History of Europe

What was a nazi camp commandant?

A Nazi camp commandant was the commanding officer of a concentration camp or extermination camp in Nazi Germany. They were responsible for the overall operation of the camp, including the assignment of prisoners to work details, the maintenance of order and discipline, and the implementation of camp policies. Camp commandants were often members of the Schutzstaffel (SS), the Nazi Party's paramilitary organization, and were directly subordinate to the Reichsführer-SS, Heinrich Himmler.

The role of camp commandant was one of great power and responsibility. They had the authority to order the execution of prisoners, and were often responsible for the deaths of thousands of people. They were also responsible for ensuring that the camp was run efficiently and that the prisoners were kept in line.

Some of the most notorious Nazi camp commandants include:

* Rudolf Höss: Commandant of Auschwitz-Birkenau

* Amon Göth: Commandant of Plaszów

* Josef Kramer: Commandant of Bergen-Belsen

* Heinrich Himmler: Reichsführer-SS and overall commander of the Nazi concentration camp system

After the war, many Nazi camp commandants were tried and executed for their crimes. Others were able to escape justice and lived out the rest of their lives in obscurity.