Ludwig Plagge | |
|---|---|
 Ludwig Plagge | |
| Born | (1910-01-13)13 January 1910 |
| Died | 24 January 1948(1948-01-24) (aged 38) |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Occupation | SS-Oberscharführer |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
| Criminal status | Executed |
| Motive | Nazism |
| Conviction | Crimes against humanity |
| Trial | Auschwitz trial |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
Ludwig Plagge (13 January 1910 – 24 January 1948) was anSS-Oberscharführer and member of staff atAuschwitz,Buchenwald,Sachsenhausen, andMajdanekconcentration camps. He was prosecuted at theAuschwitz Trial, and executed for war crimes.
Born inLandesbergen, Plagge completed eight years of school and became a farmer. He joined theNazi party on 1 December 1931, and the SS in October 1934, with the membership number 270620. On 20 November 1939 he began active service and was assigned toSachsenhausen concentration camp where he stayed until the end of June 1940.[1] He was subsequently posted toAuschwitz in July 1940, and was one of the first SS men there.[1]
He remained there until 4 October 1943. His roles includedBlockführer (Block leader) (including inBlock 11, the death block) and SSRapportführer. In the gypsy camp inBirkenau he had the role of deputy roll call leader from its opening through autumn 1943, and in the summer was also acting protective custody leader (Schutzhaftlagerführer).[1] From Auschwitz he was posted to theMajdanek camp inLublin, then in 1944 he was inFlossenbürg concentration camp. From 19 March to 23 April 1945 he was the senior command leader of theRegensburg subcamp of Flossenbürg.[2] He was also a member ofLebensborn.
Plagge was noted for his brutality, particularly to Jews.[3] He participated in the gassing of thousands ofSinti andRoma people, and Jews from Theresienstadt.[4]
He was known for submitting prisoners to punishment in the form of physical exercises, known as "sport" in the camp.[5] Prisoners inquarantine were also made to do these exercises.[5] On demand, a group of prisoners were expected to undertake any action, such as walking, singing, running, crawling on one's elbows and tips of the toes, roll around on the ground covered with gravel and crushed bricks, etc.[5] Plagge was a specialist in the invention of these exercises, which were to be performed very quickly without any regard to the age and health of the prisoners.[5] He would make prisoners run for hours while carrying his pipe between his teeth, and hit those who fell, forcing them to carry on.[5] Prisoners nicknamed himdas Pfeifchen (the little pipe).[5]
Plagge was prosecuted by theSupreme National Tribunal at the Auschwitz Trial inKraków. During the trial he admitted to only beating prisoners. Hoping his life would be spared, he told the court that after atonement for his crimes, he will be regarded as a good man, but was sentenced todeath due to the overwhelming evidence against him. He was executed on 24 January 1948[1] byhanging inMontelupich Prison, Kraków.
