Maria Mandel, one of the most notorious female figures of the Nazi regime, earned a chilling nickname during World War II: “The Beast of Auschwitz.”
As the head of the women's camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, she wielded unrestrained power—and used it to inflict unimaginable cruelty and death upon tens of thousands of innocent people. Her brutal actions ultimately led to her trial, conviction, and execution after the war—a justice many survivors believed was long overdue.
Rise of a Female Executioner
Born in Austria in 1912, Maria Mandel joined the Nazi SS women’s auxiliary in 1938 and quickly rose through the ranks. By 1942, she was appointed Lagerführerin, or chief of the women’s camp, at Auschwitz-Birkenau. She oversaw more than 30,000 female prisoners and held the authority to decide who lived and who died.
She was not a passive administrator. According to survivor testimonies, Mandel personally selected women and children for the gas chambers, sometimes choosing hundreds at a time. She was known for her icy demeanor, sharp eyes, and quick temper—but most horrifyingly, for her complete lack of empathy.
A Reign of Terror
Mandel’s cruelty was both systematic and sadistic. She ordered beatings, torture, and executions, and frequently punished prisoners for minor infractions with starvation or death. Witnesses recalled her obsession with discipline and control, where even a whispered word could mean a trip to the gallows.
One of the most disturbing aspects of her rule was her role in organizing musical performances by prisoners—including children—before they were sent to their deaths. She forced inmates to sing as others were marched to the gas chambers, turning death into a ritual of humiliation and psychological torment.
Estimates suggest Mandel was directly responsible for the deaths of over 500,000 women and children during her time at Auschwitz.
Capture and Trial
After the fall of the Third Reich, Mandel fled but was eventually captured by American forces in Bavaria in August 1945. She was handed over to Polish authorities and stood trial during the Kraków Auschwitz Trials in 1947 alongside other former camp personnel.
Survivors testified in detail about her brutality—her selections, her cold orders, her personal involvement in mass murder. She was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death.