Maria Mandl

Maria Mandl (sometimes erroneously spelled Mandel; 10 January 1912 – 24 January 1948) was an Austrian-born Holocaust perpetrator who was the Lagerführerin (camp leader) of the Auschwitz II-Birkenau concentration camp from 1942 until her arrest in 1945.

Born in Austria-Hungary, Mandl moved to Munich in 1938 after the annexation of Austria. There, she began working as a guard at the Lichtenburg concentration camp at the suggestion of her uncle. She quickly adapted to her role as an Aufseherin (overseer), subjecting prisoners to fatal beatings and whippings. Her sadistic behavior continued when she was transferred to Ravensbrück, where she was promoted to Oberaufseherin (head overseer). Having gained the respect of her superiors, including Max Kögl, for her brutality toward the prisoners, Mandl was promoted again and given the position of Lagerführerin upon her transfer to Auschwitz II-Birkenau in 1942.

Arrested following the Allied occupation of Germany in May 1945, Mandl was later tried at the Auschwitz trial, where she was found guilty of crimes against humanity. She was executed by hanging in 1948.