The Eichmann Trial

SESSION 54 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Friday, May 26, 1961. It begins with a brief discussion on conducting examinations of certain former Nazis abroad. Avraham Gordon then testifies about his time working at Eichmann’s private villa in Budapest. He testifies that he once witnessed Eichmann and another man beat a teenage boy to death for stealing cherries, becoming the only witness in the trial to claim that Eichmann had committed an act of murder in the first degree (a 2025 news article revealed that while the beating did take place, the teen narrowly survived). Because of a lack of corroborating witnesses or evidence as to this alleged murder, it was not included in the indictment against Eichmann. Eichmann’s defense attorney, Dr. Robert Servatius, cross-examines Gordon at length, attempting to poke holes in his testimony. The judges examine Gordon as well. The prosecution then submits into evidence several documents related to Nazi actions in Hungary. An extensive conversation ensues over the prosecution’s desire to show a number of documentary films previously used as evidence at the Nuremberg trials. Servatius asks to have an opportunity to review the films ahead of their screening in court, and is granted his request (the films will be screened for the defense in SESSION 69.5 and in court in SESSION 70). More documents are submitted on Hungary, and then former Budapest lawyer Dr. Tibor Ferencz testifies as to comments made by Hungarian Nazi leaders László Endre and László Baky prior to their execution on Eichmann’s role in Hungary. Ferencz is briefly cross-examined by Servatius and the judges before his testimony concludes.

Much of SESSION 54 has been lost. The roughly one hour of surviving footage is presented here.