In the aftermath of World War II, the world witnessed a series of war crimes trials where justice was delivered to those responsible for the horrors of the Holocaust. One of the most haunting and brutal moments of post-war retribution came during the executions at Dachau Concentration Camp,
where some of the Nazi guards and staff—including women—met grisly ends. Among them was the shocking execution of a female SS guard, reportedly by pole hanging, a method so brutal it matched the cruelty many of these guards inflicted on their victims.
Dachau: A Symbol of Nazi Brutality
Dachau, opened in 1933, was the first concentration camp established by the Nazis and served as a model for others that followed. Over the years, it became a training ground for SS guards, many of whom went on to oversee mass murder in camps like Auschwitz, Ravensbrück, and Bergen-Belsen. As the war ended and Allied forces liberated Dachau in 1945, they discovered the true extent of Nazi cruelty—thousands of corpses, malnourished survivors, and records of unspeakable atrocities.
The Role of Female Guards in Nazi Camps
While male SS officers were the face of much of the Nazi terror, female guards (Aufseherinnen) were often just as brutal. They beat prisoners to death, participated in selections for gas chambers, and helped manage daily operations of torture and murder. In camps like Ravensbrück and Auschwitz, women like Irma Grese, Maria Mandl, and Elisabeth Volkenrath gained infamy for their savage treatment of inmates.
These women were not passive bystanders—they were active participants in genocide.
Justice at Dachau: The Executions Begin
After the war, hundreds of SS personnel were arrested and put on trial. The Dachau Trials were held by the U.S. military and focused on crimes committed not only at Dachau but across the concentration camp system. Dozens of former guards, both men and women, were sentenced to death.
Among the executions carried out was one that shocked even hardened Allied troops—a female SS guard reportedly executed by pole hanging.