The Eichmann Trial

SESSION LXXXV

ABOUT THIS SESSION

SESSION 85 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Tuesday, July 4, 1961. After ten sessions of direct examination of Eichmann by his defense counsel, Dr. Robert Servatius, Eichmann’s testimony is paused for the submission into evidence of written testimony by witnesses abroad, most of them former Nazis. The submission of this testimony takes up the entirety of SESSION 85. The session begins with submission of the written testimony of Wilhelm Hoettl. Although it was submitted during the defense portion of the trial because of the timing of its arrival, Hoettl was in fact testifying on behalf of the prosecution. Hoettl testifies in detail about a conversation he had with Eichmann in the waning days of the war, in which Eichmann estimated Jewish victims of the concentration camps and Einsatzgruppen at six million. Next, the written testimony of Walter Huppenkothen is submitted, in which the former SS Colonel clarifies Eichmann’s position in his department. Written testimony by Eberhard von Thadden is then submitted, in which von Thadden answers questions regarding Eichmann’s ability to make decisions himself. The testimony of Hans Jüttner is submitted, in which he recalls encountering a foot-march of Jews from Budapest to Vienna that was referred to as the ‘Eichmann regiment’. Theodore Horst Grell’s testimony is submitted next, including his recollection that Eichmann told him that he was considered to be ‘war criminal number one, and that he had some six million people on his conscience’. Before the testimony of Kurt Becher can be submitted, Dr. Servatius objects to its submission on the grounds that Becher was given the questions beforehand. A discussion ensues, after which the judges rule that Becher’s testimony can be submitted, but that they will keep in mind that he had access to the questions. Becher’s testimony is submitted, including excerpts in which he says Eichmann was an ‘ardent anti-Semite’ and that Eichmann redirected a transport of Jews bound for Vienna to Bergen-Belsen. Finally, the court renders a decision allowing the submission of written notes by Grell.

Although about half of the footage from SESSION 85 has been lost, the approximately two-and-a-half hours of surviving footage is presented here.

NOTABLE MOMENTS

0:00:00 - Submission of the written testimony of Wilhelm Hoettl

0:10:32 - Hoettl recalls a private conversation with Eichmann

0:12:11 - Eichmann attempts to stifle a smile

0:16:55 - Hoettl says Eichmann estimated Jewish victims at six million

0:22:52 - Eichmann chuckles at Hoettl's recollection of his drinking

0:27:32 - Hoettl acknowledges calling Eichmann ‘The Big Forwarding Agent of Death’

0:31:49 - Submission of the written testimony of Walter Huppenkothen

1:05:46 - Submission of the written testimony of Eberhard von Thadden

1:26:19 - Recess

1:28:25 - Eichmann re-enters

1:32:34 - Eichmann talks with Servatius

1:34:22 - Session 85 resumes

1:41:07 - Submission of the written testimony of Hans Jüttner

1:46:02 - Jüttner says that a deportation of Jews was referred to as the ‘Eichmann Regiment’

1:49:52 - Submission of the written testimony of Theodore Horst Grell

1:50:51 - Grell says that Eichmann was "responsible for…transports of Jews”

1:59:17 - Grell says Eichmann told him he had "six million people on his conscience"

2:01:34 - Discussion on the legality of Kurt Becher’s testimony

2:17:14 - Decision allowing the submission of Becher’s testimony

2:25:30 - Submission of the written testimony of Kurt Becher

2:29:57 - Becher says Eichmann was “an ardent Nazi and a fanatical anti-Semite”

2:35:42 - Becher says Eichmann redirected a transport of Jews from Vienna to Bergen-Belsen