Ludwig Plagge

Plagge was prosecuted by the Supreme National Tribunal at the Auschwitz Trial in Kraków. 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 to death due to the overwhelming evidence against him. He was executed on 24 January 1948 by hanging in Montelupich Prison, Kraków.

He remained there until 4 October 1943. His roles included Blockführer (Block leader) (including in Block 11, the death block) and SS Rapportführer. In the gypsy camp in Birkenau 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). From Auschwitz he was posted to the Majdanek camp in Lublin, then in 1944 he was in Flossenbürg concentration camp. From 19 March to 23 April 1945 he was the senior command leader of the Regensburg subcamp of Flossenbürg. He was also a member of Lebensborn.

Born in Landesbergen, Plagge completed eight years of school and became a farmer. He joined the Nazi 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 to Sachsenhausen concentration camp where he stayed until the end of June 1940. He was subsequently posted to Auschwitz in July 1940, and was one of the first SS men there.

Ludwig Plagge (13 January 1910 – 24 January 1948) was an SS-Oberscharführer and member of staff at Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, and Majdanek concentration camps. He was prosecuted at the Auschwitz Trial, and executed for war crimes.