Kelley Library

Mistress of life and death, the dark journey of Maria Mandl, head overseer of the womens camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, Susan J. Eischeid

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 369-440) and index

individual biography

mapsillustrations

index present

non fiction

Mistress of life and death

bibliography

Susan J. Eischeid

the dark journey of Maria Mandl, head overseer of the womens camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau

This gripping account of the highest-ranked woman in the Third Reich who, as Head Overseer of the women's camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, was personally responsible for the murder, torture and suffering of countless prisoners, explores how she became to embody the very worst of humanity

Maria, September 1946 -- Hometown -- Childhood -- Coming of age -- Anschluss -- Aufseherin -- KZ Lichtenburg -- A good, orderly life -- "Rein kommt Ihr alle, aber niemals wieder lebend raus!" -- The transformation -- Ravensbrück -- Daily life -- The visit -- "To work!" -- Leisure time -- Christmas in Ravensbrück -- The prisoners -- The bunker -- In charge -- The mistress of life and death -- The hunt of the curly-heads -- The biggest cruelty -- Lab rabbits -- The transfer -- Antefoom to Hell -- Hell -- Order and discipline -- Appell was torture -- A normal life -- Oberaufseherin -- The lover -- The "ladies" -- "Mandelka" -- The embodiment of Satan -- "We ALLOW you to work for us!" -- Humiliated, appalled, helpless -- A pause, to acknowledge courage -- The whip -- Selections -- All begging was in vain -- "I often cried" -- The orchestra -- Hope -- Alma -- At the gate -- "She would look beautiful" -- The men -- "The orchestra means life!" -- Christmas in Auschwitz -- The paradox -- The children -- The child was eaten by rats -- An untimely death -- Mala -- Summer of '44/Homecoming -- The living Hell -- Dissolution -- Mühldorf -- Escape and capture -- Dachau -- Margit -- Treated with respect -- Extradition -- Selbstmord -- The beater becomes the beaten -- Cieszyn -- Montelupich -- Arrival in prison -- Harsh, but better -- The escape -- Time passed slowly -- Cellmates -- "Pani Jadzia" -- Always full of ideas -- Personal encounters -- The dirties -- "Virgin mother of my God, let me be fully your own" -- The tribunal -- The lawyers -- Rymar -- Deposition -- The trial -- In session -- Opening -- The case against Mandl -- The evidence -- Defense -- The game is lost (final innings) -- The press -- Challenge of the orchestra women -- Closing arguments -- Guilty -- Sentence -- The waiting -- Christmas Eve 1947 -- Zaba -- Father Stark -- Rachwalowa and the shower room -- Si non è vero -- Remorse -- Hanging, by rope, until dead -- Site of execution -- EGZEKUCJA -- It begins -- The death of Maria -- Sentence complete -- Aftermath -- Certificate of death -- The accounting -- The family -- The father -- What might have been -- Coda