Jenny-Wanda Barkmann, often referred to as the "beautiful beast" of the Stutthof concentration camp, stands as one of the most infamous female guards of the Holocaust. Known for her striking appearance and sadistic cruelty, Barkmann became a symbol of the horrors inflicted by Nazi perpetrators. Her trial and execution after the war marked one of the first instances of justice served against a female concentration camp guard, though her legacy remains a chilling testament to the capacity for evil.
From Beauty to Brutality
Born in 1922, little is known about Jenny-Wanda Barkmann's early life, but her striking beauty earned her comparisons to a model. However, behind her glamorous appearance lay a ruthless and sadistic individual. Barkmann joined the Nazi regime as a guard at the Stutthof concentration camp near Gdańsk, Poland, in 1944.
At Stutthof, Barkmann oversaw the suffering of countless prisoners, including women and children. Known for her casual cruelty, she reportedly selected prisoners for execution with a smile on her face, earning her the nickname “the Beautiful Beast.” Survivors recounted her tendency to beat and torture inmates, often to the point of death. Her victims were sent to the gas chambers, shot, or subjected to horrific experiments.
The Collapse of the Third Reich
As the war turned against Germany, the Stutthof camp became a site of unimaginable atrocities. Inmates were forced into death marches, and many perished from exhaustion, starvation, or execution. When the Allies liberated the camp in 1945, the extent of the horrors shocked the world.
Barkmann fled Stutthof as the Soviet forces approached, attempting to blend into civilian life. However, her striking appearance and reputation for cruelty made her easily recognizable. She was arrested shortly after the war and handed over to Polish authorities to face justice.
The Trial of the Beautiful Beast
Jenny-Wanda Barkmann stood trial during the Stutthof Trials in Gdańsk, Poland, in 1946. Alongside other guards and collaborators, she faced charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Witnesses provided harrowing testimonies of her sadistic behavior and direct involvement in the deaths of countless prisoners.
Barkmann, seemingly indifferent to the proceedings, remained unrepentant throughout the trial. Her casual demeanor and apparent lack of remorse further fueled the public's outrage. The court found her guilty, and she was sentenced to death by hanging.
The Execution of Jenny-Wanda Barkmann
On July 4, 1946, Jenny-Wanda Barkmann and several other convicted war criminals were executed in public in Gdańsk. The execution drew large crowds, as people gathered to witness the end of one of the most notorious figures of the Holocaust.
Barkmann’s execution was carried out on a gallows in a grim display of justice. Witnesses reported that she maintained a calm and detached demeanor until the very end, her beauty contrasting starkly with the monstrous crimes she had committed.