THE EXECUTION OF THE TWO FORMER RAVENSBRUCK CONCENTRATION GUARDS HANGED AT HAMELN PRISON.

 Two former Ravensbrück concentration guards were hanged at Hameln prison in Germany on this day in 1948.


They were Emma Zimmer and Ida Schreiter.

Emma Anna Maria Zimmer was born Emma Mezel on the 14th of August 1888 at Haßmersheim in Germany.

In 1938, she became an Aufseherin (guard) at Lichtenburg concentration camp at Prettin, near Wittenberg in Saxony, which housed female prisoners from 1937 to 1939, when they and she were transferred to the new camp at Ravensbrück. In 1941 Zimmer selected mentally ill prisoners for euthanasia at the Bernberg Euthanasia Center, where they were gassed with carbon monoxide.  In October 1942 she became assistant camp leader (SS-Stellvertretende Oberaufseherin) at Auschwitz II (Birkenau). 

Normally Aufseherinnen had to retire at 45 but Zimmer was allowed to stay on until January 1945, when she was dismissed, either due to her age or her alcoholism.

Zimmer was convicted of maltreating prisoners and making selections for the gas chamber at the 7th Ravensbrück trial of six Aufseherinnen, held at Hamburg between the 2nd and 21st of July 1948. 


 A survivor from Auschwitz, testified "Our supervisor was an old and mean SS-woman called Emma Zimmer. She was vicious and dangerous and frightening us constantly with threats, proclaiming in a sadistic voice, “I will report you and then you will go away, you know where? Just one way-up the chimney.” We hated her and were scared of her."

Ida Bertha Gertrud Schreiter was born on 27 December 1912.  She is the least well known of any of the female guards who worked at Ravensbrück concentration camp for women. It is thought that she was an Aufseherin there from 1939 to 1945. There is very little information available on her case and she is the only one of the ten women hanged at Hameln for whom no photo exists.

After the camp was liberated Schreiter was arrested and was also tried by the British at the 7th Ravensbrück trial in Hamburg.  She was convicted of having taken part in the selection of prisoners for the gas chamber and of causing the deaths of inmates by deliberate overwork and/or neglect.  No photo of her has been found.

They were hanged on separately on Monday, the 20th of September, 1948 by Albert Pierrepoint aassisted RSM Richard Anthony O’Neill.

The gallows was set up in the West wing of the main prison building This wing was kept separate from the rest of the prison. 

 The gallows was modelled on the design of the one at Pentonville prison in London which had trap doors wide enough to permit double (side by side) hangings which were the norm here for male inmates. Prisoners were permitted the services of a minister of their religion prior to execution.  A female UK prison governor or deputy governor was required to be present at female hangings.

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