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.