Eichmann Trial -- Session 97 -- 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. The footage from 00:01:45 to 00:14:03 is duplicate footage also found on Tape 2154 (from 00:06:42 to 00:19:23). Footage begins in the middle of Session 97 with Eichmann being questioned about his consultations with Müller regarding the emigration of Jews with foreign nationality in Holland. Eichmann states that he is not sure whether Müller would have handled this matter on his own noting that he would have consulted the Chief of the Security Police an the SD, Reinhard Heydrich, because Heinrich Müller was generally hesitant to proceed without consulting a superior. Hausner yells at the accused saying that everyone appears to be cautious and asks who did make decisions in the Reich (00:05:47 and on Tape 2154 at 00:11:06). Eichmann does not give a clear answer and Hausner pressures him to tell him who he received instructions from in order to deal with Jews seeking foreign nationality in Holland. The Attorney General becomes very agitated by the insufficient answers from the accused and begins to gesture with his hands and shouting his questions to Eichmann. There is a small portion on non-duplicated footage from 00:14:04 to 00:19:28. During this segment Hausner presents a document to the accused noting that in letters sent by Eichmann to the Jewish Affairs officers in France and Norway, the accused writes "my office in Paris" or "my office in Oslo" (00:15:59) and nearly always addressed letters in the first person. The session continues with another segment of duplicate footage beginning at 00:19:53 also found on Tape 2154 (from 00:19:33 to 00:22:27). Hausner presents a document to the accused, a letter from him to von Thadden regarding the fate of a certain woman, in which Eichmann states that the woman is to be sent immediately to the East for labor service. The document is read in German by the Attorney General. The camera pans several times from Eichmann's face to his hands. Eichmann states that he regrets that he is unable to say, "Yes, I ordered this on my own initiative" (00:21:25 and on Tape 2154 at 00:21:04) because it would not accord with the truth. There is some visual interference beginning at 00:22:47. Footage cuts (00:23:29 to 00:24:10) A small portion of the last segment is repeated. Footage continues without missing any portion of the session. There is visual interference throughout this segment until 00:44:45. Hausner continues the cross examination asking Eichmann why he received a letter from Helmut Knochen, asking him to implore the Army High Command to send troops to escort the trains (00:26:41). Knochen was a SS and SD officer and was later appointed as a senior commander of the Security Police and SD in Paris Eichmann states that because the matter concerned transports he was consulted (00:28:02). Hausner goes on to ask why the German Foreign Ministry approached him to contact the High Command regarding anti-Jewish matters in Denmark, why him when they could have gone to the High Command themselves (00:31:15). The accused is presented with a document which he is shown looking over and then states that the matter concerned the general operations in Denmark and his office was merely one of the channels that paperwork passed through (00:32:04). The introduction of the Jewish badge into Belgium is raised. Eichmann is questioned regarding why he was asked to change the opinion of the chief of the military administration towards the introduction of the badge and how did he comply with this request (00:36:18). Cross examination continues and Eichmann is asked why he was in Berlin at all (00:41:19) and the accused states it was a bureaucratic matter and an administrative machine such as that takes more than one man (00:41:25). Judge Halevi interrupts the session and poses a few questions to the accused regarding the last document presented by Hausner. Footage cuts (00:45:10 to 00:45:24) Judge Halevi's questions to the accused are repeated and footage continues without missing any portion of the session. There is visual interference in this segment from 00:45:24 to 00:45:59. Hausner notes that Rader knew Müller's address and in other matters had contacted him but in this case Rader contacted Eichmann because he knew it was within his jurisdiction. This is a continuation of the discussion regarding the introduction of the badges into Belgium. Hausner questions the accused about his meetings in France, Belgium, and Holland with members of the BdS (00:53:52) and how often he communicated with Knochen, Harster, Naumann and Werner Best. The BdS is an abbreviation for Befehlshaber der Sicherheitspolizei und des SD (Commander-in-Chief of the Security Police and the SD). Eichmann states that he did occasionally meet with the BdS and goes on to list the number of times he was in contact with the individual men. The Attorney General continues, asking whether these visits with the BdS were not only personal but involved discussion and implementation of official business matters (00:56:32) which Eichmann answers in the affirmative. Eichmann is questioned about his meeting with Theodor Dannecker in Paris on 1 July 1942 (00:57:03). Hausner argues that the meeting was used for laying down the implementation of the Final Solution to the Jewish Question in France (01:00:35). Judge Landau asks to adjourn for a recess and all rise as the judges exit the courtroom (01:01:32). The camera shows shots of the attorneys and the audience before focusing on Servatius. The camera zooms in onto Servatius gathering his things and the camera fades out.