Adolf Eichmann was in charge of the Jewish department of the SS (Gestapo). This meant, he was directly responsible for carrying out the "final solution"-the extermination of European Jewry.

After WWII, Eichmann fled to South America. In May 1960, Eichmann was captured by Israel's Mossad, smuggled out of Argentina and brought to Israel to stand trial.

His trial began on April 11, 1961, at Binyanei Ha'Ooma, in Jerusalem. A special bullet proof cage was built for Eichmann's protection. After a 14-week trial, Eichmann was convicted and sentenced to die for crimes against humanity. The trial had a major impact on Israel. For the first time many Israelis heard directly from survivors the horrors of the holocaust. Survivors until the trial had been reticent to tell their personal stories, the trial allowed them to open up and tell their stories to their family and friends for the first time.

After his appeal was denied, Eichmann was executed on May 31, 1962, making him the only person ever officially executed by the State of Israel.