The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · SS & Police
Oswald Pohl (1892–1951): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 30 June 1892, Duisburg |
|---|---|
| Died | 7 June 1951, Landsberg (executed) |
| Key offices | Head of SS administration (1934/35); head of the SS Economic and Administrative Main Office, WVHA (1 February 1942), with control of the concentration camps (from 16 March 1942) |
| Documents bearing his name | SS administrative and WVHA documents and correspondence |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Oswald Pohl ran the economic and administrative empire of the SS, including, from 1942, the concentration camp system and the exploitation of prisoners’ labour. Documents of his office are evidence of the bureaucratic organisation of mass crime.
Who Was Oswald Pohl?
Pohl was born in Duisburg in 1892 and served as a naval paymaster. In January 1934 he moved to the SS to head its administration. From 1 February 1942 he led the SS Economic and Administrative Main Office (WVHA), which from 16 March 1942 also controlled the concentration camp inspectorate.
What Documents Bear Pohl’s Signature?
His signature appears on SS administrative and WVHA documents and correspondence. See original signature or facsimile and concentration camp correspondence.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- WVHA documents date from February 1942.
- Distinguish ink signatures from copies.
- Camp-related documents must be described with full context.
Responsibility and Fate
An American military tribunal at Nuremberg sentenced Pohl to death in 1947. He was hanged at Landsberg on 7 June 1951.
Collector’s Note
WVHA paperwork shows how the camps were managed like an enterprise. I find that coldly administrative tone one of the most disturbing things about these documents, and I think it should be described plainly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the WVHA?
The SS Economic and Administrative Main Office, which from March 1942 controlled the concentration camps.
What happened to Pohl?
He was sentenced to death by a US military tribunal and hanged in 1951.
When did Pohl take control of the camps?
From 16 March 1942.
Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.
References & Further Reading
- Pohl, D. (2001) ‘Pohl, Ludwig Oswald’, Neue Deutsche Biographie, 20, pp. 584–585.