When Eichmann pleaded for his life: "I have always acted under command"

The documents revealed: As part of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day which takes place today (Wednesday), documents for clemency filed to the second president Yitzhak Ben-Zvi by Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, are published.

The criminal trial took place 54 years ago, he was accused that in his capacity in the SS, he commanded the execution of the Final Solution, and transportation of European Jews to the death camps. Eichmann was convicted and sentenced to death.

Today the request for clemency in the original letter handwritten by Eichmann and another letter written by his brother, will be presented at the Presidential Home.

In addition, the recommendation of the former Justice Minister Dov Yosef, President Ben-Zvi's announcement to reject the pardon, and a note with the opening statement of the prosecutor, Gideon Hausner written in his handwriting, will be presented as well.

In his request for clemency, Eichmann wrote: "I gave no order in my own name, but always acted under command ... I despise as the greatest crimes the atrocities committed against the Jews and think the initiators of such atrocities will be prosecuted now and in the future. But here one has to draw a line between the leaders responsible and people like me, who had to serve only as a tool of the leadership. I was not a responsible leader, so I do not feel guilty."

Eichmann added: "Especially under the impression of horrors unheard of, which I witnessed, I asked to immediately transfer me to another position. Also, I revealed of my own accord during the police investigation the atrocities that were unknown until then, to help determine the truth as unequivocal."

The request was transferred as customary to the President, together with the unequivocal recommendation of the Minister of Justice at the time, Dov Yosef, not to pardon Eichmann.

The president replied: "After considering the applications for amnesty filed in the case of Adolf Eichmann, and after considering all the material that was before me, I came to the conclusion that there was no justification to pardon Adolf Eichmann or commute the sentence imposed on him by the Jerusalem District Court on 5th Tevet 5722, 15/12/61, and which was approved by the Supreme Court sitting as a Court of Criminal Appeals on the twenty-fifth of Iyar 5722 29/05/62. Thus, I am informing you that I have decided to reject the requests and not use my powers for amnesty and reducing punishment in this case".

On the night of June 1, 1962, after the President's refusal to pardon, Eichmann was executed by hanging. He was cremated at the Ramle prison yard, and his ashes were scattered at sea outside the territorial waters of Israel.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!