Who Was Ilse Koch
Ilse Koch was a high-ranking Nazi SS officer and wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp. She became one of the most notorious figures associated with the Holocaust and wartime atrocities.
What Did Ilse Koch Do
At Buchenwald, Koch selected prisoners for forced labor, abuse, and murder. She was known for collecting items made from human skin, including lampshades and book bindings, which later became key evidence in her trial.
Ilse Koch Trial and Conviction
Koch was tried by both an American military court and a West German court. She was convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity, receiving a life sentence. She died by suicide in prison in 1967. For more details on her trial, see the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
