EICHMANN TRIAL
- TRIALS
- AUSCHWITZ
- RACIAL SCIENCE
- DEPORTATIONS
- WESTERBORK
- NETHERLANDS
- COURTS/COURTROOMS
- EICHMANN, ADOLF
- FRANCE
- JEWS
- HAUSNER, GIDEON
Places
- Jerusalem, Israel
Genre
- Film
- Unedited.