National Content: Italy
Hang the criminal !
| Source | “La settimana Incom” 02163, 24/12/1961” |
| Event referred to | April 10th, 1961-May 31st, 1962: Eichmann’s trial |
| Technological characteristics | Type of file: video Extension: mpeg Availability proposed: possibility to view after a free registration To view the video click on the source icon, in the page that opens up just type the code 02163 in the green right column, first white line, then click on the "Invia Ricerca" black button. Then click on the moviefilm like icon of the first record of the list. When asked for use login: projectmhm and password: projectmhm and then click on the "Invia dati" black button. Choose your connection and wait for the video to start. |
| Description of the source | Kind of source: newsreel Origin of the source: website of Istituto Luce Language: Italian Copyright issues: not directly available, not printable, not downloadable (available on request) |
| Contextualisation of the source | The video is a part of the newsreel “La settimana Incom, 02163” , edited in Italy the 24th December 1961. The “Settimana Incom” is a vision news filmed, which was projected in the cinematographic room during the interval between a projection and the other. Born in years which preceded the birth of television, the newsreel is disappeared a few years later. The “Archivio Storico” of Istituto Luce is the only archives in the world which put on free to the service of all the world his estate of filmed through internet. |
| Interpretation of the source | The “death accountant” Adolf Eichmann, accused of crimes against the Jewish people and against humanity, during the trial, tries to keep under control his anxiety reveals by a light quiver of his thin lips and he seems precise, neat, methodical like a good German. In this way we can have a more intimate analysis of Eichmann’s personality that is described like “ a man that is became a beast”. The video doesn’t show the reactions that the accused had in the moment in which the death sentence is read, but it tells only that the defending lawyer will lodge an appeal. |
| Original Contents | Sei mesi è durato il processo contro il colonnello delle S.S. Adolf Eichmann, accusato di crimini perpetrati contro il popolo ebraico e contro l’umanità . L’attenta sorveglianza delle forze di polizia d’Israele sul palazzo di giustizia di Gerusalemme protegge l’incolumità dell’imputato, i cui delitti hanno fatto fremere d’orrore il mondo intero. Alcuni superstiti dei campi di sterminio hanno narrato le loro terribili esperienze dinnanzi ad un pubblico che ascoltava inorridito. Nella cabina di vetro a prova di proiettili, Eichmann ha seguito con grande attenzione le 121 udienze del processo. Preciso, ordinato, metodico come ogni buon tedesco, consulta spesso i suoi appunti, solo un leggero fremito delle labbra sottili tradisce di tanto in tanto l’ansia dell’uomo corresponsabile dello sterminio di 6 milioni di ebrei. L’ombra della morte aleggia cupa nell’aula e i capi d’imputazione letti dal giudice Moshe Landau prendono sostanza attraverso le parole dei testimoni; poi il procuratore generale Gideon Hausner conclude la sua martellante accusa dicendo “.. Solo una sentenza attende Adolf Eichmann, nato uomo ma divenuto belva. Se la condanna a morte non sarà applicata non vi sarà più al mondo un altro essere che possa meritarla”. Il difensore, l’avvocato tedesco Robert Servatius tenta invano di gettare su altri le responsabilità dell’ accusato. L’imputato si difende dichiarando di avere ubbidito agli ordini di Hitler (…) e termina con queste parole: “Vorrei ora di mia spontanea volontà domandare perdono al popolo ebraico e dichiarare che inorridisco al pensiero di ciò che è stato fatto agli Ebrei”. La sentenza letta nel profondo silenzio dice: “Accusato! Siete riconosciuto colpevole dei crimini perpetrati contro il popolo ebraico e contro l’umanità. Il fine dei crimini contro il popolo ebraico era di far sparire l’intero popolo dalla faccia della Terra e ciò è quello che distingue questi crimini dei delitti contro le persone e gli individui (…) e conclude: “Questa corte condanna perciò Adolf Eichmann a morte per crimini contro il popolo ebraico”. La condanna sarà eseguita mediante impiccagione, ma l’avvocato Servatius ha già presentato il ricorso in appello. |
| Original Contents (English Translation) | The trial against the S.S. colonel Adolf Eichmann went on for 6 months. He is accused of crimes against the Jewish people, and against humanity. The careful Israeli police guard on the Law Courts in Jerusalem, protects the safety of the accused whose crimes horrified the whole world. Some survivors of the extermination camps told their frightful experiences before a shocked audience. In the glass bullet-proof cabin Eichmann followed carefully the 121 hearings of the trial. Precise, neat, methodical like any good German, he often consults his notes. Only a light quiver of his thin lips reveals the state of anxiety of a man responsible for the extermination of 6 million Jews. The imminent death pervades throughout the courtroom and the criminal charges read by judge Moshe Landau take form through the declarations of the witnesses, the Attorney General Gideon Hausner concludes his pounding accusation saying: "only a sentence may be inflicted on Adolf Eichmann a man who has become a beast. If a death penalty isn't applied no man alive will deserve it". The public defender, the German lawyer Robert Servatius tries, in vain, to give others the weight of the responsibilities of the accused who defends himself declaring that he had obeyed Hitler's ordersand he concludes with the following words " Of my own free will, I would beg forgiveness from the Jewish people and declare that just the thought of what was done to the Jews appals me”. The verdict, read in absolute silence says: “You are guilty of crimes against the Jewish people and against humanity! The purpose of the crimes against the Jewish people was to wipe out all the Jews from the earth and this is what distinguishes these crimes from those against the persons, the individuals” and he concludes " this court, therefore, condemns Adolf Eichmann to death for crimes against the Jewish people". The sentence will be executed through hanging, but lawyer Servatius has already lodged an appeal. |