Manchester University Press
5 Adolf Eichmann
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Alan Rosenthal
Abstract
The author got involved with Adolf Eichmann's story twice, once as a broadcaster and once as a filmmaker, and this chapter presents some of the thoughts and memories that have been drifting through the author's head for over forty years. In her articles, which were later published in book form under the title Eichmann in Jerusalem, the historian and political philosopher Hannah Arendt argued that Eichmann was an ordinary man, his actions arising from 'the banality of evil.' At the time the author was not able to accept her arguments. He had to wait nearly forty years before the answers became clear to the author as he worked on the film Adolf Eichmann: The Secret Memoirs. On 11 December 1961, Eichmann was sentenced to death for crimes against the Jewish people, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. After his appeal was rejected, he was hung in May 1962.
Abstract
The author got involved with Adolf Eichmann's story twice, once as a broadcaster and once as a filmmaker, and this chapter presents some of the thoughts and memories that have been drifting through the author's head for over forty years. In her articles, which were later published in book form under the title Eichmann in Jerusalem, the historian and political philosopher Hannah Arendt argued that Eichmann was an ordinary man, his actions arising from 'the banality of evil.' At the time the author was not able to accept her arguments. He had to wait nearly forty years before the answers became clear to the author as he worked on the film Adolf Eichmann: The Secret Memoirs. On 11 December 1961, Eichmann was sentenced to death for crimes against the Jewish people, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. After his appeal was rejected, he was hung in May 1962.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures vi
- List of tables viii
- Introduction 1
- 1 Learning the ropes 8
- 2 Married to the Marimba 23
- 3 Stalin’s Last Purge 56
- 4 Inspiration 95
- 5 Adolf Eichmann 111
- 6 The Brink of Peace 143
- 7 The First Fagin 180
- 8 Pitch perfect 214
- 9 Beyond the Velvet Curtain 223
- 10 Best advice 241
- 11 Hopes and Dreams 253
- Appendix 271
- Index 273
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- List of figures vi
- List of tables viii
- Introduction 1
- 1 Learning the ropes 8
- 2 Married to the Marimba 23
- 3 Stalin’s Last Purge 56
- 4 Inspiration 95
- 5 Adolf Eichmann 111
- 6 The Brink of Peace 143
- 7 The First Fagin 180
- 8 Pitch perfect 214
- 9 Beyond the Velvet Curtain 223
- 10 Best advice 241
- 11 Hopes and Dreams 253
- Appendix 271
- Index 273
