| Helma Kissner | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1923-12-23) 23 December 1923 (age 100) Sensburg, East Prussia, Germany |
| Allegiance |  Germany |
| Service |  Waffen-SS |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Helma Kissner (born 23 December 1923), later known as Helma Maaß, is a German former Waffen-SS officer during World War II, serving in the Auschwitz-Birkenau and Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camps. In 2016, she was ranked 1st on the list of most-wanted Nazi war criminals as determined by the Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Biography
Kissner was born in Sensburg, East Prussia, as the daughter of a carpenter and housewife. She had two sisters, one of whom died shortly before the end of World War II. In 1934, she joined the League of German Girls, and in 1941 she joined the Nazi Party. During World War II, as a radio operator, Kissner was associated with the German Labour Front and the Waffen-SS. From 21 April to 7 July 1944, she was a radio operator in KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, where, due to her function, she had access to many confidential official documents. Then, until the end of the war, she served in Natzweiler-Struthof in Alsace. After the war, Kissner was interned until 18 July 1948.
In 2015, the German prosecutor's office planned to bring her to trial, accusing her of aiding in the murder of at least 266,390 people during her service in Auschwitz-Birkenau. On 9 September 2016, however, she was found unfit to stand trial by a court in Kiel.
References
- ^ Hinrichs, Per (15 June 2016). "Funkerin in AuschwitzGeschichte einer Frau, die unbedingt zur SS wollte". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "Wiesenthal Center 2016 Annual Report Praises Renewed Efforts by German Prosecutors". wiesenthal.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- "Auschwitz radio operator ruled unfit to stand trial". The Guardian. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.