Karl-Otto Koch

Karl-Otto Koch
Born(1897-08-02)2 August 1897
Died5 April 1945(1945-04-05) (aged 47)
Cause of deathExecution by firing squad
Criminal statusExecuted
Spouses
Käte Müller
(m. 1924; div. 1931)
(m. 1937)
Children4
Conviction(s)Murder (3 counts)
Embezzlement
Criminal penaltyDeath
Military career
AllegianceGerman Empire (to 1919)
Nazi Germany
Service / branchDeutsches Heer
Schutzstaffel
SS-Totenkopfverbände
Years of service1916–1919
1931–1945
RankEinjährig-Freiwilliger
Standartenführer
CommandsEsterwegen concentration camp
Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Buchenwald concentration camp
Majdanek concentration camp
Awards1914 Iron cross II class
Hindenburg Cross
Civil Defence Decoration
Black wound badge
German Sports Badge
Karl Otto Koch with his wife Ilse
Karl Otto Koch with his wife Ilse in the uniform of an SS Sturmbannfuehrer (Major of the SS).

Karl-Otto Koch (German: [kɔx]; 2 August 1897 – 5 April 1945) was a mid-ranking commander in the Schutzstaffel (SS) of Nazi Germany who was the first commandant of the Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. From September 1941 until August 1942, he served as the first commandant of the Majdanek concentration camp in occupied Poland, stealing vast amounts of valuables and money from murdered Jews.[1] His wife, Ilse Koch, also participated in the crimes at Buchenwald.

  1. ^ Chris Webb, Carmelo Lisciotto (2007). "Majdanek Concentration Camp (a.k.a. KL Lublin)". H.E.A.R.T, Holocaust Research Project.org. Retrieved 11 August 2013.