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WHEREVER THEY MAY BE © 1972, The
Beate Klarsfeld Foundation
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in no uncertain terms to the German court that is
trying Beate Klarsfeld, and to the entire judicial establishment in Germany
that they are answerable to the court of world public opinion where they are on
trial."
When Lischka is called to the witness stand, the French
witnesses seated on benches in the corridor, taking their cue from Julien
Aubart, refuse to stand up to make room for the colossal Gestapo chief to pass.
The police fear the witnesses may attack him. After arguing for an hour, the
police take Lischka into the courtroom by an unused side entrance. It has been
agreed that I will give a discreet signal to start a riot, but only after
Marinsky has interrogated Lischka. The cross-examination begins:
MARINSKY: "Have you any sentiments about
the number 195590?" LISCHKA: "I don't know what this number means."
MARINSKY: "Surely you remember your personal number in the S.S.?"
LISCHKA: "I don't remember it at all any more." MARINSKY: "Perhaps you
remember your Nazi Party number?" LISCHKA: "No." MARINSKY: "Why don't
you want to talk about the years from 1936 to 1945? Are you ashamed?"
LISCHKA: (Referring to his right to refuse testimony that might incriminate
him) "I refuse to answer this question." The lawyer, seeking to show that
Lischka lived a respected existence in Germany since the war's end, then tried
a different approach: MARINSKY: "How long have you lived in Cologne?"
LISCHKA: "Since 1950." MARINSKY: "For twenty-one consecutive years, is
that correct? Is that correct?" LISCHKA: "Yes." MARINSKY: "Nobody
attacked you in these years, until these people [referring to Beate Klarsfeld
and her group]?" LISCHKA: "No." MARINSKY: "Not a finger was pointed at
you and nobody called you a killer?"
The judge protests:
Counsel, you are trying to say that the inhabitants of Cologne have voluntarily
integrated Lischka. I cannot permit such question.
MARINSKY: "It is you who said that, Your
Honor." To Lischka: "Your hands are trembling now; they did not tremble thirty
years ago."
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WHEREVER THEY MAY BE © 1972, The
Beate Klarsfeld Foundation |
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Back |
Page 314 |
Forward |
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