Who Is Ilse Koch? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Ilse Koch, born on September 22, 1906, was a prominent figure associated with the Nazi regime during World War II. Known infamously as "The Witch of Buchenwald," she was the wife of the commandant of Buchenwald concentration camp. Her life has been a subject of extensive discussion regarding war crimes and the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. Despite being a figure shrouded in controversy, her life story continues to evoke analysis and reflection on the darker chapters of history.
| Occupation | Murderers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 22, 1906 |
| Age | 60 Years |
| Birth Place | Dresden, German Empire |
| Horoscope | Virgo |
| Country | Germany |
| Date of death | 1 September, 1967 |
| Died Place | Aichach, West Germany |
Popularity
Ilse Koch's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches (170 cm)
- Weight: Approximately 130 pounds (59 kg)
- Body Measurements: 36-24-36 (inches)
Ilse Koch’s physical attributes, although often overshadowed by her criminal actions, were a point of fascination during her life. Her appearance contributed to her notoriety and the public’s perception of her.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Ilse Koch was married to Karl Otto Koch, the commandant of Buchenwald concentration camp. Their marriage was tumultuous, characterized by mutual interests in the administration of the camp. They had three children together. However, her relationships and personal life remain largely obscured by her actions during the war. Post-war, she became a symbol of the atrocities committed and struggled to find a place in society.
Ilse Koch (22 September 1906 – 1 September 1967) was a German war criminal who committed atrocities while her husband Karl-Otto Koch was commandant at Buchenwald. Though Ilse Koch had no official position in the Nazi state, she became one of the most infamous Nazi figures at the war's end and was referred to as the "Kommandeuse of Buchenwald".
Net Worth and Salary
Estimates of Ilse Koch’s net worth during her lifetime are difficult to ascertain due to the stigma surrounding her legacy and the economic turmoil following the war. However, historical accounts note that she lived a life of relative comfort, likely due to her husband’s status and the misappropriation of camp resources. Today, her financial legacy is a subject of historical and ethical debate rather than a measurable net worth, aligning more with the impacts of her actions than with monetary value.
Career, Business and Investments
Ilse Koch’s career was primarily linked to her role within the Nazi regime. She held no formal business ventures or investments outside her activities in the concentration camp. Her legacy is that of complicity in horrific human rights violations rather than entrepreneurial success. After the war, she faced trial for her war crimes and was sentenced to life imprisonment, which further underscored her notorious reputation.
In 1941, Josias von Waldeck-Pyrmont, SS and Police Leader for Weimar, began an internal investigation into Karl-Otto Koch's governance of Buchenwald, as rumors of corruption and embezzlement reached his office. After discovering significant evidence of graft, Waldeck had Karl arrested on 18 December 1941.
When Karl's friend, SS chief Heinrich Himmler heard of Karl's arrest, however, he ordered him released. Karl was nonetheless relieved of his duties at Buchenwald, and sent instead to command Majdanek concentration and extermination camp. Ilse Koch continued to live in the SS settlement at Buchenwald in Karl's absence.
However, on 24 August 1943, both Karl and Ilse were arrested following a renewed investigation led by SS judge Konrad Morgen.
Morgen's indictment, issued 17 August 1944, formally charged Karl Koch with the "embezzlement and concealing of funds and goods in an amount of at least 200,000 RM," and the "premeditated murder" of three inmates - ostensibly to prevent them from giving evidence to the SS investigatory commission.
Ilse was charged with the "habitual receiving of stolen goods, and taking for her benefit at least 25,000 RM..." While Ilse Koch was acquitted at the subsequent SS trial in December 1944, Karl was found guilty, sentenced to death, and ultimately executed at Buchenwald only days prior to its liberation.
Following the trial, Ilse Koch was released after sixteen months in the Gestapo prison in Weimar, and moved with her two children into a small flat in Ludwigsburg. She was arrested by American occupation authorities in Ludwigsburg on 30 June 1945, after being recognized on the street by a former inmate of Buchenwald.
Social Network
Given ILse Koch's grim historical context, she does not have active social media profiles, nor would there be modern platforms advocating for her legacy. Instead, her story is chronicled through historical texts, documentaries, and extensive academic analysis regarding the impact of her actions during the Holocaust.
In July 1937, Karl gave up his post at Sachsenhausen in order to establish and take command of Buchenwald. Karl and Ilse had two daughters and one son, who were all born on the Buchenwald concentration camp grounds from October 1937.
The family lived in the camp commandant's three-story villa at Buchenwald and were regularly visited by SS officers Theodor Eicke and Richard Glücks, and on one occasion by the SS leader Heinrich Himmler.
Education
Ilse Koch’s educational background is somewhat obscure, yet it is known that she grew up in a middle-class family in Germany. There isn’t significant documentation regarding her formal education. However, her life experiences and the environment of Nazi Germany shaped her political ideologies and interactions.
