Definition
Erich Muhsfeldt (27 February 1913 – 13 May 1948) was a German SS non‑commissioned officer who served as a guard and supervisory personnel at several Nazi concentration and extermination camps during World War II, most notably Auschwitz and Buchenwald. He was convicted of war crimes and executed by hanging in the British occupation zone of Germany.
Overview
Muhsfeldt was born in Hamburg, Germany. He joined the Schutzstaffel (SS) in 1936 and was assigned to the concentration‑camp system in 1939. During his tenure at Auschwitz II‑Birkenau, he held the rank of SS‑Oberscharführer (senior squad leader) and was responsible for overseeing the forced labor of prisoners, the selection process for the gas chambers, and the administration of torture. After the evacuation of Auschwitz in January 1945, Muhsfeldt was transferred to the Dachau concentration camp complex, where he continued to serve in a supervisory capacity.
Following Germany’s surrender, Muhsfeldt was detained by Allied forces. He was tried by the British authorities in the Belsen Trial (also known as the Belsen War Crimes Trial) held at Lüneburg from September to November 1945. He was found guilty of participating in crimes against humanity, including the murder of thousands of prisoners, and sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out on 13 May 1948 at Hameln prison.
Etymology/Origin
The surname “Muhsfeldt” is of German origin. It is a variant of “Mühlsfeld,” which combines the German words Mühle (“mill”) and Feld (“field”), possibly indicating an ancestral connection to a mill field or a location where a mill was situated.
Characteristics
- SS Rank and Role: Held the rank of Oberscharführer; functioned as a guard, supervisor of prisoner work details, and participated in selection processes for extermination.
- Camp Assignments: Served at Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II‑Birkenau, and later at Dachau and its subcamps.
- War‑Crime Conviction: Convicted for direct involvement in mass murder, including the execution of prisoners, and for acts of cruelty and torture.
- Execution: Executed by hanging on 13 May 1948 in the British‑administered zone of post‑war Germany.
Related Topics
- Auschwitz concentration camp
- Dachau concentration camp
- SS (Schutzstaffel)
- War crimes trials after World War II
- Belsen Trial (Lüneburg)
- Holocaust perpetrators and collaborators
- Post‑war justice in occupied Germany