The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Signatories · SS & Police
Theodor Eicke (1892–1943): Signature, Documents and Historical Profile
| Born | 17 October 1892, Hampont (Lorraine) |
|---|---|
| Died | 26 February 1943, near Artelnoje, USSR (shot down) |
| Key offices | Commandant of Dachau (1933); Inspector of the Concentration Camps (1934); commander of the SS Totenkopf division (November 1939) |
| Documents bearing his name | Dachau and camp inspectorate documents, Totenkopf division papers |
| In the collection | No pieces currently available |
Theodor Eicke built the model for the Nazi concentration camp system at Dachau and then imposed it across the Reich as Inspector of the Concentration Camps. He personally killed Ernst Röhm in 1934 and later commanded the SS Totenkopf division.
Who Was Theodor Eicke?
Eicke was born in Hampont in Lorraine in 1892. He became commandant of the newly founded Dachau camp in 1933 and drafted its guard and punishment regulations. On 1 July 1934, on Hitler’s order, he killed Ernst Röhm. Himmler then made him Inspector of the Concentration Camps, with the task of reorganising the camp system on the Dachau model. In November 1939 he took command of the SS Totenkopf division.
What Documents Bear Eicke’s Signature?
His signature appears on documents of Dachau, of the camp inspectorate and of the Totenkopf division. See original signature or facsimile.
What Should Collectors Watch For?
- Camp inspectorate documents date from 1934.
- Division documents date from November 1939.
- Nothing he signed can postdate February 1943.
Fate
Eicke was killed on 26 February 1943 when his aircraft was shot down during a reconnaissance flight in the Soviet Union.
Collector’s Note
Eicke’s Dachau regulations shaped the treatment of prisoners in every camp. Any document connected with him belongs to that history and must be described as such.
Related Entries and Pieces
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Frequently Asked Questions
What did Eicke do at Dachau?
He was commandant from 1933 and drafted the regulations that became the model for the camp system.
When did Eicke die?
On 26 February 1943, when his aircraft was shot down.
Did Eicke kill Röhm?
According to the Neue Deutsche Biographie, he killed Röhm on Hitler’s order on 1 July 1934.
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
- Weise, N. (2022) ‘Eicke, Theodor’, NDB-online.