Jane Bernigau

Jane Bernigau (born October 5, 1908) was an SS "Oberaufseherin" in Nazi concentration camps before and during World War II.

Life

Bernigau was born as Jane (Gerda) Bernigau on October 5, 1908, in Sagan Germany (now modern Żagań, Poland).

Camp work

In 1938, she joined the camp staff at the Lichtenburg early camp in eastern Germany. There, because of her willingness to get her job done, she was promoted to chief wardress ("Oberaufseherin"). In May 1939, Bernigau went to Ravensbrück concentration camp as deputy to the head guard where she trained newcomers into the SS women's auxiliary.

Eventually Bernigau was posted to Gross-Rosen concentration camp in 1941, as chief wardress. After that she went back to Ravensbrück and again back to Gross-Rosen. Bernigau received the "Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter" medal in 1943 for her devotion to the Reich and her camp services. In September 1944, Bernigau was sent as supervising wardress to the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp. Soon after she served in the St. Lamprecht subcamp, and when the Americans came near the camp she was called back to serve at Mauthausen.

Evasion

Bernigau fled the Mauthausen camp in early May 1945, and has never been prosecuted for war crimes.

References