Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1940-1962 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
4 boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
In May 1960 Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped in Argentina by Israeli agents and handed over to the police authorities in Israel. The police investigation was put into the hands of a special unit (Bureau 6) which took 9 months to complete its task. The resulting indictment comprised 15 counts of crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity, war crimes and membership of a hostile organisation.
The trial commenced on 10 April 1961 and Eichmann pleaded not guilty on all counts. Supported by more than 100 witnesses and 1600 documents the prosecution presented its case. The defence made no attempt to challenge the facts of the Holocaust or the authenticity of the documents that were evidence of it. The defence played down Eichmann's involvement and stressed the need to obey orders. The court found Eichmann guilty on all counts and sentenced him to death on 15 December 1961. Eichmann's lawyers lodged an appeal against the verdict and on 29 May 1962 the Israel Supreme Court rejected the appeal. Eichmann was executed on 31 May 1962.
Repository
Archival history
The provenance of the papers relating to Adolf Eichmann's trial (621/1-2 and 621/4-5) is unknown. The copies, translations and transcriptions of mainly Nuremberg documents which are evidence of Eichmann's involvement in the extermination of European Jewry at 621/3 were deposited by the Institute of Jewish Affairs (now the Institute for Jewish Policy Research).
GB 1556 WL 621 1940-1962 Collection level 4 boxes Institute of Jewish Affairs xx Institute for Jewish Policy Research District Court, Jerusalem
In May 1960 Adolf Eichmann was kidnapped in Argentina by Israeli agents and handed over to the police authorities in Israel. The police investigation was put into the hands of a special unit (Bureau 6) which took 9 months to complete its task. The resulting indictment comprised 15 counts of crimes against the Jewish people, crimes against humanity, war crimes and membership of a hostile organisation.
The trial commenced on 10 April 1961 and Eichmann pleaded not guilty on all counts. Supported by more than 100 witnesses and 1600 documents the prosecution presented its case. The defence made no attempt to challenge the facts of the Holocaust or the authenticity of the documents that were evidence of it. The defence played down Eichmann's involvement and stressed the need to obey orders. The court found Eichmann guilty on all counts and sentenced him to death on 15 December 1961. Eichmann's lawyers lodged an appeal against the verdict and on 29 May 1962 the Israel Supreme Court rejected the appeal. Eichmann was executed on 31 May 1962.
The provenance of the papers relating to Adolf Eichmann's trial (621/1-2 and 621/4-5) is unknown. The copies, translations and transcriptions of mainly Nuremberg documents which are evidence of Eichmann's involvement in the extermination of European Jewry at 621/3 were deposited by the Institute of Jewish Affairs (now the Institute for Jewish Policy Research).
Institute of Jewish Affairs (now the Institute for Jewish Policy Research)
The trial transcripts and other papers of Adolf Eichmann, (1906-1962), comprises copy transcripts of the trial proceedings, 1961 (621/1) copy transcripts of the Eichmann appeal proceedings, 1962 (621/2); copy transcriptions and translations of documents which issued mainly from the Nuremberg War Crimes trial, c 1940 (621/3/1-14), these notably include many affidavits from witnesses and correspondence to and from Eichmann. The collection includes additional copies of proceedings and trial judgements, 1961-1962 (621/4-5).
By provenance, date, country
Open
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
English, Hebrew and German.
Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Israel State Archives
Encyclopedia of the Holocaust, Macmillan, London, 1990
Entry compiled by Howard Falksohn
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
November 2007 Administration of justice Eichmann , Adolf , 1906-1962 , Nazi war criminal Europe Germany Humanitarian law Nazism Nuremberg Political doctrines Third Reich Totalitarianism War crimes Western Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Institute of Jewish Affairs (now the Institute for Jewish Policy Research)
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The trial transcripts and other papers of Adolf Eichmann, (1906-1962), comprises copy transcripts of the trial proceedings, 1961 (621/1) copy transcripts of the Eichmann appeal proceedings, 1962 (621/2); copy transcriptions and translations of documents which issued mainly from the Nuremberg War Crimes trial, c 1940 (621/3/1-14), these notably include many affidavits from witnesses and correspondence to and from Eichmann. The collection includes additional copies of proceedings and trial judgements, 1961-1962 (621/4-5).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
By provenance, date, country
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English, Hebrew and German.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English