SESSION LIX
ABOUT THIS SESSION
SESSION 59 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Wednesday, May 31, 1961. The session begins with the resumption of the testimony of Hansi Brand, which began in SESSION 58. Brand’s husband, Joel Brand, had negotiated the exchange of Jews for trucks directly with Eichmann during the war. Mrs. Brand is examined by the judges in regard to this proposal and her other activities during the war. She describes Eichmann as having made all decisions affecting the deportation of Jews to Auschwitz. Asked whether the Relief and Rescue Committee to which she belonged had ever considered assassinating Eichmann, she responds that this was not their mission and that he would only have been replaced by someone else. She is briefly examined by Defense Counsel Dr. Robert Servatius, after which Joel Brand completes his testimony, which began in SESSIONS 56 and 57. He is examined by the judges on several points, frequently responding with combative answers. Further documentation on Nazi activity in Hungary is submitted into evidence by Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Bach, before the session is finally adjourned following an interruption from a protestor in the audience.
Much of SESSION 59 has been lost. The roughly ninety minutes of surviving footage are presented here.
NOTABLE MOMENTS
0:00:00 - Examination of Hansi Brand by the judges
0:00:53 - Brand says Eichmann was responsible for all matters having to do with Jews
0:01:52 - Brand says it was known that Eichmann was sending Jews to the gas chambers
0:02:18 - Brand is asked if her committee ever considered assassinating Eichmann
0:07:41 - Examination of Joel Brand by the judges
0:12:30 - Judge Halevi lightly scolds Brand for his emotional responses
0:18:06 - Recess
0:19:51 - Unusual camera angle shows the stenographers’ balcony
0:20:18 - Eichmann re-enters the courtroom
0:22:47 - The judges re-enter the courtroom
0:23:37 - Session 59 resumes
0:50:21 - Brand describes skepticism in Turkey in regard to Nazi atrocities
0:59:51 - Asked how well he speaks English, Brand responds “My English is quite well.”
1:01:55 - The translation of the above exchange draws laughter in the courtroom
1:03:39 - Re-Examination of Joel Brand by Gideon Hausner
1:16:34 - Cross-Examination of Joel Brand by Dr. Robert Servatius
1:21:16 - Submission of documents on Hungary (cont.)
1:29:05 - Protestor interrupts the proceedings, court is adjourned
1:29:45 - Eichmann exits
TRANSCRIPT
Material highlighted green survives in video form.
Material highlighted pink has been lost.