Dubbed “The Hyena of Auschwitz,” Irma Grese was one of the most feared and infamous female guards in the Nazi concentration camps. Young, cold, and ruthlessly cruel, she became a chilling symbol of how ordinary individuals could turn into instruments of monstrous evil. By the end of World War II, her crimes were so severe that she was sentenced to death and executed without mercy—becoming the youngest woman executed for war crimes in the 20th century.
A Young Girl Turned Monster
Born in 1923 in Germany, Irma Grese grew up in a troubled home and was drawn to Nazi ideology as a teenager. At just 19 years old, she volunteered to become a camp guard, working first at Ravensbrück, then at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and finally at Bergen-Belsen.
What made Grese so terrifying wasn’t just her youth or beauty—it was her sadistic behavior and absolute lack of remorse. Survivors recalled her striking appearance: blonde, blue-eyed, always in spotless boots, often carrying a whip or pistol. But beneath the clean uniform lay a vicious enforcer of terror.
The Cruelty Inside the Camps
At Auschwitz, Grese quickly gained a reputation for vicious beatings, torture, and murder. She was often seen selecting prisoners for the gas chambers, especially targeting women she disliked. Inmates testified that she unleashed dogs on prisoners, beat them until they lost consciousness, and even shot inmates at random for her own amusement.
She was known to laugh as others screamed, earning her the nickname “Hyena.” Her actions weren’t impulsive—they were calculated, repeated, and devoid of empathy.
Bergen-Belsen and the Trial That Shocked the World
When the British liberated Bergen-Belsen in April 1945, they discovered mass graves, piles of corpses, and thousands of dying prisoners. Irma Grese was captured shortly after, still wearing her SS uniform.
At the Belsen Trial, her crimes were laid bare through horrifying testimony. Grese stood accused of murder, torture, and participation in mass extermination. Despite the overwhelming evidence, she showed no emotion and offered no apology.
Her youth and appearance startled many—but there was no mercy in the verdict. The court found her guilty, and she was sentenced to death by hanging.
Execution Without Mercy
On December 13, 1945, 22-year-old Irma Grese was executed at Hamelin Prison by the famous British hangman Albert Pierrepoint. Witnesses say she refused a blindfold, walked calmly to the gallows, and uttered one final word: “Schnell” (Quickly)—a cold, final request that reflected her hardened soul.
She was hanged alongside other camp guards, including Elisabeth Volkenrath and Juana Bormann, but none drew more public attention than Irma Grese. Her death was seen as a necessary and symbolic act of justice for the millions who had suffered under the Nazi regime.