ÿþ0001 00:02:08:10 00:02:11:07 If everything is true, this will be the case of my life. 0002 00:02:12:18 00:02:13:18 Stop. 0003 00:02:14:20 00:02:19:15 If Pieter tries to pronounce me dead again, I can cause him a lot of trouble 0004 00:02:20:18 00:02:22:22 They're going to arrest him. - Monday will be fine. 0005 00:02:23:08 00:02:26:03 That's four days from now. I think that's too late. 0006 00:02:28:13 00:02:32:05 based on a true story 0007 00:02:33:04 00:02:37:09 Paris 1943, home of Dirk Menten 0008 00:02:54:09 00:02:58:21 You've done well for yourself. -So have you. 0009 00:03:01:03 00:03:02:18 Don't ask me how. 0010 00:03:04:03 00:03:07:08 The Bolsheviks took everything. But I got my revenge. 0011 00:03:09:08 00:03:12:09 You'd better watch out. The Russians are advancing. 0012 00:03:12:13 00:03:17:03 And here we're waiting for the Americans. Thank you, Mom. 0013 00:03:17:07 00:03:21:05 Hitler has set all his hopes on Rommel. 0014 00:03:21:09 00:03:24:20 The Germans won't hold out. The signs are clear. 0015 00:03:24:24 00:03:26:23 We'll survive that as well. 0016 00:03:28:22 00:03:30:21 You perhaps. 0017 00:03:33:10 00:03:35:09 Won't you? 0018 00:04:11:18 00:04:15:14 The Menten Affair based on the book by Hans Knoop 0019 00:04:15:18 00:04:20:08 In the opinion of the Liberal Party the investigation has been too lax. 0020 00:04:20:12 00:04:24:02 The whole matter is embarrassing for the Netherlands. 0021 00:04:24:06 00:04:30:22 Mr Knoop says he's heard from some people in the Soviet Union... 0022 00:04:31:01 00:04:33:02 through an interpreter. 0023 00:04:33:06 00:04:38:00 That interpreter was not a certified interpreter or translator. 0024 00:04:38:04 00:04:43:09 No judge can use that as evidence that the testimony is true to the facts. 0025 00:04:44:06 00:04:50:02 Chairman, it's evident that the minister has underestimated the Menten case. 0026 00:04:50:06 00:04:52:21 And that is incomprehensible. 0027 00:04:53:00 00:04:55:23 Why wasn't Menten's passport take in? 0028 00:04:56:02 00:05:02:04 Why was it decided on Thursday that the arrest would take place on Monday? 0029 00:05:02:08 00:05:07:07 If they'd arrested him immediately he wouldn't have been able to leave. 0030 00:05:07:11 00:05:10:21 It would also have helped if we'd had a good minister. 0031 00:05:11:00 00:05:12:05 Menten tipped off 0032 00:05:12:09 00:05:17:19 Is it really a coincidence that the suspect disappeared... 0033 00:05:17:23 00:05:23:22 just prior to his scheduled arrest? How was that possible? I don't know. 0034 00:05:25:00 00:05:27:06 Don't keep beating around the bush. 0035 00:05:45:12 00:05:51:19 Hans, congratulations. Smart move to tip Menten about the arrest. 0036 00:05:51:23 00:05:56:18 You've never sold so many Accents before. -I assume you're trying to be funny. 0037 00:05:56:22 00:06:00:05 Who will you crucify next to boost your circulation figures? 0038 00:06:00:09 00:06:03:20 Mother Teresa? She pilfers the collecting box, you know. 0039 00:06:03:24 00:06:07:05 We're talking about a mass murderer, not a petty thief. 0040 00:06:08:05 00:06:12:20 If they catch him, I bet he'll be acquitted. And then I expect an apology. 0041 00:06:12:24 00:06:18:14 On your knees. And a crate of wine. -Did you actually read our last edition? 0042 00:06:18:18 00:06:22:02 I've found dozens of villagers who will testify... 0043 00:06:22:06 00:06:25:09 that Menten was in charge of those mass executions. 0044 00:06:45:00 00:06:46:24 We'll meet again. 0045 00:07:03:04 00:07:07:16 Every paper wants your view on Van Agt. -No time. How are things here? 0046 00:07:07:20 00:07:12:08 A lot of support. A travel agency offers you and your family a sun holiday. 0047 00:07:12:12 00:07:16:08 As if I have nothing better to do. -A lot of tirades against Van Agt. 0048 00:07:16:12 00:07:18:15 But useful tips, nada. 0049 00:07:18:19 00:07:23:02 Hans, a man claims the Mentens have been abducted by an assault group in Groningen. 0050 00:07:23:06 00:07:26:02 The ransom is 10,000 guilders. -10,000? Amateurs. 0051 00:07:26:06 00:07:28:11 As proof they sent his driver's license. 0052 00:07:28:15 00:07:31:10 He doesn't have one. He lets his wife drive. 0053 00:07:31:14 00:07:34:21 Don't we have anything better? -Hans, Kanaan on line 3. 0054 00:07:38:00 00:07:40:04 Mister Kanaan, did you hear the news? 0055 00:07:40:12 00:07:43:22 This man is a murderer and you people let him off for the second time. 0056 00:07:44:03 00:07:46:20 Don't you realize the evil that is in this man? 0057 00:07:46:24 00:07:50:15 I do, Chaviv. But it's not my fault. I did everything I could. 0058 00:07:50:19 00:07:53:04 Well. that's not enough, is it? 0059 00:07:53:09 00:07:55:23 We are doing the best we can. 0060 00:07:56:16 00:07:58:11 Ik have good connections with the Stern magazine. 0061 00:07:58:15 00:08:01:16 They have a worldwide network of correspondents, who all look out for Menten. 0062 00:08:01:20 00:08:04:10 You've got to find him, Hans. 0063 00:08:11:13 00:08:17:14 Okay, what do we have? -Hans, that justice report is eight pages. 0064 00:08:17:18 00:08:21:03 Can't we summarise it? -We'd be failing our readers. 0065 00:08:21:07 00:08:24:00 Half the edition is already about Menten. 0066 00:08:24:04 00:08:27:12 I have a piece about the kidnappers of Johanna Berbers. 0067 00:08:27:16 00:08:30:19 We'll have to postpone it. -Another Menten magazine? 0068 00:08:30:23 00:08:35:00 Very topical. The man is gone. -Exactly, we have to keep the case alive. 0069 00:08:35:04 00:08:38:07 Because where is Menten? Anyone an idea? 0070 00:08:38:11 00:08:41:11 It's been a week and we haven't gotten anywhere. 0071 00:08:45:01 00:08:46:17 Are you okay, Hans? 0072 00:08:48:01 00:08:51:02 Sorry. Mark, will you take over? 0073 00:08:58:13 00:09:01:15 I get to play with it. It's my crane. 0074 00:09:01:19 00:09:05:14 Stop it. Daddy has a headache. You said you'd be quiet. 0075 00:09:05:18 00:09:09:23 Is Daddy very ill? -Daddy is very tired. He doesn't feel well. 0076 00:09:10:02 00:09:14:02 ...station wagon with license number 63-DR... 0077 00:09:14:06 00:09:18:14 Will they never leave him alone? Betty Knoop speaking. 0078 00:09:22:09 00:09:25:12 Hans, someone from Der Stern on the phone. 0079 00:09:31:12 00:09:32:20 Hans Knoop speaking. 0080 00:09:32:24 00:09:35:13 Mr Knoop, we have Menten for you. 0081 00:09:36:02 00:09:38:16 What? -We have Menten for you. 0082 00:09:39:11 00:09:42:14 One of our correspondents in Switzerland saw the couple... 0083 00:09:42:18 00:09:45:12 and knows where they're staying. 0084 00:09:53:11 00:09:55:05 They know where he is. 0085 00:10:00:05 00:10:02:19 Uster, Switzerland 0086 00:10:17:16 00:10:19:11 5000 DM. 0087 00:10:19:15 00:10:22:16 5000, for two passports? Are you crazy? 0088 00:10:22:20 00:10:25:09 No, 5000 each. 0089 00:10:25:17 00:10:30:19 Pieter, I want to get out of here. Out of this country, this town, this awful hotel. 0090 00:10:30:23 00:10:32:17 6000. 0091 00:11:00:05 00:11:03:15 We'll wait outside. Two men will go in. 0092 00:11:03:19 00:11:06:23 What do we do? -Stay here. 0093 00:11:07:02 00:11:09:05 Everything clear? -Yes. 0094 00:11:13:17 00:11:15:03 Are they sure it's him? 0095 00:11:15:07 00:11:17:24 They used a false name, but there's no doubt it's them. 0096 00:11:18:03 00:11:20:19 Mr Wouters. We're ready. 0097 00:11:21:14 00:11:25:22 Wait in the lobby. Then you can take all the pictures you want. 0098 00:11:41:06 00:11:42:20 I don't like it. 0099 00:12:13:07 00:12:15:07 What are they doing up there? 0100 00:12:19:07 00:12:20:20 Here they come. 0101 00:13:02:06 00:13:06:16 I'm going to destroy you. You and your family, filthy Jew. 0102 00:13:06:20 00:13:12:18 Filthy rotten Jew. This will end badly for you Jews. 0103 00:13:12:22 00:13:14:15 You think I won't won this? 0104 00:13:14:19 00:13:19:12 I go to court all the time and I always win. Always, filthy Jew. 0105 00:13:44:10 00:13:47:00 Hey, Hans, it's over. 0106 00:13:48:03 00:13:49:23 We've got him. 0107 00:14:02:06 00:14:04:12 Millionaire arrested in Switzerland 0108 00:14:06:16 00:14:08:06 Menten caught 0109 00:14:09:18 00:14:12:03 penitentiary institution Haaglanden 0110 00:14:13:17 00:14:16:04 3 months later 0111 00:14:17:14 00:14:23:12 Thank you, young man. Once again I have to owe you the tip. 0112 00:14:31:12 00:14:34:07 Did you bring the lawyer's documents? 0113 00:14:41:09 00:14:42:24 Any news? 0114 00:14:44:11 00:14:46:22 No one seems interested in the truth. 0115 00:14:47:01 00:14:50:03 All the papers are against you, except De Telegraaf. 0116 00:14:53:10 00:14:55:11 It feels so strange to get a divorce. 0117 00:14:56:22 00:15:01:15 I'm your wife, am I not? I want to stand beside you in court. 0118 00:15:01:19 00:15:06:08 He explained it to you, didn't he? Everything I own will be yours. 0119 00:15:06:12 00:15:10:19 Officially, that is, but it will always belong to the two of us. 0120 00:15:10:23 00:15:14:21 Just so they can't take it from me. -They can't take anything from you. 0121 00:15:15:00 00:15:18:20 You're innocent. -Go on and sign it. 0122 00:15:39:18 00:15:44:23 Hans Knoop The Menten Affair 0123 00:15:47:01 00:15:48:19 There you are. 0124 00:15:53:06 00:15:57:09 You pursued that man for a year, you deserve a moment in the spotlight. 0125 00:15:57:13 00:16:03:02 Everyone acts as if it's over already. -He'll be convicted. There's no other way. 0126 00:16:03:06 00:16:06:19 Come, we're going to celebrate. 0127 00:16:10:03 00:16:13:14 I also thank my publisher, who... 0128 00:16:13:18 00:16:20:14 in spite of the lawsuit Menten will start against us, continued with the publication. 0129 00:16:24:16 00:16:27:03 Finally... 0130 00:16:27:07 00:16:32:07 I've been a terrible and lousy husband this last year. 0131 00:16:32:11 00:16:37:11 Yet she kept supporting me, through thick and thin. Betty... 0132 00:16:40:01 00:16:44:00 I love you. Okay, thank you. Now let's get a drink. 0133 00:17:04:00 00:17:08:03 Can Mr Menten be convicted? He already served time for collaboration. 0134 00:17:08:07 00:17:10:22 Who invited you here? 0135 00:17:11:01 00:17:14:15 Your publisher. Apparently all publicity is welcome. 0136 00:17:14:19 00:17:17:01 Come, let's dance. 0137 00:17:29:07 00:17:34:10 Mr Menten has never done anything illegal in the Netherlands, so I foresee an acquittal. 0138 00:17:38:18 00:17:44:14 Hello, Mrs Menten. Have you met? -Of course. How do you do? 0139 00:17:47:04 00:17:50:21 Hello, Mrs Menten. A dry sherry. -Thank you, Robert. 0140 00:17:51:00 00:17:57:08 So Mr Knoop goes there and just then the Communists dig up those corpses. 0141 00:17:57:12 00:18:03:04 Mass graves the locals walked across for 30 years without noticing anything. 0142 00:18:03:08 00:18:08:18 And when those alleged mass executions took place my client was in Berlin. 0143 00:18:08:22 00:18:10:24 He was in Berlin. -We have written evidence. 0144 00:18:11:03 00:18:15:22 I was with the examining magistrate and heard him talk to Dirk, your client's brother. 0145 00:18:16:01 00:18:18:00 Wait till you read my article. 0146 00:18:18:04 00:18:21:18 All your expenses will be reimbursed. And don't be stingy. 0147 00:18:21:22 00:18:25:08 There's no need, madam. I only want the truth to be told. 0148 00:18:25:12 00:18:27:23 On the house. With the chef's compliments. 0149 00:18:36:02 00:18:37:15 Look at this. 0150 00:18:40:02 00:18:42:15 Dirk's testimony positive for Menten 0151 00:18:42:19 00:18:45:19 A phone call. -Merci, Nina. 0152 00:18:48:08 00:18:51:10 Menten. -Hello, Mr Menten. Hans Knoop. 0153 00:18:51:14 00:18:54:06 I'm sorry to bother you, but it's urgent. 0154 00:18:54:10 00:18:59:24 Just before your brother's trial I'm reading some odd statements of yours in the paper. 0155 00:19:00:03 00:19:04:14 That you and your brother returned to Poland after the mass executions... 0156 00:19:04:18 00:19:07:14 and no one said anything bad about your brother. 0157 00:19:07:18 00:19:11:09 And that you have enough information to get your brother acquitted. 0158 00:19:11:13 00:19:15:00 To get him acquitted? Convicted, you mean. 0159 00:19:15:04 00:19:18:15 Supposedly you told a Dutch judge over the phone. 0160 00:19:19:20 00:19:23:04 I only said I didn't feel like coming to Holland. 0161 00:19:25:14 00:19:30:07 If he threatens to escape conviction, will you still refuse to come? 0162 00:19:30:11 00:19:33:23 Mr Knoop, our name has been besmirched enough already. 0163 00:19:34:02 00:19:35:21 And it hurts my business. 0164 00:19:36:00 00:19:41:17 Mr Menten, what happened in Paris in '43? 0165 00:19:43:16 00:19:45:20 I wish you a pleasant day. 0166 00:19:49:01 00:19:53:02 This article is a disgrace. You didn't even talk to Dirk Menten. 0167 00:19:53:06 00:19:59:02 No, but I overheard the judge talk to him over the phone, and that's what I quoted. 0168 00:19:59:06 00:20:04:02 Dirk never said he went back to Poland after the executions. I asked him myself. 0169 00:20:04:06 00:20:08:08 Then he either lied to the judge or to you. 0170 00:20:09:08 00:20:10:11 You can't accept this. 0171 00:20:10:15 00:20:14:01 Hans, I understand that you'd like to see Menten hang. 0172 00:20:14:05 00:20:18:14 But we're the nation's largest paper. We have to show all sides in the case. 0173 00:20:18:18 00:20:20:21 Let the reader judge for himself. 0174 00:20:22:05 00:20:24:17 You're just doing Menten's bidding. 0175 00:20:27:00 00:20:29:00 Henk, don't go too far, okay? 0176 00:20:36:15 00:20:39:23 Menten's Defence 0177 00:20:44:04 00:20:46:19 lawyer is convinced of Menten's innocence 0178 00:20:48:23 00:20:51:19 Court Parnassusweg Amsterdam May 1977 0179 00:20:52:12 00:20:54:17 What do you think of the testimonies? 0180 00:20:54:21 00:21:01:09 What do you expect from this day? -What do you think of the testimonies? 0181 00:21:09:07 00:21:11:20 Ladies and gentlemen, this is Chaviv Kanaan... 0182 00:21:11:24 00:21:15:08 the man who's been chasing Pieter Menten for 30 years. 0183 00:21:22:06 00:21:25:09 Do you think your husband will be acquitted? 0184 00:22:18:01 00:22:19:21 All rise. 0185 00:22:30:17 00:22:33:04 All the witnesses we've talked to... 0186 00:22:34:24 00:22:36:14 in these areas... 0187 00:22:37:15 00:22:40:11 recognise Mr Menten from this photo. 0188 00:22:41:17 00:22:43:03 Document 34. 0189 00:22:44:04 00:22:49:07 No wonder, Mr Wouters. The Russians supplied those witnesses. 0190 00:22:49:11 00:22:52:13 The local authorities left us completely free. 0191 00:22:52:17 00:22:55:00 We were able to choose whom we spoke to. 0192 00:22:55:04 00:22:58:14 That also goes for the witnesses we talked to in Lvov. 0193 00:22:58:18 00:23:02:16 They confirm that Mr Menten was part of the SS. 0194 00:23:02:20 00:23:05:13 As interpreter. He spoke German and Polish. 0195 00:23:05:17 00:23:09:23 Wait a second. I speak three words of Polish at the most. 0196 00:23:10:02 00:23:13:18 I can never have been an interpreter. -Continue. 0197 00:23:13:22 00:23:20:01 You just repeat what's in this lousy leaflet by Mr Knoop. Nothing else. 0198 00:23:20:05 00:23:22:20 Mr Menten, please sit down. 0199 00:23:22:24 00:23:27:01 Our investigation makes clear that Mr Knoop didn't write nonsense. 0200 00:23:27:05 00:23:30:09 In at least two villages a mass slaughter took place. 0201 00:23:30:13 00:23:33:09 Led by Mr Menten. 0202 00:23:39:09 00:23:44:17 The Ukrainians drove us to the yard of the Pistiner family. 0203 00:23:48:01 00:23:51:04 Everyone was forced to watch. 0204 00:23:56:14 00:24:02:00 The grownups stood in a wide circle around the ditch. 0205 00:24:02:04 00:24:06:01 The children climbed into the trees... 0206 00:24:07:12 00:24:10:07 to get a better view. 0207 00:24:38:16 00:24:42:18 I saw... I saw that Mr Menten... 0208 00:24:42:22 00:24:47:10 called forward his former administrator. 0209 00:24:48:11 00:24:53:01 Mr Alexander Nowicky. 0210 00:25:02:19 00:25:09:04 He aimed his pistol and shot him. 0211 00:25:11:15 00:25:13:02 After that... 0212 00:25:14:19 00:25:17:15 After that he also shot... 0213 00:25:17:19 00:25:19:08 his wife... 0214 00:25:19:12 00:25:20:22 and their daughter. 0215 00:25:40:17 00:25:45:00 The shooting went on for hours. 0216 00:25:45:04 00:25:47:18 Because it started raining heavily in the evening... 0217 00:25:47:22 00:25:51:06 the Ukrainians didn't cover the ditch thoroughly. 0218 00:25:51:14 00:25:53:04 Blood... 0219 00:25:54:12 00:25:57:18 came to the surface everywhere. 0220 00:26:00:15 00:26:02:06 The blood... 0221 00:26:03:04 00:26:05:10 flowed into the river... 0222 00:26:06:13 00:26:10:06 which turned completely red. Excuse me. 0223 00:26:25:14 00:26:29:05 I was only 11 years old... 0224 00:26:29:09 00:26:33:13 but all the children were forced to watch. 0225 00:26:35:02 00:26:37:03 My brother was the first. 0226 00:26:39:02 00:26:41:09 Because he was a Communist. 0227 00:26:44:17 00:26:46:22 Every Communist.. 0228 00:26:47:07 00:26:51:19 and everyone who according to Menten had stolen something from him... 0229 00:26:53:20 00:26:55:00 was executed. 0230 00:27:34:20 00:27:39:17 I'd like to call forward the next witness. Mr Chaviv Kanaan. 0231 00:28:16:06 00:28:19:05 My name is Chaviv Kanaan. 0232 00:28:19:11 00:28:22:10 I took this name when I moved to Palestina. 0233 00:28:22:19 00:28:28:17 In Poland I was known under the name Lieber Krumholtz. 0234 00:28:30:10 00:28:32:01 But my nickname was... 0235 00:28:32:10 00:28:34:15 Bibi, catch. 0236 00:28:40:11 00:28:42:02 Uncle... 0237 00:28:43:11 00:28:45:07 I have something to tell you. 0238 00:28:47:21 00:28:50:06 This was our last chase. 0239 00:28:50:10 00:28:52:09 I'm going to Palestine. 0240 00:28:54:00 00:28:55:23 Watch out for the Arabs. 0241 00:29:00:11 00:29:03:04 I want to study and build a life there. 0242 00:29:03:08 00:29:05:05 There's nothing but desert. 0243 00:29:06:19 00:29:10:09 What do your parents say? -They're against it. 0244 00:29:11:15 00:29:13:19 But I'm going anyway. 0245 00:29:15:17 00:29:19:01 You're just as self-willed as I was when I was young. 0246 00:29:19:12 00:29:22:02 And look what I've achieved. 0247 00:29:25:10 00:29:27:06 So go. 0248 00:29:30:02 00:29:31:23 I wish you all the best. 0249 00:29:32:14 00:29:34:21 I'll miss you, Uncle. 0250 00:29:37:09 00:29:39:09 I'll miss you too. 0251 00:29:41:05 00:29:44:24 You'll send me a postcard, won't you? -Of course. 0252 00:29:47:18 00:29:49:11 It was... 0253 00:29:50:22 00:29:53:11 at the end of '44... 0254 00:29:53:16 00:29:56:11 when I heard about him again. 0255 00:29:57:05 00:29:58:23 In Tel Aviv... 0256 00:29:59:16 00:30:02:00 a man approached me. 0257 00:30:02:22 00:30:04:19 And he told me... 0258 00:30:07:05 00:30:11:14 about the mass killings in Uricz... 0259 00:30:12:14 00:30:16:02 and Podorodze, where my family was. 0260 00:30:19:04 00:30:22:01 And the man responsible for that... 0261 00:30:22:05 00:30:23:20 Stop, stop. 0262 00:30:24:08 00:30:30:09 I've never heard of this man. I've never seen him in my life. 0263 00:30:30:13 00:30:34:20 I didn't associate with such people. What a joke. 0264 00:30:40:10 00:30:44:15 Another article in which you try to exculpate Menten. 0265 00:30:44:19 00:30:49:23 'Former SS officer claims four Germans and two Finns carried out the executions.' 0266 00:30:50:02 00:30:51:22 Justice takes it seriously. 0267 00:30:52:01 00:30:58:09 Not anymore. If you'd checked, you'd know that SS officer could never have been there. 0268 00:30:58:13 00:31:02:14 I demand a rectification. -Calm down, Hans. 0269 00:31:04:13 00:31:07:08 You're still afraid of that lawsuit. -Nonsense. 0270 00:31:07:12 00:31:12:03 All the more reason to rectify. -You know what you should do? Give it a rest. 0271 00:31:12:07 00:31:14:13 The trial is in full swing. -Exactly. 0272 00:31:14:17 00:31:17:13 You're in court more than at the office. 0273 00:31:18:13 00:31:21:24 Someone will assist you as editor in chief. 0274 00:31:22:03 00:31:25:00 Management gave me the task to tell you. 0275 00:31:25:04 00:31:29:10 I thought it best to couple you with Mark. You make a good team. 0276 00:31:35:01 00:31:38:06 Congratulations on your promotion. -Well... 0277 00:31:39:00 00:31:41:11 we should toast to that. 0278 00:31:44:18 00:31:48:06 Scarcely out of the shell and already he stabs me in the back. 0279 00:31:50:14 00:31:52:20 Did you know about this? 0280 00:31:55:22 00:32:00:15 Really, what you've done is terrific, but control yourself. 0281 00:32:00:19 00:32:05:21 You can't think of anything else. I'm so sorry. 0282 00:32:06:24 00:32:11:02 I didn't want this either. Nor did Mark. 0283 00:32:11:23 00:32:13:08 Calm down. 0284 00:32:15:14 00:32:17:09 It's not that bad. 0285 00:32:51:12 00:32:57:17 I'd like to call forward my first witness: Mr Gijsbert Jongstra. 0286 00:33:05:13 00:33:08:00 Almost everything was staged. 0287 00:33:08:04 00:33:12:19 The Russians didn't let you out of their sight. Mr Knoop also added his bit. 0288 00:33:13:09 00:33:18:11 When he showed the villagers the photo, he himself pointed out who Menten was. 0289 00:33:18:15 00:33:20:21 I can prove it, I have photos of it. 0290 00:33:21:00 00:33:24:12 Are those photos here? -Yes, Your Honour. 0291 00:33:30:08 00:33:32:01 Only one? 0292 00:33:32:05 00:33:37:05 That was definitely not the only time Mr Knoop pressed me into his service. 0293 00:33:37:09 00:33:43:07 He had contact with an assault group that wanted to kill Mr Menten in his pool. 0294 00:33:43:11 00:33:45:22 I'd have to photograph the red water. 0295 00:33:47:04 00:33:50:14 That was a great act. What do you want to achieve with it? 0296 00:33:52:05 00:33:56:22 If you'd paid me, I wouldn't have done this. -You let that mass murderer pay you? 0297 00:33:58:22 00:34:04:07 You sold your rights. You signed them over. -Yes, for the Accent. Not for the book. 0298 00:34:05:17 00:34:10:01 It doesn't matter where I publish them. They've been paid for. 0299 00:34:13:05 00:34:16:10 Gijsbert Jongstra claims you staged everything. 0300 00:34:16:14 00:34:18:09 Mom. 0301 00:34:18:13 00:34:20:21 Look, Daddy. -What about the assault group... 0302 00:34:21:00 00:34:24:11 that wanted to kill Mr Menten? -No comment. 0303 00:34:25:14 00:34:27:03 Sir? 0304 00:34:27:19 00:34:29:20 Can I get your autograph? 0305 00:34:31:08 00:34:32:24 Of course. 0306 00:34:38:07 00:34:40:00 Here you go. 0307 00:34:44:10 00:34:46:13 Here you go, sir. -Thank you. 0308 00:34:46:17 00:34:49:15 How's the trial going? 0309 00:34:49:19 00:34:54:14 There was a goy here this morning who wanted to know if you were gay. 0310 00:34:55:18 00:34:59:07 I said: I don't think so, he takes his sausage sliced. 0311 00:34:59:11 00:35:02:19 Then he asked if you had a mistress. Things like that. 0312 00:35:04:04 00:35:06:12 What did he look like? 0313 00:35:06:16 00:35:09:21 Big head, around forty, corduroy jacket. 0314 00:35:10:00 00:35:14:06 Henk de Meester? -Yes, de Meester. Unusual name. 0315 00:35:14:10 00:35:18:22 Makes me think of something. Moos is in the back of the classroom. 0316 00:35:19:01 00:35:21:17 He tries to get the teacher's attention. 0317 00:35:23:11 00:35:29:01 At 10 AM this morning the President of the Amsterdam court Judge Schröder... 0318 00:35:29:05 00:35:32:19 started reading the verdict in the Menten case. 0319 00:35:32:23 00:35:39:08 For accessory to murder of the civilian population in enemy-controlled territory... 0320 00:35:39:12 00:35:45:08 the court sentences Pieter Nikolaas Menten to a prison sentence of 15 years. 0321 00:35:46:17 00:35:49:02 Less the period spent in pre-trial detention. 0322 00:35:50:11 00:35:55:11 Bravo, Your Honour, for this mockery of justice. 0323 00:35:55:15 00:35:59:19 Don't think I'll leave it at this. I'll appeal the verdict. 0324 00:35:59:23 00:36:04:09 You have every right to, Mr Menten. I declare this session closed. 0325 00:36:19:15 00:36:23:07 Your first reaction. -What do you think about it, Mr Knoop? 0326 00:36:31:00 00:36:34:14 Fine article. Keep it up. 0327 00:36:34:18 00:36:37:11 Hans, my sincere congratulations. 0328 00:36:37:15 00:36:41:21 'Pieter Menten is blessed with a high degree of mentality.' 0329 00:36:42:00 00:36:47:10 That should have been 'vitality'. They were supposed to change it but didn't. 0330 00:36:47:14 00:36:49:19 And tomorrow it'll be used to wrap fish in. 0331 00:36:50:21 00:36:55:15 And why is Henk digging into my private life? Do you know about that? 0332 00:37:04:20 00:37:06:19 The Accent can look for a new editor. 0333 00:37:06:23 00:37:09:23 Hans, calm down. Take a few days to think it over. 0334 00:37:11:16 00:37:13:00 For one word? 0335 00:37:13:04 00:37:16:16 I've been begging them to be objective for six months. 0336 00:37:16:20 00:37:19:24 If it's up to them, Menten can retire in freedom. 0337 00:37:20:03 00:37:24:12 But you didn't need to quit. -As a journalist I can live with it... 0338 00:37:24:16 00:37:27:19 but as a Jew I can't accept it. -Is it a matter of principle now? 0339 00:37:28:19 00:37:31:18 Menten has been convicted. The whole world will know. 0340 00:37:31:22 00:37:36:17 I can't imagine that I won't get hired somewhere again soon. 0341 00:37:44:00 00:37:46:14 one year later 0342 00:37:50:03 00:37:51:14 Yes. 0343 00:37:53:21 00:37:55:16 No, yes. 0344 00:37:57:24 00:38:00:21 Yes, exactly. This requires a broad offensive... 0345 00:38:01:21 00:38:03:18 and a calibrated strategy. 0346 00:38:07:01 00:38:10:13 Yes, of course. I'll put it in writing immediately. 0347 00:38:10:17 00:38:13:05 You'll receive it on Monday at the latest. 0348 00:38:13:09 00:38:15:03 Yes, bye. 0349 00:38:16:03 00:38:19:17 What are you doing here? -A PR strategy for a sanitary manufacturer? 0350 00:38:19:21 00:38:21:15 Did I ask you to read that? 0351 00:38:24:09 00:38:26:08 Have you heard yet? -What? 0352 00:38:26:12 00:38:30:05 The appeal has been granted. There will be a new trial. 0353 00:38:30:09 00:38:34:21 A good chance Menten will be acquitted. -Nonsense. 0354 00:38:35:00 00:38:38:06 The widow of Menten's lawyer after the war has come forward. 0355 00:38:38:10 00:38:43:23 In 1951 Menten apparently made a deal with the then minister of justice, Donker. 0356 00:38:44:02 00:38:47:19 Though there were extradition requests from Poland and Israel... 0357 00:38:47:23 00:38:49:10 the case was closed. 0358 00:38:49:14 00:38:55:01 And closed means closed. So if that story is true, Menten will be released. 0359 00:38:55:05 00:38:56:20 What's your commentary? 0360 00:38:59:11 00:39:02:19 None, for now. -Fine. 0361 00:39:04:10 00:39:06:17 Is a washdown model really so much better? 0362 00:39:11:13 00:39:15:20 Minister Donker was convinced that the accusations of mass murder... 0363 00:39:15:24 00:39:19:09 that were expressed in 1951 were castles in the air. 0364 00:39:19:13 00:39:25:01 He didn't expect persuasive evidence to be supplied in any way. 0365 00:39:25:05 00:39:30:05 It therefore took little to convince the Amsterdam Prosecutor-General... 0366 00:39:30:09 00:39:33:14 to dismiss the case. 0367 00:39:33:18 00:39:38:05 Mrs Kortenhorst, the widow of my client's lawyer at the time... 0368 00:39:38:09 00:39:40:21 will say more on the matter. 0369 00:39:42:21 00:39:45:14 On the basis of aforementioned formal errors... 0370 00:39:45:18 00:39:50:16 the court dismisses the charges. 0371 00:39:50:20 00:39:54:07 The defendant will be released immediately. 0372 00:39:56:15 00:39:59:24 This can't be. How can you let a murderer go free? 0373 00:40:00:03 00:40:02:08 Because he's innocent. 0374 00:40:02:12 00:40:05:03 Hans, this is not the end. 0375 00:40:05:07 00:40:08:08 I'm sorry, not right now. 0376 00:40:28:19 00:40:30:23 punish executioner Menten 0377 00:40:33:14 00:40:38:12 So far there is insufficient evidence to be certain... 0378 00:40:38:16 00:40:44:21 that in the case of prosecution a conviction would be the result. 0379 00:40:45:00 00:40:50:13 Menten in prison, Menten in prison 0380 00:40:50:17 00:40:53:14 thoroughgoing investigation into Menten case from 1945 on 0381 00:40:53:18 00:40:56:15 continuing doubts about Kortenhorst 0382 00:40:56:19 00:40:59:03 prosecutor also appeals verdict 0383 00:40:59:07 00:41:02:02 Menten gets new trial 0384 00:41:02:17 00:41:05:00 June 1980 district court Rotterdam 0385 00:41:05:05 00:41:12:05 I will prove that not me but my brother Dirk was present at those executions. 0386 00:41:12:19 00:41:17:11 There are two witnesses who will confirm this story, Your Honour. 0387 00:41:17:21 00:41:22:09 My brother's ex-wife and daughter... 0388 00:41:22:13 00:41:25:23 have agreed to declare under oath... 0389 00:41:26:02 00:41:33:17 that I could never have been present at those purported mass executions. 0390 00:41:38:03 00:41:39:02 Menten calls 120 witnesses 0391 00:41:39:06 00:41:40:21 Your ex-wife and daughter will declare... 0392 00:41:41:00 00:41:43:24 that you and not Pieter was present at the executions. 0393 00:41:44:03 00:41:48:20 'Sensational witnesses for the defence who can turn the trial against him around.' 0394 00:41:48:24 00:41:51:14 If we don't do anything, your brother will be free... 0395 00:41:51:18 00:41:55:07 and you'll be known as a murderer of innocent people. 0396 00:41:56:15 00:42:00:07 I have nothing to do with it. -The whole world will think you do. 0397 00:42:00:11 00:42:03:03 Then let the whole world think so. 0398 00:42:04:21 00:42:09:16 You're officially a war criminal because you profited financially. 0399 00:42:09:20 00:42:12:05 But you don't have this on your conscience. 0400 00:42:13:05 00:42:15:22 You were there, you knew these people. 0401 00:42:17:03 00:42:21:10 I can't come. They'll arrest me at once and extradite me to Belgium. 0402 00:42:21:14 00:42:23:20 No, they won't. 0403 00:42:23:24 00:42:28:02 I've arranged a safe-conduct for you. Signed by the premier himself. 0404 00:42:30:18 00:42:33:00 What happened that night in Paris? 0405 00:42:52:23 00:42:56:17 During the war Pieter visited us. 0406 00:42:56:21 00:43:00:04 He was afraid the Nazis were going to lose. 0407 00:43:00:08 00:43:06:02 And he told us everything that had happened. 0408 00:43:09:24 00:43:15:15 Later my mother and I had the account put on record... 0409 00:43:15:19 00:43:20:06 at a notary's office. -With what reason? 0410 00:43:20:10 00:43:25:10 We wanted to have something in case he would sue us again to blackmail us. 0411 00:43:25:14 00:43:27:14 Where is that document? 0412 00:43:29:08 00:43:33:24 At the notary's office. -Can I pick it up to show to the judge? 0413 00:43:34:03 00:43:37:10 What good does it do me if my brother gets convicted? 0414 00:43:37:14 00:43:42:12 You can prevent a great injustice. -It won't bring the victims back to life. 0415 00:43:42:16 00:43:47:21 But the victims will be done right by if the man who massacred them gets punished. 0416 00:43:50:17 00:43:54:18 Men, women, children. Killed as if their lives didn't matter. 0417 00:43:54:22 00:43:58:09 Killed out of revenge for something they had nothing to do with. 0418 00:43:58:13 00:44:02:00 You can't let Pieter get away with the murder of children. 0419 00:44:21:03 00:44:25:15 I can't do it. I'm sorry. 0420 00:44:26:19 00:44:30:05 I kept a diary during that period. 0421 00:44:30:09 00:44:34:14 That's why I still know exactly when my father went to Poland. 0422 00:44:35:19 00:44:40:14 That was on July 7, 1941. 0423 00:44:42:09 00:44:47:14 He went by plane. That was rather remarkable at that time. 0424 00:44:49:20 00:44:53:19 I'm going to interrupt you. A new witness has come forward. 0425 00:44:53:23 00:44:56:06 I'm going to give him priority. 0426 00:45:32:04 00:45:38:15 ...sentences the defendant to a prison term of ten years and a fine of 100,000 guilders. 0427 00:46:29:10 00:46:34:14 What is... What is this? What's going on here? 0428 00:46:43:19 00:46:45:15 Well, that was it. 0429 00:46:46:20 00:46:51:03 That was it. The case of your life. 0430 00:47:17:10 00:47:21:19 After serving two-thirds of his sentence, Pieter Menten was released in 1985. 0431 00:47:24:19 00:47:29:08 By now demented, he dies three years later in a luxurious nursing home in Loosdrecht. 0432 00:47:32:16 00:47:36:13 Meta Menten visited her husband every day. 0433 00:47:49:05 00:47:55:05 The Menten affair cost Hans Knoop his career, but he doesn't regret what he did. 0434 00:47:59:07 00:48:04:01 If he could live his life over again, he would choose the exact same path. 0435 00:48:14:23 00:48:19:12 Pieter Menten and SS officer Schöngarth stole millions worth of art... 0436 00:48:19:16 00:48:21:11 from Jews and Polish nobility. 0437 00:48:22:15 00:48:26:14 In the summer of 1941 Menten led several executions... 0438 00:48:26:18 00:48:33:15 in the vicinity of Lemberg, killing around 1000 people, both Jews and non-Jews. 0439 00:48:34:19 00:48:41:17 The murders in Podhorodze are the only ones for which Pieter Menten was convicted.