Eichmann Trial -- Session 96 -- Cross-examination of the Accused

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. Footage begins in the middle of Session 96 during cross examination of the accused by Attorney General Gideon Hausner. Eichmann is questioned about regret he expressed in 1957 that Jews managed to survive in Hungary which he denies having stated (00:00:49). Hausner points out that this fact has already been accepted by the court and goes on to note that in 1957 the accused stated that it was Hermann Krumey and Dieter Wisliceny's fault "that the Magyar people were exposed to the terror of a Jewish secret police" (00:01:15). Eichmann replies that he can not remember saying that but does recall saying something about the revolt (00:01:46). Hausner reads an excerpt from the Sassen interview in German (00:02:25) in which Eichmann states that he has no regrets. The Sassen document was comprised of a set of tapes and their transcripts of interviews between Eichmann and Willem Sassen. Sassen, Dutch by birth, was a journalist attached to an Einsatzgruppen unit during the war. Sentenced to death in his own country, Sassen fled to South America after the war where he met and interview Eichmann over a four month period in 1957. This entire section is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2149 (from 00:36:51 to 00:39:23) The accused protests stating that he never said these comments, that it is a mixture of fact and fiction (00:03:45). Hausner asks Eichmann to identify the parts of the document which are fact and which are fiction (00:07:38). Eichmann is shown examining the document and after a short reply is asked by Judge Landau, in German, for a clearer answer to the Attorney General's questions (00:09:16). Hausner presents a document, accepted in its entirety by the accused; containing no hint that Eichmann felt that the crimes against the Jews should not be repeated (00:10:56). When asked if in 1957 he had the opinion that the Jews were an enemy and should be destroyed (00:12:34), Eichmann replies that his opinion did not relate to the physical extermination of the Jews (00:12:50). This segment is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2149 (from 00:39:53 to 00:41:47) Footage cuts (00:13:39 to 00:13:45) A section of the proceeding is skipped. Footage resumes with Hausner reading a passage, in German, of the accused's reflection on the survival of a portion of the Jewish population. Eichmann responds that he is unable to say definitively "yes" or "no" that these were his opinions (00:14:18). Another quote is read in German by Hausner (00:16:23) and again Eichmann states that he does not know if these statements were his (00:20:19). This segment is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2149 (from 00:51:37 to 00:59:18). Footage cuts (00:24:00 to 00:24:05) A large section of the session is missing. Footage resumes with questioning by Hausner concerning the use of the Jewish star as a badge. Hausner, Judge Landau, and Judge Halevi question Eichmann about why the badges were implemented and what purpose they served. This segment is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2151 (from 00:57:23 to 00:59:35). The footage on tape 2150 is more complete. Footage cuts (00:32:09 to 00:32:13) Footage continues without missing any portion of the session. Hausner asks Eichmann if other participants such as Dannecker, Günther, and Wisliceny knew about the fate of the Jews. Eichmann testifies that he did not discuss it with them (00:33:43). When asked if they simply did not know what happened to the deported Jews, Eichmann states that for a long time he and many others did not know where the deportees were going or what happened to them but he did not make this one of his concerns. This last statement made by Eichmann is complete in German, Hebrew, and English. This segment is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2152 (from 00:00:20 to 00:04:44).