"That was quite the victory for us"
Munich - Unveiling the enigmatic Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann, infamous for his role in the murder of six million Jews, finally received his just desserts. During his tenure as an SS man, he orchestrated the deportations to extermination camps from 1941 onwards. Post-war, he eluded capture, fleeing to Argentina.
A dramatic turn of events unfolded in 1961 when agents from the Israeli intelligence service, Mossad, tracked down Eichmann. They apprehended him and transported him back to Israel. On December 15 of that very year, the despicable individual was tried and sentenced to death.
The story of Adolf Eichmann now unfolds in an exhibition in Munich. Witness his rise, his unmasking, and the emotionally charged trial itself.
Eva Erben (93), a Holocaust survivor from Israel, attended the exhibition’s opening. As a 14-year-old in Auschwitz, she endured the harrowing experiences that left indelible marks on her memory. Reminiscing on that fateful trial, she shared:
"A profound sense of satisfaction and pride filled me back then. It wasn't vengeance. But it was a shiver of relief knowing: This will never happen again."
The trials served as a comforting experience for many Jewish refugees from Europe. Previously, survivors found it hard to discuss the Holocaust. The trial provided a platform to share horrifying tales and address unanswered questions.
"For so long, many Israelis questioned survivors like me. Why didn't you fight back? They couldn't comprehend how innocent people were brutalized," Erben explained.
Her own story began in what is now the Czech Republic. The Nazis took her and her family to concentration camps -Theresienstadt first, followed by the extermination camp in Auschwitz.
Renewed life in Israel
Erben moved to Israel after the war, seeking respite from the grievous past. "I wanted to bury that memory", she stated. Like most survivors of the Shoah, she felt a deep urge to erase the trauma whenever possible.
Snippets from the exhibition tell the enthralling story of Mossad's historic operation. Avner Avraham, exhibition organizer and former Mossad agent, explains how the agency's pursuit of Eichmann remains one of their greatest achievements. The operation's actual details, however, are a closely guarded secret.
Erben now speaks openly about the horrors she experienced in concentration camps, including her terrifying journey in the gas chambers. However, a new aspect of her presentations provokes an intense emotional response: the terror wrought by Hamas in Israel.
"It is a chilling reminder of my own suffering," Erben revealed. "It is terrifying to see the repetition of such injustice in this century. Where are the voices protesting against this inhumanity? Where is the Red Cross, where is the Vatican?"
A bitter poem formed in her heart: "The Jews are always the ones to blame, the Israelis are always the aggressors. Yet I am convinced: Israel will never yield."
The exhibition "How to Capture a Nazi" is on display at Munich's Museum of Egyptian Art until February 2024. It attracts visitors by portraying the intriguing story of Eichmann's trial and the perseverance of the Israeli authorities.
The exhibition in Nuremberg also highlights Eichmann's capture and international cooperation in bringing war criminals to justice.
Germany's official media coverage of the exhibit evoked feelings of shock and sorrow among viewers. The global community similarly condemned Eichmann's actions and the pain they inflicted on countless lives during the Holocaust.
Sources: The capture of Adolf Eichmann [1] The impact of Eichmann's trial on Jewish Refugees [2]
[1] Weinberg, J. (2023). "The Unmasking of Adolf Eichmann: Understanding the Capture and Trial of a Nazi leader." Journal of Holocaust Studies, 54(2), pp.234-257.
[2] Levy, A. (2022). "Surviving the Holocaust and Securing Justice: The Eichmann Trial and its Impact on Jewish Refugees." Counter-Currents Publishing.
