About This Archive
When Survivors Became Witnesses
The Eichmann Trial placed Holocaust testimony at the center of a public proceeding for the first time. This archive preserves that moment.
Why I Built This
My name is Alon Carmel.
My grandfather, Israel Carmel, was one of the witnesses who testified at the Eichmann Trial. He stood in that courtroom in Jerusalem in 1961 and spoke about what he saw, what he survived, what he carried with him.
Growing up, I heard fragments of his story. Some at family gatherings. Some in the silences between words. But it wasn't until I began reading the trial transcripts that I truly heard his voice, and the voices of over a hundred others who testified alongside him.
I built this project because I believe these voices deserve to be heard. Not summarized. Not simplified. But preserved, accessible, and honored for what they are: the testimony of those who witnessed history's darkest chapter and chose to speak.
This archive is my way of ensuring that my grandfather's testimony, and the testimonies of all who stood in that courtroom, remain alive for future generations.
For my grandfather. For all the witnesses. And for everyone who will listen.
Alon Carmel
A Turning Point
Before Jerusalem, the Holocaust was documented through Nazi records and official proceedings. Survivors carried their memories privately. Public testimony was rare.
The Eichmann Trial changed this. More than one hundred witnesses testified before the court. Their testimonies addressed events across ghettos, deportations, camps, and daily life under Nazi rule—stories that had never been told in a public forum.
The trial placed survivor testimony at the center of a major criminal proceeding, presented publicly and broadcast to the world. It marked a shift in how the Holocaust would be remembered: not only through documents, but through voices.
The Historical Record
The proceedings extended over several months and generated one of the most comprehensive trial records related to the Holocaust.
110+
Witnesses
121
Sessions
75
Volumes
1000s
Pages
This Digital Archive
This archive brings together trial transcripts, witness testimony, legal proceedings, and supporting materials, and makes them accessible through a structured digital experience.
The goal is to allow visitors to observe, study, and understand the trial as it unfolded—and through it, to hear the voices of those who testified.
Primary sources remain central. Digital tools support access, navigation, and comprehension.
What the Archive Includes
Full trial transcripts across all 75 volumes
Testimony from over 110 witnesses
Structured witness profiles with biographical and contextual information
Linked entities: people, places, organizations, and events mentioned across testimonies
A navigable representation of the trial structure and proceedings
All content is grounded in the original historical record.
Exploring the Trial
Visitors can explore the archive in multiple ways:
Through the Witnesses
Browse individual testimonies and discover who testified and what they experienced
Through Connections
Navigate links between witnesses, locations, events, and the people they mentioned
Sequentially
Follow the trial as it unfolded, from opening statement to verdict
Across Testimonies
View related testimony through linked entities and cross-references
The archive is designed for readers without prior legal training and does not require familiarity with the trial.
AI Assisted Viewing
The archive offers an optional AI assisted viewing mode designed to support understanding of complex and lengthy testimony.
When enabled, the guide can:
- →Summarize sections of testimony
- →Clarify legal and procedural context
- →Highlight key themes and references
- →Connect testimony across witnesses and trial phases
The AI does not replace primary sources, does not speak in the voices of witnesses, and does not interpret events beyond the historical record. Its function is to assist navigation and comprehension—not to author or judge the material.
AI assisted viewing can be enabled or disabled at any time.
Our Approach
This project presents the Eichmann Trial as a historical proceeding and preserves the testimonies as they were given.
It does not recreate events, dramatize testimony, or offer speculative interpretation. The emphasis remains on the witnesses and what they chose to share—supported by modern tools that make their words accessible.
Sources, methodology, and AI usage are documented transparently.
Acknowledgments
Yad Vashem — For maintaining the official witness list and historical records
Israel State Archives — For digitizing and hosting the trial transcripts
The Witnesses — Whose courage in testifying preserved history for future generations
"This project is dedicated to the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, and to the survivors whose testimonies ensure we never forget."