Max Koegel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Otto Max Koegel
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SS-Untersturmführer Max Koegel
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| Born | 16 October 1895 Füssen, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire |
| Died | 27 June 1946 (aged 50) Schwabach, Allied-occupied Germany |
| Allegiance |  German Empire (1916–1918) Weimar Republic (1918–1933) Nazi Germany (1933–1945) |
| Service/ |
 Schutzstaffel |
| Years of service | 1916–1945 |
| Rank |  SS-Obersturmbannführer |
| Commands held | Lichtenburg concentration camp Ravensbrück concentration camp Majdanek concentration camp Flossenbürg concentration camp |
| Awards | World War I Iron Cross 2. Class War Merit Cross with Swords SS-Honour Ring Cross of Honor |
Otto Max Koegel was a German officer during World War II. He was part of the Nazi Party and served as a commander at several concentration camps. These camps included Lichtenburg, Ravensbrück, Majdanek, and Flossenbürg concentration camp. After the war, he was arrested for his actions during The Holocaust. He died in prison in 1946 before his trial could begin.
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Early Life and Military Service
Max Koegel was born on October 16, 1895, in Füssen, a town in Bavaria, Germany. He was the fourth son in his family. His father worked as a carpenter. Sadly, his mother passed away when he was almost six years old.
In 1907, his father also died. Max then went to live with a family on a nearby farm. He had to leave school and started working. He trained as a shepherd and later became a mountain guide.
When World War I started, Koegel joined the Bavarian army. He served from 1916 until 1919. He became a corporal and was wounded three times during the war. One of his injuries happened during the Battle of Verdun. He received the Iron Cross, a military award, for his service.
Life After the War
After the war, Koegel returned to Bavaria. He worked for a short time as a customs clerk. Later, he opened a souvenir shop. This business did not last long. He then traveled and worked in Switzerland and Austria.
He eventually came back to Füssen. There, he found a job at the furniture factory where his father used to work. During this time, he joined groups that were very nationalist and against Jewish people. In 1929, his eight-year-old son passed away from measles.
Joining the Nazi Party
Koegel became a member of the NSDAP, also known as the Nazi Party, on May 2, 1932. Shortly after, in June 1932, he joined the SS. The SS was a powerful organization within the Nazi Party.
Role in the SS and Concentration Camps
In 1937, Koegel became an assistant to the commander at Dachau concentration camp. From 1938 to 1942, he worked at the Lichtenburg and Ravensbrück concentration camps. He started as a director and then became a commander. Ravensbrück was a labor camp mainly for women.
In 1942, Koegel became the commander of the Majdanek concentration camp. This camp was a place where many people were killed. He was involved in setting up facilities for mass killings at this site. From 1943 to 1945, he served as the commander at Flossenbürg concentration camp.
