Eichmann Trial -- Session 101 -- Cross-examination of the Accused: Sonderbehandlung, Germanization, and skeletons

Session 101. Attorney General Hausner asks Eichmann if he took the initiative to make his own decisions, which Eichmann emphatically denies. He says that he never gave any orders and never acted without orders. 00:01:44 Hausner changes topics, asking about the Lidice children and a phone call associated with it (duplicate footage from Tape 2173). When Eichmann says that he cannot remember any such conversation, the Attorney General 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. Why Eichmann was contacted about any of this becomes the primary question, considering his claims that he was not competent to make any of these decisions. This becomes quite a heated discussion. 00:18:11 Eichmann insists that he cannot remember things, that he must rely on documents, and based solely on these documents, it is clear to him that these people could have worked around him, without his knowledge or influence. Hausner asks if they could talk without documents, just from his memory. He says that he had no control over any of this, and that all of this qualified as special treatment. He asks how Eichmann defines Sonderbehandlung [special treatment], which Eichmann previously described as meaning "killing", and here he says that killing is only one definition, which is alongside deportations, relocations, and taking prisoners to munitions factories to work, which all fell under different offices than his own. 00:23:17 Tape is interrupted by a slate, returns to Eichmann sitting in his booth, with nobody talking. Eventually, the translator begins with Eichmann's words, saying that Sonderbehandlung began meaning the transport of persons. This is a slight overlap in footage. 00:26:47 Tape is interrupted by a slate, returns to Eichmann talking. It is a slight overlap in the tape. After Eichmann says that his office was not involved, the Judges look into some documents and notice that Sonderbehandlung is mentioned with Germanization. They show the Attorney General Hausner. He asks Eichmann if this instance is about killing, and Eichmann says it isn't. 00:34:48 Eichmann says that here, Sonderbehandlung refers to Germanization of people, and the ability to do that. He asks if Krumey knew that Eichmann's office was incapable of dealing with that topic. He gives evasive answers and Hausner presses for an answer. 00:41:45 Hausner changes topics, asking about the skeleton affair, where there were requests to Eichmann to supply 150 human skeletons daily. Eichmann says he cannot remember, and the Attorney General attacks this. He insists that he could have no part in this request, because his office was completely incompetent in these matters. Hausner continues to press this issue, asking why Eichmann would be sought for this matter if he was not able to help with this situation, doing this with the references of many people. 00:51:57 Hausner, continuing his questioning of Eichmann concerning the skeletons affair, asks about Seavers, and why he contacts Eichmann's office specifically. Eichmann claims he does not know why, because he did not deal with any of that. Hausner cites a SS letter, addressed directly to Eichmann, where he asks for even higher confirmation regarding the request. Eichmann insists that all of this is untrue, and Mueller was the one who answered such things, giving projects to Guenter. Eichmann asks why his name is not on the document if it is to him, and insists that these orders were not for him. 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.