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Born in Austria · Nationalities German, Austrian — SS / Aktion Reinhardt / Płaszów camp / war crimes / crimes against humanity

Amon Göth

Authoritarian regimes, wars and mass atrocities

Documented profile covering 8 controversies, including “1945–13 September 1946: capture, extradition to Poland, death sentence and execution” and “13 September 1944: arrested by SS judiciary for theft of Jewish property and other abuses, without final Nazi judgment”.

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Profile No. 2676 · Updated on 12 October 2026

8Documented controversies+ 1 background event

6Sources

1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 6 documented stages

1945–13 September 1946: capture, extradition to Poland, death sentence and execution

Conviction

1945–13 September 1946

1945–13 September 1946: capture, extradition to Poland, death sentence and execution

Conviction

Identified after the war in the American zone, Göth was extradited to Poland in May 1946. The Supreme National Tribunal tried him in Kraków, found him responsible for murders, torture and persecution and sentenced him to death. He was hanged at Montelupich prison on 13 September 1946.

Attribution: Accused

Sources · 3

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability
[2]
United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumA camp commandant on the way to his sentencingOfficial documentVery high reliability
[3]
KL Plaszow MuseumKL Plaszow Museum — FAQArchiveVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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February 1943–September 1944

1943–1944: reign of terror at Płaszów — arbitrary executions, torture, violence and dog attacks on prisoners

Conviction

Survivors testified that Göth personally shot prisoners, ordered executions, beat and terrorised detainees and used his dogs against them. The Polish indictment attributed thousands of deaths to him during his command.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Accused

Sources · 3

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability
[2]
United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumOskar SchindlerOfficial documentVery high reliability
[3]
KL Plaszow MuseumKL Plaszow Museum — FAQArchiveVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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September 1943–début February 1944

September 1943–February 1944: liquidation of Szebnie camp, killings on site and deadly deportations

Conviction

Göth was also prosecuted for his role in the gradual liquidation of Szebnie camp. Prisoners were murdered on site on his orders, while others died during transport to other camps.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 1

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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January–September 1944

1944: Płaszów becomes concentration camp and remains a detention, execution and forced labour centre under his command

Conviction

In January 1944, Płaszów was converted into a concentration camp. Under Göth, the site was used for forced labour, detention of Jews and Poles, executions and the transit of deportees to other camps.

State of the evidence: Documented

Sources · 3

[1]
KL Plaszow MuseumHistory of the campArchiveVery high reliability
[2]
KL Plaszow MuseumKL Plaszow Museum — FAQArchiveVery high reliability
[3]
United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumKrakau-Plaszow concentration campEncyclopediaVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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années 1930–début 1943

Before 1943: Nazi and SS involvement, followed by participation in Aktion Reinhardt in Lublin district

Conviction

Göth joined the Austrian Nazi movement and the SS, then served in the Lublin district. The IPN states that he participated in tasks linked to Aktion Reinhardt and the expansion of killing sites such as Bełżec and Sobibór before his transfer to Kraków.

State of the evidence: Documented
Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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September 1943

September 1943: participation in liquidation of Tarnów ghetto, including personal killings and execution orders

Conviction

The IPN reports that Göth took part in the final liquidation of the Tarnów ghetto. Jews deemed fit for work were deported to camps; others were killed, and Polish judicial evidence attributes both personal shootings and orders to kill to him.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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13 September 1944–1945

13 September 1944: arrested by SS judiciary for theft of Jewish property and other abuses, without final Nazi judgment

Investigation

While on leave in Vienna, Göth was arrested by the SS police judiciary. The allegations concerned, in particular, misappropriation of property and valuables stolen from Jews, as well as practices considered detrimental to the Reich's economic interests.

Attribution: Accused

Sources · 1

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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13–14 March 1943

13–14 March 1943: active and murderous participation in liquidation of Kraków ghetto

Investigation

During the liquidation of the Kraków ghetto, Göth actively participated in the violence, ordered murders and was notably associated with the liquidation of the children's home. Thousands of people were killed, transferred to Płaszów or deported to Auschwitz.

Attribution: Directly implicated

Sources · 1

[1]
Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN)Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”Very high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

Add to this entry

II. Documented background

Documented biographical or institutional milestones (elections, appointments, foundings, acquisitions…). These are not controversies and are not counted as such.

11 February 1943–13 September 1944
11 February 1943: appointed commandant of Płaszów camp
Göth was appointed commandant of Płaszów labour camp. He ran the camp for approximately nineteen months, including its transition to concentration camp status in 1944.
Sources · 3
1. Instytut Pamięci Narodowej (IPN) — Martyna Grądzka: Proces „kata z Płaszowa”
2. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum — Krakau-Plaszow concentration camp
3. KL Plaszow Museum — History of the camp

III. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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I. Documented controversies

Sources · 3

Sources · 3

Sources · 1

Sources · 3

Sources · 1

Sources · 1

Sources · 1

Sources · 1

II. Documented background

11 February 1943: appointed commandant of Płaszów camp

III. Constellation of documented links

IV. Has something changed?

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