Portraits of the Nazi guards of Auschwitz 1940-1945 years

After the German invasion of Poland in September 1939 began the construction of camps for thousands of Polish political prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp near Oswiecim. The first prisoners arrived in spring 1940. The camp quickly expanded and became one of the main places for the concentration and murder of Jews.

Before the camp was liberated by Soviet troops on 27 January 1945 died in Auschwitz 1.1 million people, and 90% of them were Jews. They were systematically destroyed in gas chambers or beaten to death, starved, they died of starvation and disease.

On the territory of the Auschwitz garrison with 10 thousand SS officers and guards. Only a small portion of those soldiers were put on trial and charged with war crimes. They were sentenced to various punishments — from hanging to imprisonment for several years.

In January 2017 the Polish Institute of national remembrance has published data on the staff of Auschwitz. Record the details of every person's life — their previous occupations (watchmaker, a farmer, a Bank clerk) and time of service in the SS — are accompanied by photographs.

Joseph Hefner, a former student of trade. Joined the SS in 1942 in the rank of sturmmann (attack).

Fritz Taddiken, a former painter and glazier. He rose to the rank unterscharführer (Junior squad leader) in the SS in 1944, was later convicted of war crimes by the Krakow court.

Helmut Grandson, a former apprentice plumber. Joined the SS in 1939 and was promoted to the rank of unterscharführer (Junior squad leader).

Johannes Maranza, a veteran of the First world war, a former tinsmith and roofer. Returned to service in the SS in 1944 in the rank of scharführer (squad leader).

Hans Ansorg, a former Bank employee. Joined the SS in 1933 and was promoted to the rank of oberscharführer (senior squad).

Walter Selewa, a former farmer. Joined the SS in 1941 and was promoted to the rank of sturmmann (attack).

Detlef Nebbe, a former trader. Joined the SS in 1933 and was promoted to the high rank of hauptscharfuhrer (main supervisor-attack).

Robert Nagi, a former electrician. Joined the SS in 1942 in the rank of sturmmann (attack).

Horst Panics, a former carpenter and a member of the Hitler youth. Transferred to the SS in 1944.

Felix Becker, a former farmer. Joined the SS in 1942 in the rank of sturmmann (attack).

Adolf Becker, a former watchmaker and optician. Joined the SS in 1934 and was promoted to the high rank of hauptscharfuhrer (main supervisor-attack).

Willie Heindorf, a former court clerk. Joined the SS with the rank of scharführer (squad leader).

Johannes Gunesh, a former farmer. Joined the SS in 1943 in the rank of Schutz (arrows).

Gottfried Paggen, a former laborer. Joined the SS in 1944 in the rank of rottenführer (head level).

Richard lamb, a former miner. Joined the SS in 1935 and was promoted to the rank of rottenführer (head level).

Albin Ackermann, a former waiter. Joined the SS in 1944 at the rank of sturmmann (attack).

Johannes Badstuber, a former miner. Joined the SS in 1944 in the rank of unterscharführer (Junior squad leader).

Coloman of Bistritz, a former farmer. Joined the SS in 1944 in the title of Schutz (arrows).

Laurence Becker, a former trader. Joined the SS in 1944 in the title of Schutz (arrows).

Martin Flor, a former mechanic. Joined the SS in 1943 and was promoted to the rank of sturmmann (attack).

Ernst Fischer, the former pharmacist. Joined the SS in 1941 and was promoted to the rank of unterscharführer (Junior squad leader).