Judgment at Nuremberg Page #13

What was the Feldenstein case?

The case of a man

accused of racial pollution.

Will you explain what is meant

by "racial pollution"?

This is the charge

that is referred to in the Nuremberg Laws.

It says that any non-Aryan

having sexual relations with an Aryan...

may be punished by death.

When did you first become acquainted

with the Feldenstein case?

In September

I was contacted by the police.

They said that Mr. Feldenstein

was being held...

and that he requested

that I serve as his counselor.

What position did he hold

in the community?

He was a very well-known merchant.

He was one of the heads

of the Jewish congregation in Nuremberg.

What was the nature of the charge

against him?

He was accused

of having intimate relations...

with a -year-old girl, Irene Hoffman.

I see.

And what did he say to you about the case?

He said it was false.

He said he knew the girl and her family

a long time.

He'd gone to visit her since they died.

But there had never been anything

of the kind charged between them.

Doctor, would you please tell the tribunal

what happened then?

He was indicted before

the special court at Nuremberg.

And where was this special court?

It was right here, this building.

This very courtroom.

What were the circumstances

surrounding the trial?

It was used as a show place

for National Socialism.

It was the time

of the September celebrations...

the Nuremberg rallies.

The courtroom was crowded.

Back there, people were standing up.

Julius Streicher was sitting

in one of the front seats.

And high officials of the Nazi Party

were all over.

Would you please tell us...

what were your expectations for the trial

in this climate?

I expected the worst...

when I saw...

that Emil Hahn was the public prosecutor.

He was a fanatic.

His trials were always marked

by extreme brutality.

But I had one hope for the outcome...

because sitting on the judge's bench...

was Ernst Janning.

His reputation

was known throughout Germany.

He was known

to have dedicated his life to justice.

To the concept of justice.

Thank you. That's all.

Any questions?

Thank you. No questions.

The witness is excused.

The prosecution calls to the stand...

Irene Hoffman Wallner.

Will you raise your right hand?

I swear by God,

the Almighty and Omniscient...

that I will speak the pure truth,

and will withhold and add nothing.

I do.

Will you please state your name

to the tribunal?

Irene Hoffman Wallner.

Mrs. Wallner...

did you know Lehman Feldenstein?

Yes.

When did you first meet him?

It was or .

I am not sure exactly.

How old was he at this time?

He was in his s.

And how old was he

at the time of his arrest?

He was .

I see.

What was the nature of your relationship?

We were friends.

Did you continue to see him

after your parents died?

- Yes.

- Why?

We were friends.

He owned the building that I lived in.

His business took him there quite often.

What did you say to the police

when they questioned you...

about having intimate relations with him?

I told them it was a lie.

Could you tell me

who the public prosecutor was?

Emil Hahn.

Did Emil Hahn question you?

Yes.

What did he say to you?

He took me into a separate room,

where we were alone.

He told me that it was no use...

to repeat my story...

because no one would believe me.

There had been a race defilement...

and the only pardon for this was...

to kill the violator.

He told me that if I protected...

Mr. Feldenstein...

that I would be held under arrest for perjury.

What did you reply to him?

I told him what I had said again and again.

I told him that I could not say anything else.

I could not lie about someone

who had been so kind to me.

Were you held under arrest?

Yes.

Mrs. Wallner, tell us...

what was the...

the manner in which Emil Hahn

conducted the prosecution?

He made a mockery...

of everything Mr. Feldenstein tried to say

in his own defense.

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