Date of Award

8-31-2026

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

Kelly Colvin

Second Advisor

Bonnie Miller

Abstract

The Second World War in Germany saw the largest number of civilian German women participating in brutal violence against Jewish peoples. The combination of sources used aids in presenting a broader image of these women both within the concentration camps and during their trials. This thesis argues the effects of Nazi ideology and radicalization on the three main subjects, Irma Grese, Maria Mandl, and Ilse Koch. Equally as important is how the American public perceived them and their roles during their respective post-war trials--which looked at them through the lens of femininity and sexuality. Within that violence came the transgression of femininity and a seeming blur within traditional gender roles. The masculinization of female concentration camp guards came as a result of their decision to beat and kill prisoners. The findings of this thesis contribute to the broader historiography as it is the only source that compares women's roles in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany, as well as focuses on the feminine and sexual newspaper coverage of Irma Grese, Maria Mandl, and Ilse Koch.

Comments

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