Origins & Early Life

Karl-Otto Koch (German: [kʰɔχ]; 2 August 1897 – 5 April 1945) was a German military officer who was a mid-ranking commander in the Schutzstaffel (SS) of Nazi Germany, and the first commandant of the Nazi concentration camps at Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen. From September 1941 until August 1942, he served as the first commandant of the Majdanek concentration camp in German-occupied Poland, stealing vast amounts of valuables and money from murdered Jews. His wife, Ilse Koch, also participated in the crimes at Buchenwald. Koch was born in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, on 2 August 1897.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His father worked in a local registrar's office and died when Karl was eight years old. After completing elementary school in 1912, Koch attended Mittelschule and completed a commercial apprenticeship. In 1916, he volunteered to join the Imperial German Army and fought on the Western Front until he was captured by the British. Koch spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war and returned to Germany in 1919. As a soldier, he behaved well and was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class, the Observer's Badge and the Wound Badge in Black.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After World War I, Koch worked as a commercial...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1897 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1897
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