Dr. Robert Servatius, Adolf Eichmann’s lawyer, was given today the opportunity to submit the names of witnesses which he insists on summoning from Germany to testify in the defense of Eichmann at the trial of the Nazi leader who is charged with directing the annihilation of 6, 000, 000 Jews in Europe.
Attorney General Gideon Hausner said that he would need about seven days after Dr. Servatius submitted the names, to determine which of the prospective defense witnesses should be given an Israeli visa and immunity and which ones were considered Nazi war criminals and, therefore, subject to arrest in Israel.
The court trying Adolf Eichmann decided this weekend over defense objections to accept depositions from three former Nazis who are known to be still alive and whom the defense wanted to bring to Israel for direct testimony. The three are Wilhelm Hoettl and Walter Huppenkotten, former SS officers, and Eberhard von Thadden, former head of the Jewish Affairs Department of the German Foreign Ministry.
Dr. Servatius had objected to introduction of depositions from the three former Nazis on ground that his client would not be able to cross-examine them. He asked the court to grant immunity to them so that they could come to Israel without fear of arrest under Israel’s law for the punishment of Nazi criminals. Dr. Servatius asked the court for a ruling after Attorney General Gideon Hausner, the chief prosecutor, rejected the defense attorney’s request.
In its-ruling, the court said that both the defense and prosecution should have the chance to cross-examine all three men, but that it had no authority to order the Israel Government to issue entry visas or to order the Government to guarantee immunity outside the courtroom.
In statements out of court today. Dr. Servatius indicated that, in addition to von Thadden, Hoettl and Huppenkotten, he will request that seven other former Eichmann collaborators in Germany be brought here to testify. Dr. Servatius’ assistant, Dieter Wechtenbruch, is now in Germany trying to line up defense witnesses.
In addition, Dr. Servatius indicated, he may request that the prosecution bring here Dr. Hans Globke, West Germany’s Minister of State and principal aid to German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Dr. Glocke was the Nazi regime’s official interpreter of the Nuremberg Laws of 1935, which set the Nazi party’s racist, anti-Semitic policies.
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