Chapter 5 Summary and Analysis

In chapter five, Eichmann took the stand in his own defense and it was immediately apparent that he wasn't the bumbling old man who had been captured a year earlier. He was poised and confident. Eichmann repeatedly insisted that he had been following orders, that he was not "competent" to issue orders as some had testified, that records were incomplete or incorrect, or that he simply didn't remember. Questioned specifically about the Jews forced to leave the country without any money, he said the "donations" they made supported the Jews who were unable to leave the country. He completely ignored the fact that Jews were trying to flee because of what the Nazis were doing to them. He explained away a comment he'd made that he was pleased with the Final Solution by saying that he had meant he was pleased...