EichmannTrialEN's video: Eichmann trial - Session No 88

Session No. 88 The cross examination of The Accused by the Defence. - Denies any exchange with Grell regarding the figures of those exterminated, denies what Grell said in his testimony-that Eichmann said that he had on his conscience the death of six million Jews and that he was the first person wanted by the allies. -Denies giving any order to exterminate the Jews - The comment that The Accused made when defeat was close-being glad to jump into the pit knowing that he is taking with him five million enemies of the state, to which he admits but denies any thought of the Jews included in this statement. - Admits knowledge of the fact that part of the people being deported to the camps were being killed. - Guilt felt by the witness and his responsibility - States the reasons that he did not want to stand on trial in Germany. The court's argument regarding the Sassen document, the presiding judge reads out his reasoning and that of judge Raveh. -Judge Halevi reads out his own reasoning and objects to his colleagues. Incomplete (decision admitting deposition of Alois Steger as evidence, continued on VHS 34). The cross-examination of The Accused by the Attorney General for the prosecution. - Asked to clarify his statement with regarding the inclusion of Jews in his statement about jumping into the grave knowing that five million enemies of the state are dead, but reiterates his denial that it did not include Jews. - The definition of Jews as an enemy of the third Reich, but claims he saw the red army as the enemy. The Attorney General interrupts the accused in mid sentence and the Defense requests that he be allowed to answer fully. The judge requests that he be allowed to answer fully. The judge reiterates this. - Adolf Hitler declared war upon the Jews years before the outbreak of the war and the accused verifies this statement, which includes extermination of the enemy. - The extermination of the Jews was ordered by the fuehrer himself and denies any part whatsoever in the physical extermination of the Jews, insisting that the responsibility of the final solution to the Jewish problem was transferred to other departments. - Claims not to have known that he was being sought out as a war criminal and only the same as thousands of others by taking an assumed name, even though he recalls a conversation with burger in which he insists that as the highest ranking officer, it would be safer for them if he left. - Being the highest-ranking officer he left because arrests were being made according to rank. - Believes that the sentence's passed at Nuremberg on his various colleagues were just, as they bore the responsibility of giving the orders. - Denies being an anti-Semite, merely a fervent nationalist. - Has difficulty in believing his own words, which he said to Sassen and denies the use of any expressions, which could be interpreted as contempt or hatred. - Discussion regarding the letter in connection with the Jews of Persia, which he denies drafting and merely signing, as was the accepted practice. - The Attorney General and The Accused differ in opinion with regards to the meaning of the expression anti-Semitism. Examples of letters are brought. - Attempt to clear up the conflict on his life history and whether or not he was dismissed from his job at the vacuum oil company on the grounds of belonging to NSDP (the nazi party) or whether they were cutting back because of economic circumstances. Incomplete (testimony of witness). Repeat of this testimony thus far points 12-23. Incomplete (testimony of witness, continued on VHS 35). Incomplete (continued from VHS 35). The continuation of the cross-examination of the accused by the attorney general for the prosecution. - Joined the nazi party and the SD of his own free will and choice and not because of any outside pressure. - Joined the nazi party and the SS on the same day in Prague 1932 and the SD in 1934 when he was sworn in and was in Berlin several times. - Never made any attempt to leave the nazi party or the SS. - Times he requested a transfer from the duties assigned to him. - Has difficulty remembering his whereabouts on the day the war broke out. - His travel to the general government area with Stahlecker a few weeks after the outbreak of the war allegedly to set up the Jewish state of Radom. - In 1937 attended a party conference in Nuremberg, where he requested a budget of 1,000$ from the SD for an American to write an anti-Semitic pamphlet called ""the world hoax"", the accused admits this and comments. - In 1937 he regarded the Jews as opponents, not to be exterminated, but that a mutually fair solution should be found, which he claims is the direction he worked in joyfully.