Amon Göth
Austrian SS commandant of Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp.
Amon Leopold Göth was an Austrian SS functionary and war criminal who served as the commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp in German-occupied Poland during World War II. He was executed by hanging near the former site of the Płaszów camp.
- died
- 13 September 1946, near Kraków, Poland (executed by hanging)
- field
- SS functionary, concentration camp commandant
- nationality
- Austrian
- known_for
- Commandant of Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp; convicted of homicide at a war
Lore & Background
Göth was born in Vienna to a family in the book publishing industry. His early activities included smuggling radios and weapons into Austria and acting as a courier for the SS.
Reader's Guide
Göth's significance lies in his role as commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp, where he oversaw the construction, population, and brutal administration of the camp. He was also responsible for the liquidation of the Tarnów ghetto, where he personally shot between 30 and 90 women and children, and the liquidation of Szebnie concentration camp. His legacy is that of a perpetrator of the Holocaust, remembered for his direct, personal violence against prisoners and his role in the Nazi extermination system.
Did You Know?
- Göth was the first person convicted of homicide at a war crimes trial for personally killing, maiming, and torturing a substantial number of people.
- He was executed by hanging near the former site of the Płaszów camp.
- During the liquidation of the Tarnów ghetto, he personally shot between 30 and 90 women and children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amon Göth?
Amon Leopold Göth was an Austrian SS officer who served as the commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp in German-occupied Poland during World War II. He is remembered as one of the most brutal camp leaders of the Holocaust era.
What was Amon Göth's role in the Nazi system?
He held the position of commandant at the Płaszów camp near Kraków, where he oversaw the imprisonment, forced labor, and extermination of prisoners. In that capacity, he personally ordered acts of torture, killings, and the destruction of groups of detainees.
How did Amon Göth's story end?
After the war, he was tried by Poland's Supreme National Tribunal and found guilty of homicide, torture, and ordering the extermination of prisoners. He was executed by hanging on 13 September 1946 near the former Płaszów camp site.
Why is Amon Göth's conviction considered historically significant?
His trial marked the first war crimes conviction in which a defendant was found guilty of personally killing, maiming, and torturing a substantial number of victims. This set a legal precedent for holding individual perpetrators directly accountable rather than relying solely on institutional responsibility.
When and where was Amon Göth born?
He was born on 11 December 1908 in Vienna, which at the time was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was of Austrian nationality throughout his life.
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