The Eichmann Trial

SESSION 51 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the afternoon of Wednesday, May 24, 1961. It begins with the resumption of the submission of documents on Nazi actions in Slovakia into evidence by Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Bach, a process that began in SESSION 49. Adolf Rosenberg testifies on the occupation of Slovakia and life in a work camp. After the submission of several more documents, the Slovakian chapter is completed. The prosecution turns to Hungary with the submission of several documents into evidence. Pinchas Freudiger (formerly Philip von Freudiger) begins his testimony in regard to the Nazi occupation of Hungary. One of the most controversial witnesses at the trial, Freudiger had been a member of the Judenrat, a council of Jewish leaders formed by the Nazis to interface between the government and the Jewish population. The Judenrat were later criticized by many for helping to facilitate deportations and for concealing atrocities in Auschwitz from the greater Jewish population (a situation that Freudiger will address directly when his testimony continues in SESSION 52).

Much of SESSION 51 has been lost, including the entirety of Rosenberg’s testimony. The roughly ninety minutes of surviving footage—including almost all of Freudiger’s testimony—are presented here.