Intro
"When I stand before you here, Judges of Israel, to lead the Prosecution of Adolf Eichmann, I am not standing alone. With me are six million accusers. But they cannot rise to their feet and point an accusing finger towards him who sits in the dock and cry: "I accuse." For their ashes are piled up on the hills of Auschwitz and the fields of Treblinka, and are strewn in the forests of Poland. Their graves are scattered throughout the length and breadth of Europe. Their blood cries out, but their voice is not heard. Therefore I will be their spokesman and in their name I will unfold the terrible indictment."
- Attorney General Gideon Hausner in his opening speech at the trial of Adolf Eichmann
The Events Surrounding the Trial of Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann was a central figure in the implementation of the Final Solution. Charged with managing and facilitating the mass deportation of Jews to ghettos and killing centers in the German-occupied East, he was among the major organizers of the Holocaust. His trial was held in 1961 in Jerusalem. Unlike the Nuremberg proceedings, which relied extensively on written documents, the Eichmann Trial put survivors at center stage. The proceedings of the trial were broadcast around the world. This exhibition explores the chronology of events- from Eichmann's capture, his trial, his execution and the impact of the trial on Holocaust awareness in Israel and around the world.
Related Resources
The trial of Adolf Eichmann, held in Jerusalem in 1961 and 1962, riveted the attention of the Israeli public and aroused great interest the world over.
The Eichmann Trial Channel contains over 200 hours of trial sessions and a compilation of testimonies. The Channel is a joint effort between Yad Vashem and the Israel State Archives.
A Living Record brings the voices of 3 participants in the trial-Gabriel Bach, a member of the prosecution team, Mickey Gilad (Michael Goldman) an investigative officer in Bureau 06, and Israel Gutman, a witness at the trial. Documentary footage from the trial provides the historical background to their unique and moving experiences and perspectives.