The Eichmann Trial

ABOUT THIS SESSION

SESSION 68 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Wednesday, June 7, 1961. The session begins with the brief confirmation of plans to screen documentary films in private in advance of their submission into evidence. This private screening will take place in SESSION 69.5, with the public screening taking place the next day in SESSION 70. Yehiel Di-Nur then takes the stand. Di-Nur, an Auschwitz survivor, had written a series of bestselling books about his experience under the pen name ‘Ka-Tsetnik’ (a Hebrew-language pun that translates roughly to ‘Concentration Camper’). Until the moment of his testimony, his true identity was not known to the public. After a poetic and meandering description of life in Auschwitz, Di-Nur rises from his seat and faints. Attempts to revive him are unsuccessful, and he is removed from the courtroom on a stretcher. This sequence of events was widely reproduced around the world, and has become one of the most iconic and indelible images of the Eichmann trial. Di-Nur would not return to complete his testimony. Following Di-Nur’s shortened time on the witness stand, Joseph Zalman Kleinman testifies about his experience in Auschwitz, including a selection run by Dr. Josef Mengele. Yehuda Bakon testifies next, recalling his experience as a teenager in Auschwitz. He is cross-examined by Eichmann’s defense counsel, Dr. Robert Servatius. Bakon will return for additional testimony in SESSION 69. Finally, Alfred Oppenheimer testifies about his time at Gleiwitz, Theresienstadt and Auschwitz, and is briefly cross-examined by Servatius.

Although the majority of SESSION 68 has been lost, the approximately one hour of surviving footage—including excerpts from each witness’s testimony—is presented here. The first minute of Kleinman’s testimony survives only via an audio recording. Note that there is no audio available for the first couple of minutes of the session, until 02:22.