Eichmann Trial -- Session 20 -- Testimony of H. Kratky

Session 20. Court is not in session. The Judges enter and present Decision 11: the Hoettle, Huppenkothen, and von Thadden affidavits are permitted as evidence; the Defense has permission to cross-examine all three witnesses at a foreign court in the witness' resident country. Presiding Judge Moshe Landau directs the interpreter to have a translation ready during the day, and asks Attorney General Gideon Hausner how long it will take him to grant entry visas for foreign witnesses. Hausner responds to Landau's reprimand for reading too much and extending the length of the trial on behalf of Assistant State Attorney Bar-Or. The Court official discuss the use of documentation. Hausner submits Hoettle's affidavit [T/157]; in his affidavit, Hoettle states: "Eichmann was entrusted with the task of rounding up the Jews from all the countries of Europe and transporting them to Germany... Eichmann told him that... about four million Jews were put to death in the extermination camps..." Hausner submits exhibits T/158 through T/160. After a blip at 00:28:33, Bar-Or questions witness Dr. Ya'Akov Hugo Kratky. Following another blip at 00:30:39, Kratky describes his journey to Poldowa, and treatment by SS soldiers. Kratky explains that the SS soldiers took the Jews' money and "They told us to remove our clothes... All were made to lie on the ground, and we were given blows for fifteen minutes on end. They struck us and laughed." There is a blip at 00:33:38. Bar-Or questions Kratky about Adolf Eichmann. Kratky claims he knew of Eichmann but would not be able to recognize him presently.