Eichmann Trial -- Session 101 -- Cross-examination of the Accused: Liechtenstein, concentration camp authority, Eichmann's autonomy

Session 101. Eichmann answers questions about the Bondi case involving Jews whom Eichmann refused to grant passage to Sweden. Attorney General Hausner, along with the Judges, question Eichmann. The freedoms for Jews in Liechtenstein is discussed. When asked how this applies to him, he says that his office was in charge of all things dealing with property. 00:12:42 Hausner asks why Eichmann was the one choosing who was in command of a certain concentration camp. He says that he does not know, considering that it was 20 years ago. He says that the SD was inexperienced in his region, and so he made sure the right man was chosen because it affected his office. 00:20:39 Hausner asks Eichmann if it is correct to say that he and Mueller had no authority to put people into concentration camps. Eichmann answers that Mueller had this authority, but that authority was never given to him. Hausner presses the issue, showing Eichmann a document where he says that he wants certain people in a camp, referring to himself in the first person. When Hausner jokes that he is sure that Eichmann will insist he is referring to Mueller, the President of Court says that he will not permit such behavior. Eichmann answers that this is simply the bureaucratic channels and the person is not relevant. He is then asked about a request he made to export certain Jews from then-independent Romania, and the related authority there. He gives unclear answers, saying that if he were given more time to study the documents, he could give more in his testimony. 00:35:20 After some discussion about a translation, a document is submitted that discusses the system of ranks involved in a temporary replacement of Mueller. Eichmann says that it is very confusing and impossible to understand. Hausner moves on. Eichmann then reads a document dealing with that issue, and how he thought that he would have been chosen to fill in for Mueller and that he avoided the office when he was gone. Eichmann says that, though his memory is fuzzy, he does not believe that was the case. Debate over the relevancy of this evidence is raised by the Judges. 00:53:12 Hausner reads a quote by Eichmann where he says that he made a decision in the spirit of Mueller. Eichmann vehemently contradicts this, saying that he could not do this, did not do this, and everyone around him supported that evidence. With decisions that appeared to be Eichmann working in someone's spirit, he says that he obtained permission ahead of time, not tried to seek cover after it happened. 01:04:54 Hausner changes topics, asking Eichmann's relation to the Lidice children and a phone call he got concerning it. When Eichmann says that he cannot remember any such conversation, Hausner attacks him, saying that such a thing was not a normal occurrence and could not escape his memory. He says that when it concerns the children, he does not remember, though he remembers the assassination of Heydrich.