SESSION LXXXVII
ABOUT THIS SESSION
SESSION 87 of the trial of Adolf Eichmann took place in the morning of Thursday, July 6, 1961. In this session, defense counsel Dr. Robert Servatius continues his direct examination of Eichmann, which began in SESSION 75. Topics discussed include: Eichmann’s actions in regard to the Jews of Hungary (continued from SESSIONS 84 & 86); his response to witness Avraham Gordon’s accusation (in SESSION 54) that he saw Eichmann murder a teenage boy; the transportation of Slovenes; SS Judge Dr. Georg Konrad Morgen’s investigation of the extermination of Jews and his desire to have Eichmann arrested; Police Colonel Rudolf Mildner’s characterization of Eichmann’s role in the Nazi hierarchy; the written testimony of Dr. Karl Sommer & SS Colonel Paul Blobel; the supply of prussic acid for the gas chambers; and Eichmann’s visits to various concentration camps, where he witnessed the gassing and mass shooting of Jews.
The majority of the footage from SESSION 87 has been lost. The approximately one hour of surviving footage is presented here. One section (at 48:12) survives only via an audio recording featuring a simultaneous spoken English translation.
NOTABLE MOMENTS
0:00:00 - Direct Examination of Eichmann on Avraham Gordon’s accusation of murder
0:07:00 - In a document, Morgen recalls applying for an arrest warrant for Eichmann
0:10:08 - In a document, Morgen describes the use of gas to exterminate Jews
0:16:25 - Direct Examination of Eichmann on Mildner’s characterization of his role
0:30:39 - Eichmann says Heydrich told him that Hitler had ordered the extermination of the Jews
0:32:15 - Eichmann recalls witnessing the construction of gas chambers in Lublin
0:36:48 - Eichmann says Mueller sent him to report on gassing efforts
0:40:24 - Eichmann recalls witnessing a mass shooting
0:53:49 - Eichmann recalls witnessing a ‘blood fountain’
0:59:56 - An audience member holds his head in his hands
1:00:48 - Pressed by Servatius, Eichmann says he cannot estimate the number of Jews killed
TRANSCRIPT
Material highlighted green survives in video form.
Material highlighted pink has been lost.
Material highlighted orange is available only in audio form.