Eichmann Trial -- Session 107 -- Affidavits of Merten and Krumey

Session 107. Evidence of Defense witnesses taken abroad. The official translator reads long segments from a document that records the Attorney General's selections from the testimony of Witness Alfred Six, a defense witness. The testimony of Dr. Six is marked VII by the court. 00:02:10 Dr. Servatius chooses the next affidavit from Max Merten. The testimony was given at the Tiegarten Court in Berlin, Germany on May 29-31, 1961. Merten comments that he could not comment on Eichmann before his trial because his Defense attorney told him not to discuss any high ranking officials. Merten admits that some statements in this statement contradict statements he made at his own trial. The Attorney General Hausner does not wish to quote anything from this affidavit. 00:10:10 Dr. Servatius calls from his next affidavit, witness Hermann Krumey. There is some fuss by the Judges concerning documents being delivered to the court. The affidavit describes how Krumey organized trains to evacuate the Poles from Poland so that the Germans could move there. Krumey would refer his orders to Eichmann's unit, not to the Reich's Railway System. Krumey mentioned one instance where Eichmann's unit said that "special treatment" was not necessary for a transport of children; Krumey asked why and demanded "special treatment" claiming that he had no idea that it really meant extermination. He said that Eichmann got orders often and could not issue orders of his own. 00:36:25 Tape quality deteriorates to where it is unwatchable. A slate appears and the tape resumes to halfway into the previous questions. The witness Krumey speaks about the activities of Eichmann's office. He notes that Eichmann's typist was not overworked, Eichmann focused on his personal life, and he did not exceed his orders. In fact, Krumey said, Eichmann forced him to put all his requests in writing so that higher authorities could answer him. 00:50:27 Hausner is asked if they marked any passages in the affidavits. He answers that they marked several, some of which had already been read by the Defense. The Judges decide those overlapping passages will not be reread. Tape stops midsentence as the first passages are being read for the Prosecution.