Introduction the 1961 trial of adolf eichmann in jerusalem marked the birth of. Eichmann, had, in fact, been living under an assumed name in argentina and had been brought to israel without the knowl edge or. Photographs of witnesses in the eichmann trial, 196061. The net result of this tragic era in the middle of the twentieth century was the wholesale destruction of 6 million jewish lives. The eichmann trial raised so much awareness that subsequent national conflicts were, and still are, interpreted in relation to the holocaust as the most extreme of all jewish catastrophes. In the same year, patrick klugman, then president of the french union of. Following the war eichmann lived in germany under a false name before fleeing to argentina, where he was arrested by israeli secret service agents in 1960. Yad vashem comb, pocket knife, cigarette holder and keys to the house on garibaldi street found on adolf eichmann the night he was captured, may 11, 1960 credit. This book was written during the trial itself, and due to the secretive nature back then, many things were unknown regarding the actual search and kidnap of eichmann to israel to stand trial for his part in the final solution. The 1961 trial of adolf eichmann held in an israeli courtroom and broadcast around the globe, was a benchmark event in the historiography of the holocaust, especially in israel where the trial proved a watershed experience for survivors and citizens of the new jewish state. Nazi war criminal adolf eichmann penned a plea for his life to israels president two days before he was hanged in 1962 for masterminding the final solution plan to exterminate 6 million jews. The eichmann trial did not turn into a trial of the federal republic. Documents, mimeographed, from the trial of adolf eichmann in jerusalem, 1961. Adolf eichmann s 1962 letter to president yitzhak benzvi of israel.
Adolf eichmann, german high official who was hanged by the state of israel for his part in the holocaust, the nazi extermination of jews during world war ii. Apr 06, 2020 adolf eichmann, german high official who was hanged by the state of israel for his part in the holocaust, the nazi extermination of jews during world war ii. After the wannsee conference january 1942, eichmann coordinated deportations of jews from germany and elsewhere in western, southern, and northern europe to killing centers through his representatives alois brunner, theodor dannecker, rolf guenther, and dieter wisliceny and others in the gestapo. Following the war eichmann lived in germany under a false name before fleeing to argentina, where he.
The panel of district court judges who considered the eichmann case as court of first resort comprised. Hannah arendt coined the term banality of evil while covering the 1961 trial of adolf eichmann, a nazi official charged with the orderly. Includes pictures includes accounts of eichmanns capture written by some of the. During the war, eichmann served as the transportation administrator of the final solution to the jewish question, meaning he coordinated all the trains that transported jews to their deaths in east european extermination camps. Includes text of the opening address by the prosecution gideon hausner, and minutes of sessions 15 and 16 of the trial. Justice insists on the importance of adolf eichmann, son of karl. Eichmann, had, in fact, been living under an assumed name in argentina and had been brought to israel without the knowl. A member of the austrian nazi party, he headed the austrian office for jewish emigration 1938.
Mossad archive original suitcase containing a kit for preparing license. He was charged on 15 counts, including crimes against the jewish people and crimes against humanity. The eichmann trial awakened international interest in the holocaust. Adolf eichmann was born on 19 march 1906 in solingen, germany. The preliminary investigations conducted before the nuremberg trials. The ethics of eichmanns defense quote of the week medium. Nazi commanders 1961 televised criminal trial retold. In the center of the room, eichmann was in a bulletproof glass booth. The bbc drama has taken actual footage from the 1960s trial showing eichmann, and mixing that with new actors and sets in order to tell the story behind the filming of the trial.
Operation finale is a travelling exhibition that tells the story of the pursuit of the nazi war criminal adolf eichmann, who made his way to argentina after world. Hannah arendt and the banality of evil open source with. The capture and trial of adolf eichmann moshe pearlman. Weidenfeld and nicolson, 1963 war crime trials 666 pages. The eichmann trial united states holocaust memorial museum. The trial of karl adolf eichmann for war crimes before an israeli court at the house of the people in jerusalem. Eichmann joined the austrian nazi party in 1932 and the austrian legion in 1933, in exile in germany. Karl adolf eichmann 19061962 was born in germany, the son of an industrialist 1 who gave his children a pious protestant doctrinal education. The trial of adolf eichmann tv movie 1997 plot summary imdb.
Corbis adolf eichmann s trial on charges of war crimes might, in the eyes of some. Criminal trial of nazi, adolf eichmann, recreated for. Eichmann s case was the highest profile nazi trial since 1946 when 12 highranking nazis were sentenced to death at nuremberg in germany. The history of israels abduction and execution of the holocausts architect tells eichmanns story from the war until his execution. New york museum recreates scene of eichmann s jerusalem trial.
The capture and trial of adolf eichmann book summary. Abc newsgreat projects and pbs present the trial of adolf eichmann. Jan 23, 2015 the nazi criminal trial of adolf eichmann in 1961 was the first of its kind to be televised, and exposed the brutality and devastation of the holocaust now the story of how the trial came to be filmed, and the trial itself is being told in a new tv drama by the bbc called, the eichmann show. The trial of adolf eichmann tv movie 1997 plot summary. Candidate in international law at the graduate institute of international and development studies iheid. The trial of adolf eichmann national center for jewish film. Original negatives, the first photos of adolf eichmann in argentina in 1960, and the leica 35mm camera that was used, are displayed in the operation finale.
The 1961 trial of adolf eichmann held in an israeli courtroom and broadcast around the globe, was a benchmark event in the historiography of the holocaust, especially in israel where the trial. In june, i think, the war began, june or july, let us say the beginning of the war was in july. Aug 06, 2003 the trial of adolf eichmann summary companion web site to pbs documentary on the trial of adolf eichmann for crimes against the jewish people. After being found and captured in argentina, nazi leader adolf eichmann, known as the architect of the final solution, was put on trial in israel in 1961. The following may he was hanged in a prison near tel aviv. E5 s73 2014 find in a library near you external link analysis of adolf eichmanns life and career, utilizing newlydiscovered materials which reveal his involvement and reputation among a worldwide network of national socialists after world war ii. Jan 24, 2020 after being found and captured in argentina, nazi leader adolf eichmann, known as the architect of the final solution, was put on trial in israel in 1961. On april 11 th, 1961 the trial of adolf eichmann began in jerusalem, eichmann having been recently captured by mossad after going into hiding in argentina. And i suppose two months later, possibly it was three months, at any rate it was towards the end of summer.
Eichmann had managed to flee to argentina where he lived under a false name, ricardo klement. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about eichmanns trial and capture like never before, in. The israeli authorities decided to hold the world in suspense for an entire year before placing the former german official before a court under conditions in which. Actual trial footage, emotional recollections of trial witnesses and other key participants provide insight and contrasting perspectives of the eichmann legacy. As the shadow of adolf hitler falls across europe once more, manfred. The documents were collected by michel levant, while he was an observer at the trial. Jan 11, 2015 the televised trial of adolf eichmann in 1961 was a landmark in holocaust history. This excerpt is 28 minutes long but touches on many of the legal issues to which objections were. In december 1961 adolf eichmann was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to death. Elevated ls part of the courtroom showing the judges bench to be empty. The case of adolf eichmann the fate of adolf eichmann reached truly monumental and sensational proportions with his socalled capture in argentina by israeli agents on may 12, 1960. Jan 27, 2016 adolf eichmann stands in his glass cage, flanked by guards, in a jerusalem courtroom during his trial in 1961 for war crimes committed during world war ii. Adolf eichmann trial recreated by new york museum of.
Included are trial documents, bios, photos, resources, and a study guide to accompany the televisionprogram. In a glass box surrounded by 700 spectators and faced with people he had once had carted away to presumed death, eichmann looked like your run of the mill nerd. Israel andor mossad declassified this operation in 2010. The trial of adolf eichmann the holocaust explained. Since his trial in jerusalem in 1961, eichmann has become the subject of continued controversy much of it not so much about the man himself, but often more about the very nature of evil.
In 1960, israeli agents abducted eichmann in argentina and flew him to israel, where he was tried and executed in 1962. On the 50th anniversary of nazi criminal adolf eichmanns trial, yad vashem released video documentation of the trial, including over 200 hours of trial sessions and a compilation of testimonies. On december, 1961 the court found eichmann guilty on most articles of the indictment, and on the 15th of that same month, sentenced him to death. Apr 18, 2011 the german government tried to influence the adolf eichmann trial, fearful that his testimony would implicate former nazis who held high office in post war germany, new research has disclosed. The trial of adolf eichmann summary companion web site to pbs documentary on the trial of adolf eichmann for crimes against the jewish people. Includes resource material and school classroom activities related to the trial as well biographical information on eichmann and photographs of eichmann. Baade introduction on may 23, 196o, prime minister david ben gurion of israel announced in the knesseth israels parliament that adolf eichmann had been found. Predictably, however, an account of eichmann s crimes was woven into their stories arising out of his various posts in the ss, as coordinator, organizer, and director of the deportation of jews to the ghettoes and annihilation camps. This is the opening portion of the 1997 emmynominated pbs program the trial of adolf eichmann. A handwritten letter dated may 29, 1962, by adolf eichmann to the president of israel asking for a pardon and commutation of. The trial of karl adolf eichmann, a nazi leader, in jerusalem. Adolf eichmann was born in 1906 in solingen, a small industrial city in the rhineland. Today, the world knows a great deal about adolf eichmann s escape from europe after the war.
Jul 15, 2017 original negatives, the first photos of adolf eichmann in argentina in 1960, and the leica 35mm camera that was used, are displayed in the operation finale. Adolf eichmann was said to be responsible for the holocaust, as he was central to the development of hitlers policy on jews called the final solution. However, in may 1960 israeli agents kidnapped him and took him to jerusalem for trial. In this case a belgian subject was kidnapped by french officials on belgian territory and was taken to france for trial. On december, 1961 the court found eichmann guilty on most articles of the indictment, and on the 15th of. His mother died when he was 10, his father remarried, and this wife too was a devout protestant. Adolf eichmann found guilty united states holocaust. The survivors who followed the trials proceedings, as well as chief prosecutor gideon hausner, also viewed the trial as an opportunity to educate a. There are still quite a number of eichmanns around. With edward asner, brian bedford, larry block, eric bogosian. Fifty years later fifty years ago one of the chief operators of the mass execution of jews was tried for crimes against humanity. American television producer milton fruchtman fervently believes that the trial with its witness accounts of nazi atrocities should be televised to show the world the evils of the holocaust and to combat any resurgence of nazism and joins forces with blacklisted.
Transcripts from adolf eichmann trial collections search. At midnight between may 31 and june 1, 1962, eichmann was executed by hanging. Eichmann trial article about eichmann trial by the free. Why adolf eichmann s final message remains so profoundly.
The elder adolf moved to linz, austria, in 19 to take a position as commercial manager for the linz tramway and electrical company, and the rest of the. New york museum recreates scene of eichmanns jerusalem trial. The trial of adolph eichmann is a chilling first hand account of the trial of nazi germanys architect of the final solution. The reader will note my debt to henry fried lander and ernst. The trial was also startling to viewers because eichmann 15 years removed from the war seemed so bizarrely normal. Adolf eichmann in 1961, write three books, earn two engineering degrees, and testify in. The arrest, effected by french officers on foreign territory, could have no legal effect whatsoever and was completely null and. On may 23, 1960, israeli prime minister david bengurion announces to the world that nazi war criminal adolf eichmann has been captured and will stand trial in israel. His actions were so monstrous, and well documented that the outcome of the findings of fact were never in doubt. The horror trial of the 20th century has been that of adolf eichmann, obersturmbannfuhrer of germanys death campsthe man who, between 19391945, in one way or another, caused the killing of six. Army, library of congress graphic general eisenhower in ruined warsaw, 1946 library of congress wall heading eichmann postwar 19451950 text the disappeared after germanys defeat and surrender in may 1945, the allied powers detained. Germany tried to influence adolf eichmann trial telegraph. Dec 28, 2017 on april 11, 1961, the eichmann trial was the first to be internationally televised.
A t the beginning of this grave, scrupulous, heartbreaking trial, the worlds press attended. In the let ter, wetzel asserts that adolf eichmann was in agreement with this proce. British, and french occupation prior to 1949 as west germany. On the 50th anniversary of nazi criminal adolf eichmann s trial, yad vashem released video documentation of the trial, including over 200 hours of trial sessions and a compilation of testimonies. In the postscript to her report on the trial of adolf eichmann in jerusalem, hannah arendt presents us with a strange hypothetical. The capture and trial of adolf eichmann and millions of other books are available for. The survivors who followed the trial s proceedings, as well as chief prosecutor gideon hausner, also viewed the trial as an opportunity to educate a. May i now relate in short, captain, what i know, from what i remember, of the things that happened since the beginning of the germanrussian war. The earliermentioned disclosures by former ap journalist matti fried. To mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of auschwitz, the drama is coming to our screens again. The people charged under the law as collaborators were generally small fry. Highranking nazi official adolf eichmann captured history. Barrie sander joins jic for this post on the eichmann trial and israels recent hostility towards the icc. He was charged on 15 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including responsibility for the enslavement, starvation and murder of millions of jews, and the deportation of hundreds of thousands of poles and gypsies.
The nazi criminal trial of adolf eichmann in 1961 was the first of its kind to be televised, and exposed the brutality and devastation of the holocaust now the story of how the trial came to be filmed, and the trial itself is being told in a new tv drama by the bbc called, the eichmann show. After the end of world war ii, he found himself in american custody. Includes, as an appendix, a full text of the indictment, translated from the hebrew. In 1961 former nazi adolf eichmann is captured by jewish agents and put on trial. The eichmann trial channel contains over 200 hours of trial sessions and a compilation of testimonies. His parents were adolf karl eichmann, a bookkeeper, and maria nee schefferling, a housewife. The capture and trial of adolf eichmann operation finale is a travelling exhibition that tells the story of the pursuit of the nazi war criminal adolf eichmann, who made his way to argentina. The german government tried to influence the adolf eichmann trial, fearful that his testimony would implicate former nazis who held high office in. In 1934, he became a member of the sd himmlers security service and was together with others put in charge of the jewish. French refugees of the town of the corcieux, france, eat their noon meal in a courtyard, 1944 signal corps u.
Criminal trial of nazi, adolf eichmann, recreated for modern. Adolf eichmann, the man in the glass booth built for his protection. The subsidies were to continue until april 1st, 1964. In light of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of auschwitz, last weeks premiere of the bbcs docudrama, the. The channel is a joint effort between yad vashem and the israel state archives description from youtube channel. Between now and that date the israelis will try to find a way to get a renewal. Jan 01, 1996 operation eichmann was a surprisingly powerful read.
His father was an accountant with a local power company, but was assigned to a superior. With eichmann sitting inside a purposebuilt bulletproof glass booth, the trial lasted 16 weeks and exposed for the first time the extent of the atrocities that occurred in the holocaust. Otto adolf eichmann, the eldest of five children, was born in 1906 to a calvinist protestant family in solingen, germany. Adolf eichmann listens to the reading of a 15 count indictment as a guard looks on. Interpretation of the nuremberg principles by the french court of cassation. It begins with a detailed account of the author and his familys escape from nazi germany in the 1930s, with much background information about the politics behind the antisemitic measures taken in germany.