“The Eichmann Trial” (2023) directed by Elliott Levitt / Z-View

The Eichmann Trial (2023)

Director: Elliot Levitt 

The Plot…

Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Nazi Adolf Eichmann was captured where he was living in Argentina.  Eichmann was then transported to Jerusalem to stand trial.  Eichmann was charged with crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes against the Jewish people, and membership in a criminal organization.

The trial lasted 56 days and garnered world-wide coverage.  Over 100 witnesses were called.  There were thousands of pages of documents.  Eichmann admitted that he didn’t like Jews and viewed them as the enemy.  Eichmann further admitted he made the statement: “I will leap into my grave laughing because the feeling that I have five million human beings on my conscience is for me a source of extraordinary satisfaction.”  Eichmann claimed his statement was about the Soviets.  Eichmann’s defense was that he hadn’t personally killed anyone and he was just following orders.

Eichmann was found guilty on 15 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes, crimes against the Jews, Poles, Slovenes, and Roma, and membership in three criminal organizations (the Gestapo, the SD, and the SS).  The judges ruled that Eichmann had not simply been following orders but had been a Nazi true-believer and one of the key principals in genocide.  Eichmann was sentenced to death by hanging.

Appeals for clemency were heard by the Israeli Supreme Court and Israeli President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi to no avail.  Adolf Eichmann was executed by hanging on June 1, 1962.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Eichmann Trial is an excellent documentary.  Kudos for director Elliott Levitt for his use of trial, news and other vintage footage to not only cover the trial but to place its importance in a historical context.

The Eichmann Trial (2023) rates 5 of 5 stars.