National Content: Italy
“Eichmann is a craven whole devoid of moral”
| Source | Sixth page of the “Avanti!” April 26th 1961 |
| Event referred to | April 10th 1961- May 31st 1962: Eichmann’s trial |
| Technological characteristics | Type of file: Text Extension: .pdf Dimension of the file: 1,30 mb |
| Description of the source | Kind of source: editorial Origin of the source: Communal Library of Foligno Language: Italian Copyright issues: granted by the owner |
| Contextualisation of the source | The “Avanti!” is the news paper of the Italian Socialist Party. The article reports the testimonies against Eichmann during the process, the declarations of the major Dieter Wisliceny and the pages of the “memorial” written by Eichmann in an Israeli prison, contributing like this to the discussion about the connection between “chain of command” and personal responsibilities. |
| Interpretation of the source | The article reports how Eichmann tries to free himself from the accusations to be liable for the Jewish deportations in concentration camps. He tries to prove that since childhood he has been educated to obedience, and so he limited himself only to execute the orders that he received from his superiors. |
| Original Contents | dice Wisliceny:< “mi resi conto che l’ordine era un mandato di morte per milioni di persone, e che il potere per la sua esecuzione era nelle mani di Eichmann… il programma di sterminio era già in corso, e continuò fino al tardo 1944” – dell’atteggiamento di Eichmann verso gli ebrei, ha detto il maggiore delle SS – “in varie occasioni Eichmann mi disse che gli ebrei non avevano valore alcuno, se non come lavoratori di fatica, e che solo il 20 o 25% di loro era in grado di lavorare”. |
| Original Contents (English Translation) | said Wisliceny< I realized that the order was a death warrant for millions of people, and the authority on its execution was in the hands of Eichmann. The extermination plan was already in progress, and it would keep on till the 1944. About Eichmann behaviour towards the Jewish said the SS major “ on several occasions Eichmann said to me that Jewish were worthless, if not as worker employed for heavy work, and only the 25% of them was able to work. |