RUDOLF HÖSS

Auschwitz (Oświęcim), German-Occupied Poland • November 1, 1940 On this date in 1940 SS Hauptsturmfuehrer (Captain) Rudolf Hoess (also Höß or Hoeß; pro­nounced “hearse”) (1901–1947) reported for duty as comman­dant of Auschwitz con­cen­tra­tion camp in the newly annexed province of Upper Silesia in former Poland. During Hoess’s tenure at Auschwitz, the 20,000‑acre/­8,094‑hectare com­plex of 3 separ­ate camps…