Eichmann | Interrogation transcripts, [Israel, 1961], 6 volumes, printed wrappers

[Adolf Eichmann] Israeli Police

Adolf Eichmann I (-VI). [Jerusalem: Police d'Israel, 1961]

6 volumes, oblong folio (209 x 325mm.), containing photocopies of the original typescript and the associated manuscript notes on the typescript (including notes written and signed by Eichmann), text in German with a preface in English and Hebrew, original printed wrappers, wrappers slightly stained, upper cover of vol.3 detached

Adolf Eichmann (1906-1962) was an SS official and one of the senior organisers of the "final solution to the Jewish question"; he was Heydrich's right hand man at the Wannsee conference, and subsequently arranged the transports to the concentration camps. After the war he escaped to Argentina but was found in 1960 and taken to Israel to stand trial for his war crimes. His defence during his trial rested on his claim to be following orders rather than instigating the persecution of the Jews, and that because the Nazi policies were effectively state policies he was not personally responsible for those events.

His trial finally took place in April 1961, after nine months of interrogation in Israel. The trial was televised and resulted in his conviction for crimes against humanity and war crimes. His legal representatives appealed but the appeal was rejected and he was hanged shortly afterwards.

One outcome of the trial was a renewed interest in the Holocaust and its effect on the survivors, as well as a perception of the "banality of evil" as described by Hannah Arendt in her newspaper coverage of the trial. However, subsequent research has suggested that Eichmann was indeed a monster and a murderer rather that the bland bureaucrat he portrayed himself to be during the trial.

The transcripts in these volumes contain the evidence gathered from Eichmann during the preparations for the trial, when he was questioned by the investigator Avner Less between 29 May 1960 and 15 January 1961.

PROVENANCE:

Peter Wyss(?), inscription on upper covers