Shachar Gannot, a History doctoral student at Princeton University, will speak on“A Defender of Nazis: Robert Servatius, the State of Israel and the Eichmann Trial.” 

The Eichmann Trial is one of the most significant legal proceedings of the 20^th century. While ample literature exists on various courtroom actors, such as Adolf Eichmann himself, the prosecution’s numerous survivor-witnesses, and even Hannah Arendt in her journalistic capacity, scant attention has been given to Eichmann’s attorney, Robert Servatius. This paper aims to fill this gap by reexamining the appointment and retention of the defense attorney, shedding light on a fascinating backstory that has remained largely overlooked in narratives about the trial of the infamous Nazi criminal. Through an analysis of Israeli newspapers, confidential governmental archival materials, and intelligence reports, it is revealed that although Servatius was not a member of the Nazi Party during the Third Reich, he consorted with former Nazis leading up to the 1961 trial, meeting with them on multiple occasions. These documents also uncover a contentious debate that unfolded behind the scenes in Israel regarding these encounters – a debate that Israeli leaders were able to, for the most part, keep out of the public eye. The motivations for this secrecy and obstinacy were manifold, and included the hopes of avoiding further controversy in light of the Mossad’s kidnapping of Eichmann in contravention of international norms, as well as the appeasement of West Germany and its own concerns over the potential replacement of Servatius by an East German attorney. This paper reveals the lengths to which the State of Israel went to ensure that it held a proper trial that would be viewed as legitimate by the rest of the world.

To attend virtually, contact Kim Murray.

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