The Eichmann Trial

SESSION 66 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Tuesday, June 6, 1961. The session commences with a discussion on the sensitive nature of hearing testimony from victims of sterilization who wish to remain anonymous. It is agreed by the prosecution and defense that such testimony may be heard ‘in camera’ (privately, in the judges’ chambers). A discussion then ensues in regard the prosecution’s request to enter documentary films as evidence and to screen them in court. The films in question were taken by Allied forces upon liberating the concentration camps and had previously been screened at the Nuremberg trials. Eichmann’s defense attorney, Dr. Robert Servatius, points out that some scenes may be re-enactments conducted by liberators to show what life in the camp had been like, and that these must be distinguished from authentic material. It is decided that the films should be screened in advance in private—without the judges or audience present—so that Servatius can review the material before it is formally presented in court. This pre-screening will take place in SESSION 69.5. After these discussions, Simon Srebrnik testifies about his time in the Chelmno extermination camp, a topic first explored in SESSION 65. After some documentation regarding Chelmno is submitted into evidence by the prosecution, the focus turns to the Treblinka extermination camp. Ya’akov Wiernik testifies about his time at Treblinka, referring to an enlarged photograph of a model he built of the camp. Kalman Teigman describes in detail the logistics of the operation of the gas chambers there and an attempted rebellion by the prisoners. Eliahu Rosenberg (not to be confused with prior witnesses Adolf or Moshe Rosenberg) describes the gassing process in detail. Avraham Lindwasser describes being put to work pulling gold teeth from gassing victims, a practice he was unable to continue after discovering his own sister’s body. He is briefly cross-examined by Dr. Servatius. Finally, Moshe Bahir—who had testified the previous day in SESSION 65—returns to clarify an issue regarding a photograph he had mentioned in his previous testimony.

The vast majority of SESSION 66 has been lost. The approximately 40 minutes of surviving footage—including material from each witness except Bahir—is presented here. Two brief sections survive only via an audio recording featuring a simultaneous spoken English translation.