Jane Bernigau

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Jane Bernigau was an SS Oberaufseherin in Nazi concentration camps before and during World War II.

Jane was born as Jane (Gerda) Bernigau on October 5, 1908, in Sagan Germany (now modern Żagań, Poland). 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, Jane went to Ravensbrück concentration camp as deputy to the head guard where she trained new comers into the SS women's auxiliary.

Eventually Jane was posted to Gross-Rosen concentration camp in 1941, as chief wardress. After that she went back to Ravensbruck and again back to Gross-Rosen. Jane received the Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter medal in 1943 for her devotion to the Reich and her camp services. In September 1944, Jane was sent as supervising wardress to the Mauthausen 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.

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

[edit] References

Brown, Daniel Patrick (2002). The Camp Women: The Female Auxiliaries Who Assisted the SS in Running the Nazi Concentration Camp System. Schiffer Publishing. ISBN 0-7643-1444-0.