Origins & Early Life

Amon Leopold Göth (German: [ˈɡøːt] ; 11 December 1908 – 13 September 1946) was an Austrian SS functionary and war criminal. He served as the commandant of the Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp in Płaszów in German-occupied Poland for most of the camp's existence during World War II. Göth was tried after the war by the Supreme National Tribunal of Poland at Kraków and was found guilty of personally ordering the imprisonment, torture, and extermination of individuals and groups of people. He was also convicted of homicide, the first such conviction at a war crimes trial, for "personally killing, maiming and torturing a substantial, albeit unidentified number of people." Göth was executed by hanging not far from the former site of the Płaszów camp.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The 1993 film Schindler's List, in which Göth is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, depicts his running of the Płaszów concentration camp. Göth was born on 11 December 1908 in Vienna, then the capital of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, to a family in the book publishing industry. Göth joined a Nazi youth group at age 17 and was a member of the antisemitic nationalist paramilitary group Heimwehr (Home Guard) from 1927 to 1930...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Born in 1908) (1908): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Baby Face Nelson — Contemporary (Born in 1908) (1908): Notorious American bank robber, known for his youthful appearance and partnership with John Dillinger.
• Bette Davis — Contemporary (Born in 1908) (1908): Iconic Hollywood actress known for intense, unsympathetic, and sardonic performances.
• Adam Michnik — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Prominent Polish intellectual, dissident, and journalist advocating for democracy.
• Ahmed Zewail — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Pioneering chemist, acclaimed as the 'father of femtochemistry'.
• Al Green — Contemporary (Born in 1946) (1946): Iconic American soul singer, songwriter, and pastor celebrated for his timeless vocal artistry.
• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — Shared historical date (12-11 · Born) (1918): Dissident author who exposed Soviet repression, notably the Gulag system.
• Anne Rice — Shared historical date (12-11 · Died) (2021): Pioneering Gothic and Erotic Fiction, best known for The Vampire Chronicles.
• Andrea Mantegna — Shared historical date (09-13 · Died) (1506): Master of the Italian Renaissance, known for monumental perspective and sculptural figures.
• Antony Hewish — Shared historical date (09-13 · Died) (2021): Pioneering radio astronomer, celebrated for the discovery of pulsars.
• 1908 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1908
• December 11 (12-11) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 11
• 1946 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1946
• September 13 (09-13) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 13