Fear that world reaction to the trial of Adolt Eichmann, the Nazi war criminal who directed the mass killing of 6, 000, 000 Jews in Europe during the Second World War, "may be a judgment against Germany, " was expressed here this weekend by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer at his first press conference in two years.
Dr. Adenauer said, however, that he was sure that "Eichmann will get what he deserves. " He added that he has "full confidence in the Israeli Government and its judicial system. " He was also confident that Israel "does not want to use this trial as a political stunt." Speaking slowly and gravely, the Chancellor reminded reporters that there were also thousands of Germans who suffered "terribly and bitterly" under the Nazi regime.
"There were many Germans who helped Jews whenever they could, and did it happily. " Dr. Adenauer declared. He said many Germans "understandably tend to forget the past. But we cannot expect others to forget. " The Chancellor said that Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion, "in his relations with me, has demonstrated a magnanimous attitude towards Germany and Germans. "
Asked what the West German Government could do to counteract any adverse effect on public opinion; the Chancellor said the Bonn Government would have one or several observers at the trial and would make decisions according to what was said during the proceedings.
Referring to his close adviser, Chancellor Adenauer said that State Secretary Hans Globke, along with many others, was directed by his political party to remain at his post when the Nazis came to power, in order to keep informed about Nazi plans and activities and to resist from within. These orders by the political parties of the day, Dr. Adenauer said, were based on the assumption that the Nazis were only temporary.
The Federal Supreme Court, meanwhile, has directed the Bavarian state authorities to undertake a large-scale search for wartime Nazi criminals believed to be still at large. State Attorney Bernhard Bader said in Munich today that a special 50-man group has been formed to trace the Nazis whose numbers are believed to run into the thousands. The special squad would investigate "all crimes against Jews in East Europe," it was announced.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
