Content Warning: This article analyzes historical events involving extreme violence and war crimes during the Holocaust, which may be distressing. Its purpose is to educate about the atrocities of the Nazi regime and the importance of accountability, encouraging reflection on human rights and genocide prevention.

Erich Muhsfeldt (1913–1948), a German SS officer, served in the Waffen-SS and later as an executioner at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he was involved in the deaths of thousands of people through shootings and cremations. A member of the Totenkopf division, he participated in camp operations from 1940 to 1945. Convicted at the Kraków Auschwitz Trial in 1947, Muhsfeldt was executed by hanging on 28 January 1948. This analysis, based on verified historical sources such as the trial records and the Auschwitz Memorial Museum, provides an objective overview of Muhsfeldt’s background, service, and experience of his crimes and trials, in order to foster debate about the mechanisms of Nazi terror and the value of justice in preserving human dignity.

Early Life and Nazi Affiliation
Erich Muhsfeldt was born on February 18, 1913, in Neubrück, Germany, during the era of the German Empire. He completed eight years of primary school in 1927 and trained as a baker three years later, a common trade in working-class families. Married with a son, Muhsfeldt’s life changed with the rise of the Nazis. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler became chancellor, and Muhsfeldt joined the SA (Stormtroopers) that year. In 1937, he transferred to the SS, and in 1939, he enlisted in the Nazi Party (NSDAP).

The SS, an elite paramilitary organization, appealed to Muhsfeldt’s ambitions. World War II began on September 1, 1939, with the invasion of Poland, which brought him into active service.

Service in the Totenkopf division

In January 1940, Muhsfeldt joined the SS-Totenkopf Division, or “Death’s Head Units,” an elite branch of the Waffen-SS made up of concentration camp guards. The Waffen-SS, the military arm of the SS, participated in combat and security operations. Muhsfeldt served in the division during the 1940 Western Campaign and the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa).

His unit protected camps and fought on the Eastern Front, where SS forces carried out mass executions. Muhsfeldt’s experience in these environments prepared him for later roles in the extermination system.

Role at Auschwitz-Birkenau
In 1942, Muhsfeldt was transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi extermination camp, where he served as a block leader and executioner. Auschwitz held more than 1.3 million prisoners between 1940 and 1945, with approximately 1.1 million deaths, mostly Jews, from gassing, shooting, starvation, and disease.

As executioner, Muhsfeldt oversaw the shootings in the courtyard of the “Wall of Death” and the cremations in the Birkenau furnaces. Survivor testimony in postwar trials described him selecting prisoners to die and overseeing mass executions. He also guarded the crematoria, ensuring the efficient disposal of corpses. Historical records at the Auschwitz State Museum confirm his direct involvement in the deaths of thousands of people, including Soviet prisoners of war and Jewish deportees.

Capture and Postwar Trial

Soviet forces liberated Auschwitz on January 27, 1945. Muhsfeldt fled but was captured by Polish authorities in 1946. He was extradited to Poland for the Auschwitz Trial in Krakow (November 25, 1947, to December 22, 1947), which prosecuted 40 former Auschwitz staff members.

Accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder and extermination, Muhsfeldt’s trial featured testimony from survivors and documents detailing his executions. He admitted to some shootings but denied systematic killings. The court found him guilty on all charges and sentenced him to death by hanging.

Erich Muhsfeldt’s journey from baker to executioner at Auschwitz and his hanging in 1948 illustrates the machinery of the Holocaust and the role of justice in the reckoning. His actions at Birkenau contributed to the genocide of 1.1 million lives. For history enthusiasts, Muhsfeldt’s story underscores the dangers of ideological extremism, urging remembrance of the victims and a commitment to human rights. Verified sources like the Auschwitz Memorial ensure accurate education and promote a world free of such horrors.