SESSION LXXVIII
ABOUT THIS SESSION
SESSION 78 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Friday, June 23, 1961. In this session, Defense Counsel Dr. Robert Servatius continues his direct examination of Eichmann, which began in SESSION 75. Topics discussed include: the use of gas trucks to execute Jews; Eichmann’s awareness of plans for the Final Solution; Eichmann’s involvement in the decision to mark Jews; Heinrich Himmler’s position in the Nazi hierarchy; Eichmann’s involvement in transporting Jews; and Eichmann’s role in the Wannsee Conference.
Although much of the footage from SESSION 78 has been lost, the approximately seventy minutes of surviving material is presented here. Some sections survive only via contemporaneous news broadcasts, and contain minor edits by the broadcaster. One section, at 14:00, features a simultaneous spoken German translation. Dialogue in this section can still be followed using the subtitles. The audio cuts out entirely for the last several seconds of the surviving material.
NOTABLE MOMENTS
0:00:00 - Direct Examination of Eichmann resumes
0:02:37 - Eichmann denies involvement in the use of trucks for gassing Jews
0:04:49 - Servatius reads from a letter sent to Eichmann suggesting mass execution
0:06:47 - Eichmann denies any memory of the aforementioned letter
0:08:42 - Eichmann recalls first hearing of the mass-extermination of Jews directly from Heydrich
0:12:08 - Eichmann on Himmler’s position in the Nazi hierarchy
0:20:46 - Presiding Judge scolds Eichmann for long-winded responses
0:26:02 - Eichmann again scolded for long-winded answers
0:29:48 - Recess
0:30:11 - Hausner talks with Servatius
0:33:44 - Eichmann recalls witnessing the preparations for extermination
0:34:20 - Eichmann claims he redirected a transport to save Jews from extermination
0:41:49 - Eichmann on his involvement in the deportation of Jews to Riga and Minsk
0:44:06 - Unusual angle showing stenographers’ balcony
0:48:41 - Eichmann denies having known that Jews were being killed in Riga and Minsk
0:53:02 - Eichmann in confronted about a contradiction in his testimony
0:55:59 - Eichmann on a document in which he refused the transfer of money to a displaced Jew
1:03:07 - Eichmann on his involvement in the Wannsee Conference
TRANSCRIPT
Material highlighted green survives in video form.
Material highlighted pink has been lost.
Material highlighted blue survives via third-party material.