Literatur |
- Kihss, Peter: "Eichmann Trial to Be Seen in TV", in: The New York Times, 14.11.1960
- Shepard, Richard F.: "U.S. TV Networks Irked at Coverage of Eichmann Trial", in: The New York Times, 25.02.1961
- "Eichmann on TV", in: Newsweek (New York, NY), Vol. 57, Nr. 9, 27.02.1961
- "Court Approves Filming of Trial", in: The New York Times, 11.03.1961
- Adams, Val: "News of TV and Radio - Eichmann", in: The New York Times, 09.04.1961
- Gould, Jack: "TV: The Eichmann Trial", in: The New York Times, 10.04.1961
- "TV Trial Films Delayed", in: The New York Times, 12.04.1961
- "Eichmann, Gagarin: 'Instant TV'", in: Variety, 19.04.1961
- Thompson, Howard: "Screen: Stalking A Nazi", in: The New York Times, 04.05.1961
- Dimitman, E.Z.: "How Television Is Watching the Eichmann Trial", in: TV Guide, Vol. 9, Nr. 18, 06.05.1961
- Fellows, Lawrence: "TV Makes It's Israeli Debut with a Tragedy", in: The New York Times, 02.07.1961
- The Holocaust in Books and Films: A Selected, Annotated List, Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith (Ed.), 3rd Edition, New York, NY: Hippocrene, 1986
- Watson, Mary Ann: The Expanding Vista: American Television in the Kennedy Years. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1990
- N.N.: The Trial of Adolf Eichmann. Record of Proceedings in the District Court of Jerusalem. Vol. 3, Jerusalem: State of Israel, Ministry of Justice / Israel State Archive / Yad Vashem, 1993
- Thaler, Paul: The Watchful Eye: American Justice in the Age of the Television Trial. Westport, CT: Praeger, 1994
- Shandler, Jeffrey: While America Watches: Television and the Holocaust in the United States, from 1945 to the Present. New York, NY: Columbia University (Dissertation), 1995
- Shandler, Jeffrey: While America Watches. Televising the Holocaust. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1999
- Rosenthal, Alan: Jerusalem, Take One! Memoirs of a Jewish Filmmaker. Carbondale / Edwardsville: Southern Illinois University Press, 2000 |
Inhalt (detailliert) |
=== Einstellungsprotokoll (- min/sek):
- 00'34’’ ARCHIV-VORSPANN
- 00'39'' Filmklappe: "TRIAL OF ADOLF EICHMANN / DATE: MAY 30.1961 / SESSION: A.M.I. / Produced by / MILTON FRUCHTMAN / Directed by / LEO HURWITZ / CAPITAL CITIES BROADCASTING CORPORATION"
=== Sitzung 057.01 - 30.05.1961:
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 00'52'' Gideon Hausner (Generalstaatsanwalt) stehend
- 01'26'' Gerichtssaal (total)
- 01'28'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Robert Servatius (Eichmanns Verteidiger) im Bild
- 02'27'' Adolf Eichmann (mit Anzug) mit Kopfhörern im Glaskasten
- 02'33'' Servatius
- 02'45'' Moshe Landau (Vorsitzender Richter), Benjamin Halevi (Richter) u. Yizhak Raveh (Richter)
- 02'51'' Hausner liest Dokument vor
- 03'16'' Eichmann reicht Wachmann Zettel, der gibt ihn an Servatius weiter
- 03'25'' Halevi u. Landau
- 03'29'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 03'46'' Halevi u. Landau
- 03'50'' Hausner
- 04'16'' Landau, Halevi u. Raveh
- 04'22'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 04'52'' Eichmann liest Zettel
- 04'58'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 05'06'' Eichmann liest Zettel
- 05'10'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 05'32'' Eichmann legt Zettel weg u. faltet Hände zusammen
- 05'46'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 06'19'' Eichmann legt Kopfhörer richtig an
- 06'26'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 06'28'' Schwarzfilm
- 06'54'' Landau, Halevi u. Raveh
- 07'02'' Gerichtssaal (total)
- 07'06'' Hausner (nah)
- 07'15'' Eichmann (nah)
- 07'21'' Hausner (nah) liest Dokument
- 07'32'' Eichmann
- 07'40'' Hausner
- 07'56'' Landau schaut in sein Dokument
- 07'58'' Hausner (nah)
- 08'25'' Servatius sitzend und Hausner stehend von hinten
- 08'38'' Eichmann (nah)
- 08'46'' Hausner (nah)
- 09'05'' Eichmann (nah)
- 09'17'' Hausner (nah)
- 09'26'' Hausner von hinten, blättert in seinen Dokumenten
- 09'30'' Hausner (nah)
- 09'43'' Eichmann (nah)
- 09'48'' Hausner (nah)
- 09'55'' Eichmann (nah)
- 10'09'' Hausner (nah)
- 10'21'' Landau lesend
- 10'26'' Schwarzfilm
- 10'27'' Hausner (nah)
- 10'53'' Eichmann
- 11'01'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Mikros im Bild
- 11'38'' Landau
- 11'44'' Hausner blättert eine Seite vor und zurück
- 12'06'' Hausner von hinten, Yaacov Baror (Staatsanwalt) u. Gabriel Bach (Staatsanwalt) sitzend
- 12'12'' Hausner
- 12'46'' Schwarzfilm
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 12'49'' Gerichtssaal (total)
- 13'15'' Hausner
- 14'05'' Glaskasten, Servatiua u. Hausner im Bild, Schwenk zu Hausner
- 14'32'' Gerichtssaal (total)
- 14'50'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 15'14'' Schwarzfilm
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 15'27'' Gerichtssaal (total)
- 16'26'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 16'44'' Hausner
- 17'30'' Landau spricht
- 17'40'' Hausner liest Dokument vor, Kopf von Servatius im Bild
- 18'36'' Hausner stehend, Servatius und Baror
- 19'06'' Hausner (nah)
- 19'38'' Landau blättert in seinen Unterlagen, Kopf in Hand gestützt
- 19'47'' Hausner
- 20'32'' Glaskasten, Servatius u. Hausner
- 20'54'' Hausner liest vor
- 21'19'' Gerichtssaal (total), Schwenk zu Hausner
- 21'58'' Hausner liest vor
- 22'34'' Halevi
- 22'38'' Hausner
- 22'48'' Halevi
- 23'17'' Landau sucht nach Dokument
- 23'28'' Landau, Halevi u. Raveh
- 23'38'' Hausner
- 23'43'' Ein Gerichtsmitarbeiter gibt Landau Dokument
- 24'08'' Schwenk von Richtern auf den Gerichtssaal
- 24'40'' Hausner liest Dokument vor
- 25'30'' Eichmann reicht Wachmann Zettel, der gibt ihn an Servatius weiter
- 25'50'' Hausner
- 26'06'' Schwarzfilm
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
===
=== Sitzung 0??.0? - ??.0?.1961 (ohne Ton):
- 26'09'' Servatius mit Mitarbeiterinnen
- 26'17'' Gerichtssaal mit Glaskasten ohne Eichmann(total), Mann sitzt an Filmprojektor, nur Halevi an Richtertisch
- 26'35'' Mann steht an Filmprojektor
- 26'48'' Gerichtssaal mit Glaskasten ohne Eichmann (total), Mann sitzt an Filmprojektor, Halevi
- 27'02'' Glaskasten, Wachmann steht davor
- 27'36'' Eichmann (mit Strickjacke) betritt Glaskasten, von zwei Wachmännern hereingeführt, er setzt sich, gibt Wachmann Zettel u. setzt Kopfhörer auf
- 28'11'' Gerichtssaal mit Glaskasten (total), Mann sitzt an Filmprojektor, Halevi
- 28'21'' Eichmann spricht
- 28'40'' Servatius u. Mitarbeiterinnen
- 28'47'' Eichmann
- 28'57'' Gerichtssaal mit Glaskasten (total), Mann sitzt an Filmprojektor, Halevi
- 29'13'' Servatius u. Mitarbeiterinnen
- 29'20'' Glaskasten u. Servatius
- 29'33'' Glaskasten von der Seite
- 30'06'' Glaskasten u. Servatius
- 30'16'' Servatius
- 30'26'' Eichmann, Hände am Mikrofon
- 30'35'' Gerichtssaal mit Glaskasten (total), Mann legt Film in Projektor ein
- 30'44'' Schwarzfilm
- 30'45'' Eichmann (nah)
- 30'55'' Eichmann zurückgelehnt, Hände in den Schoß gefaltet
- 31'00'' Mann an Filmprojektor, Halevi im Hintergrund
- 31'06'' Leinwand schräg von der Seite (Filmausschnitt: ?)
- 31'10'' Eichmann, Kopf in Hand gestützt
- 31'16'' Eichmann, Kopf in Hand gestützt (nah)
- 31'33'' Eichmann, Kopf in Hand gestützt
- 31'56'' Schwarzfilm
- 32'01'' Eichmann, Kopf in Hand gestützt (durch Schwarzfilm unterbrochen)
- 33'00'' Eichmann hält Kopfhörer u. überprüft Mikro
- 33'06'' Eichmann, Kopf in Hand gestützt schaut zu, Stirn in Falten gelegt (durch Schwarzfilm unterbrochen)
- 35'34'' Hebräische Schriftzeichen, Film Sof (=Ende)
- 35'38'' Mann an Filmprojektor
- 35'48'' Wachmänner und Eichmann stehen auf, er nimmt Unterlagen u. geht hinaus
- 36'06'' Servatius
- 36'36'' Mann nimmt Film aus Projektor heraus
- 36'40'' Gerichtssaal mit Glaskasten (total)
- 36'47'' Servatius
- 36'53'' Gerichtssaal (total)
- 38'00'' Fünf Männer stehen an Filmprojektor
- 38'12'' Schwarzfilm
===
=== Sitzung 058.01 - 30.05.1961:
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 38'15'' Eichmann (mit Anzug) mit Kopfhörer
- 38'20'' Hansi Brand (Zeugin) im Zeugenstand
- 38'30'' Brand
- 38'53'' Eichmann
- 39'04'' Brand
- 39'15'' Gabriel Bach (Staatsanwalt) stehend, befragt Brand
- 39'32'' Gerichtssaal mit Zeugenstand (total), Schwenk zu Brand
- 39'48'' Brand
- 40'16'' Eichmann
- 40'22'' Brand
- 41'15'' Bach sieht in seine Unterlagen
- 41'20'' Brand
- 41'44'' Eichmann zurückgelehnt, hält Stift in Hand
- 41'51'' Landau, Halavi u. Raveh
- 41'59'' Brand
- 42'17'' Eichmann
- 42'21'' Brand
- 42'35'' Schwarzfilm
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 42'38'' Bach
- 42'44'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 42'50'' Eichmann (nah)
- 42'57'' Schwarzfilm
- 42'58'' Brand
- 43'02'' Hausner, Bach, Baror
- 43'10'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 43'30'' Halevi u. Landau
- 43'34'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 44'02'' Landau nach vorn gebeugt mit Stift in der Hand
- 44'16'' Bach, Gerichtsmitarbeiter u. Brand
- 44'19'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 44'27'' Eichmann
- 44'31'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 45'34'' Eichmann (nah)
- 45'42'' Brand
- 45'44'' Bach, Gerichtsmitarbeiter u. Brand
- 45'59'' Brand
- 46'20'' Eichmann (nah)
- 46'25'' Brand
- 47'31'' Bach
- 47'32'' Schwarzfilm
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 47'34'' Eichmann
- 47'50'' Brand
- 47'56'' Eichmann
- 48'02'' Brand
- 48'16'' Eichmann
- 48'28'' Brand
- 48'46'' Halevi u. Landau
- 48'50'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 49'00'' Eichmann schreibend
- 49'09'' Halevi u. Landau
- 49'18'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 49'25'' Eichmann schreibend
- 49'40'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 49'43'' Landau
- 49'57'' Joel Brand steht im Publikum u. wird aus Saal gewiesen
- 50'12'' Landau
- 50'51'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 51'05'' Eichmann schreibend
- 51'31'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 52'16'' Eichmann schreibend
- 52'27'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 52'34'' Eichmann schreibend
- 52'41'' Landau schreibend
- 52'46'' Brand
- 53'01'' Eichmann schreibend
- 53'10'' Brand
- 53'41'' Eichmann schreibend
- 53'44'' Brand
- 54'02'' Eichmann schreibend
- 54'21'' Brand
- 54'51'' Bach, Servatius im Hintergrund
- 55'01'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 55'23'' Eichmann schreibend
- 55'30'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 55'48'' Landau u. Raveh
- 56'10'' Eichmann schaut auf
- 56'24'' Landau
- 56'28'' Eichmann schreibend
- 56'35'' Halevy
- 56'46'' Brand
- 56'58'' Gerichtssaal mit Zeugenstand (total), Bach u. Gerichtsmitarbeiter von hinten
- 57'10'' Brand
- 57'22'' Eichmann schreibend
- 57'28'' Gerichtssaal mit Zeugenstand (total), Bach u. Gerichtsmitarbeiter von hinten
- 57'37'' Brand
- 58'15'' Eichmann faltet ein Blatt zusammen und teilt es in zwei Hälften, legt Stift hin u. lehnt sich zurück
- 58'33'' Brand
- 59'03'' Gerichtssaal mit Zeugenstand (total), Bach u. Gerichtsmitarbeiter von hinten
- 59'15'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 59'26'' Eichmann, Hände im Schoß gefaltet
- 59'44'' Gerichtssaal mit Zeugenstand (total), Bach u. Gerichtsmitarbeiter von hinten, Schwenk zu Brand
- 60'00'' Eichmann
- 60'05'' Brand, Bach unscharf von hinten
- 60'08'' Ende
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
===
=== Tonprotokoll, Engl. Übersetzung (- min/sek):
=== Sitzung 057.01 - 30.05.1961:
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 01’00’’ Hausner: Permit me to direct the Court's attention to several passages from the documents appended to T/1177. The first is a notification to Dr. Weizmann of 5 June 1944, from G.H. Hall of the British Foreign Office. "Strictly Personal and Confidential," it states that there is a suggestion reported by the Jewish Agency for the evacuation of Jewish victims of Nazi persecution. It is stated there that a trusted and well-known representative of Hungarian Jewry arrived in Istanbul on 19 May on board a German plane, accompanied by a Hungarian Gestapo agent. The deal is detailed in the body of the letter: The Nazis propose that instead of annihilating the remaining Jews in Romania, Hungary, Poland and Czechoslovakia, they will make it possible to evacuate the letter to Spain or Portugal, but not to Palestine, in exchange for ten thousand lorries and certain quantities of tea, coffee, cocoa and soap. As an earnest token of good faith, they are prepared to release five to ten thousand Jews before receiving any corresponding consideration. They would also consider exchanging Jews for German prisoners of war
- 02’45’’ Landau: Was that written by someone in the English Foreign Office to Dr. Weizmann, as if Dr. Weizmann knew nothing about it?
- 02’53’’ Hausner: As I have explained to the Court, there were communications which the Jewish Agency transmitted via the Foreign Office, namely via the High Commissioner in Jerusalem to the Foreign Office, for the purpose of informing Dr. Weizmann about those matters which the Jewish Agency knew that their contents would, in any case, have to reach the Foreign Office. That was a line of communication more convenient, certain and rapid
- 03’22’’ Halevi: The date is not clear to me. Is it 5 June?
- 03’24’’ Hausner: Yes
- 02’26’’ Halevi: When did the conversation in Aleppo take place?
- 03’35’’ Hausner: On 11 June
- 03’37’’ Halevi: Did this notification of 5 June precede the conversation?
- 03’40’’ Hausner: Yes, it preceded the conversation, because prior to it, Brand had already met with Haim Barlas and other representatives of the Jewish Agency in Istanbul. This notification is based on the first report which reached the Jewish Agency, and the Jewish Agency informed Weizmann about it. This is, in fact, the contents of the statement from the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem which was destined for Weizmann via the British Foreign Office. The Jewish Agency expressed its fear that, if there was no possibility of rescuing the Hungarian, Czech and Romanian Jews promptly, their fate would be sealed. "While fully realizing the overwhelming difficulties, they believe that, if the task is faced with the boldness demanded by such an unprecedented catastrophe, these might not prove insurmountable. Shertok is proposing to proceed to Istanbul as soon as he can obtain a Turkish visa..." The next day Dr. Weizmann wrote to Anthony Eden. He thanked him for transmitting the information to him and said he had needed a short respite one day in order to recover from the shock he had received. And he said: "It is my paramount duty to try and discover the course of action which offers the best hope of saving Jewish lives." He requested two things: an immediate meeting with Eden, and obtaining a Turkish visa for Mr. Shertok. I shall be returning to the next document later on. It is a proposal for bombing the death camps, which was worked out in London at the beginning of July, and which was transmitted as the Court will subsequently see to the British Foreign Office. I shall return to this at the appropriate time. The next document is a cable from Shertok to the Jewish Agency in London. It was transmitted directly in code, and the Court will observe that, whereas the cable was dispatched on 15 June, it was not received in London until 19 June. Shertok relates that he waited four days in Aleppo until he was able "to see the friend who arrived on Wednesday, 7 June. I interviewed him six hours. I found him one hundred per cent reliable; I was deeply impressed by his purity of character and spirit." Thereafter, Mr. Shertok reports that he had a meeting together with the High Commissioner and Ben Gurion. The High Commissioner contacted London and requested that the gist of the Jewish Agency's evaluation of the situation be transmitted to Weizmann. Mr. Shertok ended his cable with the following: "Agreed line of keeping the door open makes friend's return absolutely imperative. Please do utmost on your part to expedite my journey. Inform Nahum." In the document dated 23 June 1944, Mr. Randall, who was in charge - as I understand it of the refugee section in the Foreign Office, writes.
- 07’36’’ Landau: What post did Mr. Hall hold?
- 07’50’’ Hausner: Mr. Hall was the Undersecretary. Mr. Randall writes to Weizmann that it is "unthinkable that retaining Brand in Cairo should be held to indicate that His Majesty's Government are not giving earnest attention to any practicable scheme for assisting Jews now suffering under German threats; but whether the particular scheme brought by Brand has any right to consideration is a question on which we may obtain more light during Mr. Shertok's forthcoming visit." The next document is a personal account submitted by Mr. Shertok as soon as he arrived in London; it is dated 27 June 1944. The Court will see that he arrived at 1:00 p.m. that day, and at 6:00 p.m. the same day he dictated the account. It contains the details of his attempts to secure a visa to Ankara and of his decision to make the journey without a visa; the notification from Ankara not to come without a visa; the assurance of a high-ranking British officer that there would be no difficulty in regard to Mr. Brand's return. That was an explicit assurance, on the basis of which Mr. Brand left Turkey and went to Aleppo. And again, a report concerning the conversation with Mr. Brand which was already referred to in the previous document. Thereafter, Sharett writes that he returned to Jerusalem, met with Ben Gurion, and together they went to the High Commissioner and presented the demands which are detailed on page 13, viz.: Brand was to return; Sharett was to travel to London; a meeting to discuss the release of Jews was to be arranged immediately; the Germans had to be given some sort of indication of the other side's desire to conduct talks. There are suggestions here as to who was to make contact with the Germans the War Refugee Board of the United States, the Inter-Governmental Committee, or the Red Cross. On page 14, we are told that the High Commissioner communicated to Mr. Ben Gurion and Mr. Sharett the details of Weizmann's conversation with Eden, in which the latter said that he would do his utmost "to avoid anything that might look like slamming the door." On page 15 Mr. Sharett writes that the High Commissioner was not impressed by his arguments about the need for Mr. Brand to return. And subsequently, on the same page, Mr. Sharett says: "I then said that Brand...would not have left Turkey for Syria were it not for..." The High Commissioner here interrupted me rather sharply: "I know what you're going to say: you're going to say that this was a breach of faith. Don't go on. The answer is simple: This is war!"
- 11’38’’ Landau: Who was the High Commissioner at that time?
- 11’49’’ Hausner: In the year 1944 MacMichael was High Commissioner. Next we are told about the connections with the American consulate, about the connections with Ira Hirschmann, about the notification to Mr. Stettinius, the American Secretary of State at that time. It states here that Hirschmann was impressed by Brand's integrity and character. Mr. Sharett concludes with the statement that he returned to Cairo and departed for London the same evening
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 12’49’’ Hausner: The requests which had been made at the meeting with Mr. Hall, which I have already mentioned, were repeated. Mr. Eden "expressed his profound sympathy. He added that they had to be extremely careful. The enemy was obviously playing a devilish game. When he (Eden) made his proposal to the Cabinet, the feeling was that he (Eden) had gone too far. Moreover, they had to carry America and Russia along with them. They had been acting in unison with America throughout on this problem, but they had also to have the agreement of the Soviet Government. They (the Cabinet) had cabled to Moscow and were waiting for a reply." Mr. Sharett adds that the proposal to send Bader was "still alive"; he believes that the Germans are prepared to "strike a bargain." Mr. Sharett adds that he thinks a ransom must be paid in order to rescue Jewish lives. Mr. Eden "doubted whether that was a possible course." As for Mr. Bader's journey that was questionable. Mr. Sharett said "that the question was what would Brand take with him if he went back." At this point Dr. Weizmann briefly outlines the details of the aide-memoire, which is not connected with Brand's mission. And here I return to the aide-memoire: The following are the demands concerning the rescue of the Jews of Hungary which Dr. Weizmann presented in the previous document; they are in paragraph 3: "(a) an intimation should be given to Germany that some appropriate body is ready to meet for discussing the rescue of Jews
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 15’15’’ Hausner: The matter has to be considered. As for the bombing, it has to be gone into with the Air Ministry. He had already got into touch with them about bombing the death camps at the request of the Jewish Agency, and he will now get into touch about bombing the railway. Dr. Weizmann concludes on the note that they must meet again to create a state of things in which a tragedy of this kind will no longer be possible. At this point, I am returning to the document dated 11 July, which I previously skipped, which was submitted by representatives of the Jewish Agency at their conversations in London. It deals with the possibilities for bombing, stating arguments both pro and con. It reaches the conclusion that this bombing is essential, because it would have a deterrent effect in any event. It would also "convince the German circles still hopeful of Allied mercy of the enuineness of Allied condemnation of the murder of Jews and could possibly result in internal pressure against the continuation of the massacres." And finally, in order to convince the Allies further that this was worthwhile, they add that the Auschwitz camp also included German armament works operating for Siemens and Krupp
- 17’29’’ Landau: Was that drawn up here, in Jerusalem?
- 17’32’’ Hausner: No, it was drawn up in London on 11 July 1944, by the Jewish Agency. On the same day on which the meeting occurred, Mr. Sharett also reported to Mr. Ben Gurion, as well as to Mr. Nahum Goldmann, about the meeting with Eden in a cable, a copy of which is before you. Mr. Sharett emphasized therein that the time for discussions had passed: "Stage of temporizing thus over and definite steps imperative, if remote chance of saving remnants is not to be missed. We realize our proposals are unorthodox and unprecedented, but they are warranted by tragedy which is without parallel or precedent." On 12 July Mr. Sharett met with Mr. Randall in the Foreign Office. The Brand mission was again discussed. It was again requested that Bader be sent to Budapest. An alternative proposal was to send Kullmann of the Inter- Governmental Committee. Perhaps he would be the one to convince the Germans that the Allies were really prepared to conduct negotiations. On page four, further on, Mr. Sharett proposes that an announcement be transmitted proclaiming all Jews in countries conquered by the Nazis to be under the protection of the British or the Anglo-Americans. Mr. Randall immediately replied that this had already been discussed and had been rejected. On 15 July Mr. Randall informed Mr. Shertok that the proposal to bomb the death camps was under consideration, that the Soviet Government was being addressed in this matter, and a personal appeal was being made by Mr. Eden to Mr. Molotov; he requested that Dr. Weizmann be informed accordingly. The debate apparently must have continued from 6 July to 1 September, since Richard Law, Permanent Undersecretary of the Foreign Office at that time, if I am not mistaken, wrote the following to Dr. Weizmann: "You will remember that on the 6th of July you discussed with the Foreign Secretary the camp at Birkenau in Upper Silesia, and the atrocities that were being committed there by the Germans against Hungarian and other Jews. You enquired whether any steps could be taken to put a stop to, or even to mitigate, these massacres, and you suggested that something might be achieved by bombing the camps, and also, if it was possible, the railway lines leading to them. "As he promised, Mr. Eden immediately put the proposal to the Secretary of State for Air. The matter received the most careful consideration of the Air Staff, but I am sorry to have to tell you that, in view of the very great technical difficulties involved, we have no option but to refrain from pursuing the proposal in present circumstances. "I realize that this decision will prove a disappointment to you, but you may feel fully assured that the matter was most thoroughly investigated."
- 22’33’’ Halevi: What were these "technical difficulties"?
- 22’38’’ Hausner: Perhaps they were known to the writer of this letter; I do not know, Sir. As for myself, I do not think they existed
- 22’52’’ Halevi: Is there no additional document which could help to clarify this question?
- 22’56’’ Hausner: Not directly; perhaps a later memorandum will clarify it. At this point, I shall merely mention a letter from J.F. Martin, the British Prime Minister's secretary, to Dr. Weizmann
- 23’18’’ Halevi: Where is this document?
- 23’20’’ Hausner: You have it; it is dated 30 October 1944. If not, I am prepared to submit another copy immediately. It is certainly among the photostats, with the original document. It is the next to last document
- 23’36’’ Landau: Yes, it is here. Do you have an additional copy?
- 24’00’’ Hausner: Yes, but with a brief addendum: Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. Now, when the meeting was taking place in Moscow at that time, Weizmann turned to them. Mr. Martin states: We have dealt with this matter and have also discussed it with the Soviets. The next document is an aide-memoire which was prepared for possible testimony by Dr. Weizmann before the International Military Tribunal. It is dated November 1945 and states the following: "In the beginning of 1944, when there were over seven hundred thousand Jews alive in Hungary, the Jewish Agency had put up a scheme to the British authorities which involved the dropping of hundreds of Palestinian Jews by parachute into Hungary and which, in the considered view of high British military authorities, would have been advantageous to the Allies militarily, and would have been helpful in preventing the massacre of many of the Hungarian Jews alive then. When this scheme was approved by all military authorities concerned and arrangements were initiated to carry out the scheme, the foreign colonial office interfered and, for political considerations, instructed the military authorities to drop it."
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
===
=== Sitzung 0??.0? - ??.0?.1961 ohne Ton
===
=== Sitzung 058.01 - 30.05.1961:
=== [Teil von Verhandlung der Sitzung nicht auf Band]
- 38’40’’ Brand: But I was told that I was not allowed to leave Budapest with the children, and that I had to report every day. By then we had had so much experience with our illegal work that it was not necessary to give any further explanations. What it means is obvious, if someone is told that he may not leave Budapest, and I have to report every day
- 39’14’’ Bach: You spoke of a Reich secret. Can you say whether Eichmann went into this Reich secret and told you in detail what the actual proposal was?
- 39’50’’ Brand: Yes, of course, the whole matter was explained to me, that he had offered a million Jews for ten thousand lorries, and that he had given my husband a passport, so that he should notify the free world of this and arrange the whole deal.
- 40’14’’ Bach: In the conversation, was mention also made of the fate of a certain group of six hundred Jews? Do you remember that?
- 41’24’’ Brand: In the same discussion, of course, just as the other side put forward its position, so the Jewish side also repeated its demand that, as long as negotiations continued, there should be no deportations to Auschwitz, and since there had already been negotiations for six hundred certificates, which were ready with a transport ship waiting in Constantsa to take them off, there was talk about this, and the point was stressed that there should be some show of good will, and they were ready to help us, so that these six hundred people that was one of the demands that the six hundred people could leave Hungary for neutral countries.
- 42’38’’ Bach: Mrs. Brand, you see the Accused before you can you identify him as the man with whom you talked?
- 42’47’’ Brand: One hundred per cent.
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- 43’14’’ Brand: If he had not first been presented to me as the printer, I would not have recognized him, he was so beaten up. So there I was, confronted with this printer who had produced the false papers for me
- 43’40’’ Bach: Were you, too, interrogated? And if so about what?
- 43’57’’ Brand: After this confrontation one or two days, I do not remember exactly how long I spent in the cell I was called in for interrogation
- 44’13’’ Bach: Do you know the name of one of the Hungarian interrogators?
- 44’26’’ Brand: The Chief interrogated me himself, Peter Hain
- 44’28’’ Bach: What were you interrogated about?
- 44’50’’ Brand: First of all about the false papers, and there was a series of pictures of the whole group of Halutzim with whom we had worked: Did I know them, these people? And since I did not know them, they beat me up. After these first questions and the first beating, they asked me a second question: Where was my husband?
- 45’27’’ Bach: Did you tell them the truth about that?
- 45’30’’ Brand: This kind of half questions, half beatings, continued for about seven hours. Of course, I did not tell them anything, and that is why they kept me so long and beat me, because I was terrified of passing on the Reich secret. I was frightened, and I did not want to be the person who would jeopardize, because of my own weakness, this only chance which we had been given. So I kept silent.
- 46’39’’ Bach: How were you then released, and where were you taken?
- 47’09’’ Brand: The morning after my interrogation, the SS appeared, and all those who had been arrested in my flat were released, or rather transferred to the German Security Service. In brief, I was released there.
- 47’27’’ Bach: But you did confess to the Hungarians that the documents had been forged?
- 47’28’’ Brand: Yes
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- 47’40’’ Bach: Did you know how many people were deported every day? Were you told?
- 47’53’’ Brand: Eichmann himself said so quite openly that every day twelve thousand people were sent off
- 48’00’’ Bach: Did you know where to?
- 48’12’’ Brand: Once he said quite openly and clearly, "You are perfectly free to telegraph your husband that I am letting the mill run"
- 48’26’’ Bach: Perhaps you could tell the Court in what context that was said, and what you understood? In what context, and what was being talked about at that time?
- 49’11’’ Brand: I cannot completely remember what exactly was then being talked about, but it was said that he had made various promises, that fifteen thousand were to be kept on ice, and this was to be done, and that was to be done, and then suddenly, when we came, nothing had been kept, and what were we to report abroad? Then he said: "You are perfectly free to telegraph your husband that I am letting the mill run no one should think that I am afraid".
- 49’44’’ Landau: Mr. Bach, I see that Mr. Brand is in the courtroom. I do not know if he has already finished his testimony. Let us ask him to leave until the end of his testimony. (To Mr. Brand) You have not yet finished your testimony; in any case, it is not definite that you have finished it. Please wait outside
- 50’26’’ Bach: Mrs. Brand, when he said, "Ich lasse die Mühle laufen," did you know which Mühle he meant where?
- 51’01’’ Brand: Yes, of course. When he made this offer, we already knew whom we were talking to, so that when he offered to sell a million Jews for goods, we did not need to speculate and try to work out what it meant "to run the mill." Of course, that meant the gas chambers
- 51’26’’ Bach: Did you, in fact, inform people abroad of this?
- 51’30’’ Brand: Yes
- 51’38’’ Bach: You spoke of the people who were to be transferred to Austria, kept on ice. Can you give the Court details about the talk you had with Eichmann about this subject, which people were to be sent, which people were not to be sent, and where they were to be sent
- 52’07’’ Brand: We always spoke for everyone who was still alive. And then we were always forced into making compromises, even in the negotiations. And that was how, in the end, he promised that he would finally send the fifteen thousand to Austria, without selection
- 52’48’’ Bach: Who were the fifteen thousand in question?
- 52’57’’ Brand: They were supposed to be the Jews who right from the beginning he said were "kept on ice."
- 53’06’’ Bach: So what did he say? Which people did he wish to choose for this?
- 53’49’’ Brand: He was always interested only in those who could work, but it is exactly on this point that we had negotiations and discussions, because we wanted to save entire families. And he promised that he would. I cannot now remember where these people were collected from. I must add here that during the negotiations more and more areas were emptied of Jews. I must also add that, in the end, the trains were exchanged, and individuals, some fifteen or sixteen thousand, reached Strasshof
- 54’51’’ Bach: Do you remember that in connection with the Jews who were to be sent to Strasshof, there was a conversation about positive or negative biological material? Could you give the Court any details in this respect?
- 55’16’’ Brand: He was not interested in Jews from Carpatho-Russia, for example, because they were "positive Jews."
- 55’25’’ Bach: What is meant by "positive Jews?"
- 55’48’’ Brand: They are Jews in body and soul. I must say in this context that, at that time, there was a very assimilated Jewish community, with very many mixed marriages
- 56’02’’ Bach: What was he interested in?
- 56’10’’ Brand: He wanted to keep ethnically valuable Jews
- 56’30’’ Bach: He wanted to preserve these Jews? Did he want to keep them or not?
- 56’26’’ Brand: He did not wish to continue keeping them
- 56’30’’ Bach: I do not understand your reply. Did he wish to save them, or did he not wish to save them? Did he wish to keep them or not?
- 56’45’’ Halevi: What do you mean by keep?
- 56’50’’ Brand: He did not wish to let them live
- 56’55’’ Bach: In other words, he did not wish people with great ethnic value to be allowed to live. Have I understood properly?
- 57’03’’ Brand: He did not wish them to
- 57’08’’ Bach: Who, in fact, were the Jews who were sent to Strasshof? Do you know where they were taken from?
- 57’18’’ Brand: If I am not mistaken, they were from Debrecen and the surrounding areas. This is a purely Hungarian area
- 57’27’’ Bach: Do you remember a conversation you had with the Accused about bringing children to Budapest?
- 57’37’’ Brand: Yes
- 57’40’’ Bach: Please tell the Court about it
- 58’08’’ Brand: Yes. I must first say something about it, so as to make it intelligible. Everything we did, all our work, was like a daily, laborious tilting at windmills. What we had established on one day and that we hoped we had achieved, the next day was found to be nothing at all. We always kept our demands limited, in order to be able to achieve some results; so I only insisted on the children at least the children should not be sent to Auschwitz, at least the children should remain in Hungary, and we would ensure that they were looked after by us. Of course, I had a negative reply to that as well, and I can no longer remember the precise details of the exchange. However, I do remember one sentence. I only said to him, "You probably do not have any children, and that is why you have no pity on them."
- 60'05'' End
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=== Erfassung lt.: N.N.: The Trial of Adolf Eichmann. Record of Proceedings in the District Court of Jerusalem, Vol. 3, Jerusalem: State of Israel, Ministry of Justice / Israel State Archive / Yad Vashem, 1993, redigiert |