35 Facts About Irma Grese

Early Life and Family

Irma Grese's early years were marked by significant hardships and family turmoil. Understanding her background provides insight into the factors that may have influenced her later actions.

1. Irma Grese was born on October 7, 1923, in Wrechen, Mecklenburg, Germany. This small village was her home during her formative years.

2. Her parents were Alfred Anton Albert Grese, a farmer, and Bertha Welhelmine Winter-Grese. The family lived a modest life, with farming as their primary source of income.

3. Irma was one of five children. She had siblings, including a sister named Helene, who shared her upbringing.

4. Her mother committed suicide in 1932 when Irma was nine years old. This tragic event was allegedly due to marital problems with her domineering husband, Alfred.

Education and Early Employment

Irma's education and early work experiences were quite unremarkable, yet they set the stage for her future involvement with the SS.

5. Irma left primary school at the age of 14. She then worked on a farm, contributing to her family's livelihood.

6. She later became a saleswoman at a dairy shop. This job was one of her first steps into the working world.

7. Despite her initial aspirations to become a nurse, she was not accepted into the SS-sanatorium at Hohenlychen. Instead, she worked there as an untrained assistant nurse.

Joining the SS

Irma's entry into the SS marked the beginning of her notorious career as a concentration camp guard.

8. At 19, Irma Grese found employment as a guard at Ravensbrück concentration camp for female prisoners. She began her service at Ravensbrück in July 1942.

9. She was only 18 years old when she started at Ravensbrück. Her youth did not prevent her from quickly rising through the ranks.

Rise to Prominence

Irma's rapid ascent within the SS ranks was accompanied by increasingly brutal behavior.

10. In March 1943, Irma Grese was transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Here, she quickly rose to become the second-highest ranking SS Aufseherin (female overseer) at the camp.

11. She was assigned to camp section ‘C’ and oversaw 20,000 to 30,000 female prisoners. This role gave her significant power over the lives of many.

Sadistic Behavior

Irma Grese's cruelty and sadistic actions became infamous among the prisoners and her fellow guards.

12. Irma was notorious for her extreme brutality towards prisoners. She often selected beautiful female prisoners for the gas chamber out of jealousy and spite.

13. She had a sick fondness for striking women on their breasts. This was one of her many methods of inflicting pain.

14. Irma forced Jewish girls to be her lookouts while she raped inmates. This added another layer of horror to her actions.

15. She used her dog to attack prisoners. This behavior was part of her sadistic repertoire, adding to the terror she instilled in the camp.

16. Irma frequently used a whip and her hobnailed jackboots to inflict pain on prisoners. Every survivor account refers to these three sadistic objects she became infamous for owning and using.

Involvement in Selection Process

Irma played a direct role in deciding the fate of many prisoners at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

17. She was part of the selection process at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When new prisoners arrived, she would decide who was fit to work and who was to be sent directly to the gas chambers.

Promotion and Command

Irma's rise within the SS ranks continued, giving her even more control and power.

18. In May 1944, Grese was promoted to Oberaufseherin. This was the second-highest rank an SS Aufseherin could achieve.

19. She was given command over 30,000 women prisoners in Birkenau’s camp BII/c. Her role in overseeing such a large number of prisoners further cemented her reputation as a brutal and sadistic guard.

Transfer to Bergen-Belsen

As the war neared its end, Irma was moved to another notorious concentration camp.

20. In March 1945, Irma Grese was transferred to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. She worked as a command leader until British troops liberated the camp in April 1945.

Arrest and Trial

Irma's capture and subsequent trial brought her crimes to light and led to her ultimate punishment.

21. Irma Grese was arrested during the liberation of Bergen-Belsen. She was charged at the Belsen trial in Lüneburg.

22. She was found guilty of her crimes and sentenced to death. Her trial revealed the extent of her brutality.

23. During her trial, Irma showed no signs of remorse. Her behavior was described as loyal to her ideological position.

24. She maintained that all members of the SS were guilty. This further incriminated herself and her comrades.

Execution

Irma's life ended at a young age, but her actions left a lasting impact.

25. Irma Grese was hanged on December 13, 1945, at the age of 22. She was the youngest woman hanged under British law during the 20th century.

Personal Life

Despite her brutal actions, Irma had personal relationships and a complex background.

26. Irma had personal relationships with other Nazis, including Dr. Josef Mengele. Her memoirs and accounts from survivors reveal a complex and troubled individual.

27. Her childhood was marked by trauma. Her mother's suicide and her father's disapproval likely contributed to her emotional instability and aggression.

28. Daniel Patrick Brown suggests that Irma exhibited frustration-aggression syndrome. This theory attempts to explain her behavior but does not justify it.

Sadistic Pleasure

Irma's enjoyment of inflicting pain was a defining aspect of her character.

29. Irma discovered sadistic pleasure in inflicting pain on others. This was evident in her actions at the concentration camps.

30. She was remembered by many survivors as wearing heavy boots and carrying a whip and pistol. These items became symbols of her cruelty.

Female Nazi Guards

Irma was not alone in her actions; many women played roles in the Holocaust.

31. Irma was one of many female Nazi guards who committed atrocities during World War II. Her actions highlight the role of women in perpetuating the Holocaust.

Ravensbrück Concentration Camp

Irma's journey into the SS began at Ravensbrück, where she first learned to wield power over prisoners.

32. Irma first arrived at Ravensbrück in March 1941. She was told to return in six months when she would be 18 and of the proper age to enlist for training.

33. She volunteered for the auxiliary guard service upon her return. This marked the beginning of her career as a concentration camp guard.

Training at Hohenlychen

Before joining the concentration camps, Irma attempted to pursue a different path.

34. Irma attempted to study nursing at an SS hospital. However, she was not accepted and later recommended for work in the concentration camps.

35. She became a female guard at Ravensbrück in July 1942. She passed several exams and became one of thousands of women who served as guards in the concentration camps.

The Dark Legacy of Irma Grese

Irma Grese's life paints a chilling picture of human cruelty during the Holocaust. Born in a small German village, she rose to infamy as a brutal SS guard at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen. Her sadistic behavior, including whipping prisoners and using dogs to attack them, left a lasting scar on history. Grese's involvement in the selection process, deciding who lived and who died, highlights her deep-seated cruelty. Despite her young age, she became one of the most notorious figures of World War II. Her trial and execution at 22 underscore the importance of accountability for such heinous crimes. Grese's story serves as a grim reminder of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust and the need to remember the victims. Her legacy is a stark warning of the depths of human depravity and the importance of vigilance against such evil.