Eichmann, Adolf (1906-1962): Trial transcripts and other papers

In May 1960 Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped in Argentina by Israeli agents and handed over to the police authorities in Israel. The police investigation was put into the hands of a special unit (Bureau 6) which took 9 months to complete its task. The resulting indictment comprised 15 counts of crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity, war crimes and membership of a hostile organisation.

The trial commenced on 10 April 1961 and Eichmann pleaded not guilty on all counts. Supported by more than 100 witnesses and 1600 documents the prosecution presented its case. The defence made no attempt to challenge the facts of the Holocaust or the authenticity of the documents that were evidence of it. The defence played down Eichmann's involvement and stressed the need to obey orders. The court found Eichmann guilty on all counts and sentenced him to death on 15 December 1961. Eichmann's lawyers lodged an appeal against the verdict and on 29 May 1962 the Israel Supreme Court rejected the appeal. Eichmann was executed on 31 May 1962.

The provenance of the papers relating to Adolf Eichmann's trial (621/1-2 and 621/4-5) is unknown. The copies, translations and transcriptions of mainly Nuremberg documents which are evidence of Eichmann's involvement in the extermination of European Jewry at 621/3 were deposited by the Institute of Jewish Affairs (now the Institute for Jewish Policy Research).

Institute of Jewish Affairs (now the Institute for Jewish Policy Research)