Baror, Ya'acov
Deputy State Attorney

1961 Quote: 5/16/61: BAROR: What were the subjects discussed when you appeared in Adolf Eichmann's office?

WITNESS HEINRICH KARL GRUEBER, A BERLIN PRIEST: I went there very often and raised all the questions of importance to us. Questions about emigration, questions about treatment of Jews and everything of importance - I raised them all in the office unless they were matters concerning other authorities.

BAROR: Did you sometimes manage to achieve your purpose in going to see Eichmann?

GRUEBER: As far as I remember, either I heard a "no," or I was told you will receive a reply, come back. But I do not ever remember being given a decision with a "yes."

BAROR: Mr. Grueber, do you remember whether during these meetings or conversations the Accused ever referred to his superior's instructions, which he had to ask for or receive?

GRUEBER: As far as I can remember, everything was in the first person, i.e., I order, I say, and I cannot; whether that was an expression for - if I can put it this way - making himself more important, or whether he really did not only wish to give the impression but really was entitled to decide matters by himself, I am not aware of a single instance in which he may have said: I have to consult a superior authority. I certainly do not remember any such instance.

1996 Quote: The judges had, right through the trial, been really open-hearted. They were disgusted, sometimes, and they said they were disgusted. They were even, sometimes, amused. And they looked it. They were disgusted, in an openness that is wondrous to me, today. Eichmann himself must have felt that he had a very fair investigation. He was treated not like a criminal. He was treated like a man in trouble. In deep trouble, with human fairness. Months and months of expressing himself the way he saw it, and that was tendered to the court. He must have felt that there was humanity in the treatment. I'm terribly happy about that.

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