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Crime & Justice • War Crimes

Irma Grese

Irma Grese was a German Nazi concentration camp guard who served at Ravensbrück, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen during World War II.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Irma Grese was a German Nazi concentration camp guard who served at Ravensbrück, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen during World War II. She was convicted of war crimes at the Belsen trial in 1945 and executed by hanging at age 22. She became widely known by the nicknames “Hyena of Auschwitz” and “Beast of Belsen.” Her case is relevant to Canadian readers as part of Holocaust and Second World War history, topics studied in Canadian schools and memorialized in Canadian Holocaust education.

Early life

Irma Grese was born in 1923 in Wrechen, in what was then Germany. Details of her early life are less prominent in historical accounts than her wartime service and trial.

Wartime service

Grese served as a concentration camp guard at Ravensbrück, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen. Survivors and postwar accounts described her as brutal and abusive toward prisoners.

Trial and execution

Grese was arrested after the liberation of Bergen-Belsen and prosecuted in the Belsen trial. She was convicted of war crimes and executed by hanging in December 1945.

Historical reputation

Grese became infamous under nicknames such as “Hyena of Auschwitz” and “Beast of Belsen.” She is frequently cited as one of the best-known female perpetrators of Nazi camp crimes.

Key facts

  • Grese worked as a guard at Ravensbrück, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen.
  • She gained a reputation for brutality toward prisoners during her service.
  • She was tried at the Belsen trial and found guilty of war crimes.
  • She was executed by hanging at the age of 22.
  • She became one of the most notorious female Nazi camp guards in historical memory.
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Canadian context

Irma Grese is relevant to Canadian readers as part of Holocaust and Second World War history, topics studied in Canadian schools and memorialized in Canadian Holocaust education.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Irma Grese?
Irma Grese was a German Nazi concentration camp guard who served at Ravensbrück, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen and was later convicted of war crimes.
Why is Irma Grese famous?
She is known for her role in Nazi camp brutality and for being one of the most notorious female war criminals of World War II.
What camps did Irma Grese work at?
She worked at Ravensbrück, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Bergen-Belsen.
What happened to Irma Grese after the war?
She was tried in the Belsen trial, found guilty of war crimes, and sentenced to death by hanging.
When was Irma Grese executed?
She was executed on 13 December 1945.
How old was Irma Grese when she died?
She was 22 years old when she was executed.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irma_Grese
    Supports: Birth/death dates, camp service, trial outcome, execution age, and nicknames.
  2. PBS — https://www.pbs.org/auschwitz/learning/biographies/
    Supports: Her role as an Auschwitz guard and survivor accounts of her conduct.
  3. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/grese-irma-1923-1945
    Supports: Her identity as a German Nazi supervisor at Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen and her execution date.