Verdict on Auschwitz - The Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial 1963-1965

This DEFA documentary not only tells the horrors of Auschwitz, but also the atmosphere of the courtroom in Frankfurt, Germany, almost 20 years after the Holocaust. Survivors describe here their suffering at the hands of the defendants with attention to detail, and their testimony helps to reconstruct the history of Auschwitz. This film therefore contributes to one’s understanding of the actual experience of the Holocaust. The Auschwitz trial was an important turning point in West Germany's confrontation with the German past. It represents the long overdue beginning of scholarly and public inquiry into what actually happened at Auschwitz. This documentary brilliantly captures the magnitude of that moment.