Eichmann Trial -- Sessions 55 and 56 -- Testimony of Dr. G. Gilbert, J. Brand

Session 55. Repeats Tape 2067 with Professor Gustave M. Gilbert, Professor of Psychology at Long Island University, USA. He served as the chief psychologist at the jail in Nuremberg where many SS officers were interned and in that capacity spoke to many of the prisoners while they were awaiting trial. He also published his diary which describes his experiences. Testimony stops and starts, jumps from scene to scene. 00:06:06 Höss' statement about transportation, extermination, and figures. 00:08:59 Cuts out. Talks about what else Höss said to Gilbert about Eichmann, referred to him as "chief of extermination program." Gilbert asked about crystallizing a picture of murderous personality of SS officers. Trying to establish how a man could commit such crimes - what sort of personality. Legal wrangle in court about psychological validity of working out what the common denominator of a murderous mind is. 00:18:43 Dr Servatius, no translation on video, suggests Gilbert is not objective. Gilbert states he disagrees with Servatius stating he was objective at Nuremberg - working for the prison staff, not the defense nor the prosecution. Consecutive translation on video. 00:24:33 Judges consultation. 00:25:10 Cuts out. Court is just commencing again. Decision 60 rules evidence showing Eichmann as a murderer because of character of being in the SS is not allowed. 00:26:06 Cuts out. 00:26:09 Session 56. Testimony of the Hungarian, Jewish witness, Joel Brand. 00:28:07 Cuts out. Brand talks about when he first met Eichmann - met with German counter-espionage agents, then got taken by car to Eichmann. 00:31:12 Asked to identify Eichmann. Describes meeting with Eichmann - in SS uniform, civilian (Kurt Alexander Becher) also present. Eichmann shouted "I am in charge of the Aktion (operation)." Eichmann said now it's Hungary's turn, and Brand was still considered capable of some output (despite being Jewish). Eichmann offered to sell Brand one million Jews, asked if he wanted to save women or men. "Blood for goods". 00:41:46 Brand offered him money, Eichmann wanted foreign goods, Brand asked where he wanted to go to get them and chose Turkey because of the large Jewish Agency there. 00:45:33 Brand was forbidden to tell Hungarian government; he discussed it with Jewish group and decided to agree to Eichmann's proposal. 00:48:19 Cuts out. Eichmann said he wanted trucks - 100 Jews for every truck. 00:55:35 Eichmann also promised that upon Brand's return he would blow up Auschwitz and send 10% of saved Jews to the boarder of their choice. 00:56:19 Cuts out. Eichmann threatened to deport Jews immediately - Brand must leave asap.