Eichmann Trial -- Session 79 -- Eichmann's testimony re: Wannsee Conference, sterilization, "Lidice Children", and evacuation

The tape begins in the middle of Session 79. Defense Attorney Dr. Robert Servatius questions Eichmann about his feelings of satisfaction at the end of the Wannsee Conference, as indicated by the Sassen document. Willem Sassen, a Dutch fascist, conducted an interview with Eichmann in Argentina in 1956. This interview was used heavily in Eichmann's trial. Servatius' next question is missing and the footage continues with Eichmann testifying about how a particular memo regarding the final solution came to be written and circulated. Eichmann maintains that the letter, written as a consequence of the Wannsee Conference, was designed to elicit information about the number of Jews in the Reich and its Protectorate in order to draw up a timetable. The next question is missing from the video and footage begins again with Judge Benjamin Halevi asking the accused how he became Heydrich's authorized specialist. There are shots in this segment of the prosecution and defense lawyers. Eichmann testifies that he had nothing to do with the matter of sterilization. A portion of the proceedings is missing and the footage resumes with the presentation of a document about the collection of skulls and skeletons from the Strasbourg Anatomical Institute. A very small section of the proceedings is missing and the session continues as Servatius presents a summary of documents about Professor August Hirt's activities at the University of Strasbourg. Eichmann is asked to explain letters in which he (Eichmann) is asked to approve the establishment of this collection. Some of the proceedings are missing. Eichmann testifies as to whether he met with Dr. Wolfram Sievers, the director of the Ahnenerbe (Ancestral Heritage Society). Eichmann testifies that he was not authorized to transfer concentration camp prisoners from one camp to another, which is what Sievers requested. Sievers was tried and convicted in the Doctor's Trial. After another break in the footage, Eichmann states that he is not trying to avoid the questions posed to him and that he is limiting himself to the documents presented. A section of the proceedings is missing and the footage resumes with Servatius questioning the accused about the number of trains needed to accommodate one thousand people. He notes that one of the documents presented indicates that there was only room for seven hundred people. Eichmann testifies that it was not his responsibility but that the reason was that extra wagons were supplied for luggage so that more people could fit into each train car. A large section of the proceedings is missing. The video resumes with Eichmann explaining the directives presented in a document describing what wording is to be used when notifying people that they are to be deported. Some of the proceedings are missing and footage continues with Eichmann responding to a question posed by Servatius concerning telegrams giving the authorization to kill Jews. This last section skips to the portion of the proceedings for Session 79 concerning the murder of the Lidice children. Several documents are presented to Eichmann, who states that he had nothing to do with this matter and suggests that it must have been a special assignment given to Guenther.