Gerda "Jane" Bernigau (born 5 October 1908) was an SS Oberaufseherin in Nazi concentration camps before and during World War II.
Bernigau was born as Gerda Bernigau on 5 October 1908, in Sagan, Germany (now 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, Bernigau went to Ravensbrück concentration camp as deputy to the head guard where she trained newcomers into the SS women's auxiliary.
Bernigau was posted to the Gross-Rosen concentration camp in 1941 as chief wardress. Later she was sent back to Ravensbrück and again back to Gross-Rosen. She was awarded the Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter medal in 1943 for her devotion to the Third 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.
Bernigau fled Mauthausen in early May 1945 and was never prosecuted for war crimes.
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.