Irmfried Eberl

Austrian psychiatrist and Nazi SS officer

Irmfried Eberl

Irmfried Eberl (8 September 1910 – 16 February 1948) was an Austrian psychiatrist and a Nazi SS officer. He was the first commandant of the Treblinka extermination camp, where he was responsible for the mass murder of Jews during the Holocaust.

Early life and education

Eberl was born in Bregenz, Austria. He studied medicine at the University of Innsbruck, where he specialized in psychiatry. After completing his studies, Eberl worked in various psychiatric institutions in Austria.

Involvement in the T4 Program

Eberl became involved in the Nazi euthanasia program, known as Action T4, which aimed to exterminate individuals deemed "unworthy of life" due to severe mental or physical disabilities. He served as the medical director of the Brandenburg Euthanasia Centre and later at the Bernburg Euthanasia Centre.

Treblinka extermination camp

In July 1942, Eberl was appointed as the first commandant of the Treblinka extermination camp in occupied Poland. Under his command, the camp began operations as part of Operation Reinhard, the Nazi plan to exterminate the Jews of occupied Poland. Eberl's tenure at Treblinka was marked by chaos and inefficiency, as the camp was overwhelmed by the number of victims being sent there.

Letter from Eberl to Auerswald, Treblinka, 1942

Eberl's inability to manage the camp effectively led to his dismissal in August 1942. He was replaced by Franz Stangl, who reorganized the camp and increased its efficiency in carrying out mass murder.

Later life and death

After his dismissal from Treblinka, Eberl returned to the T4 program and continued his work in the euthanasia centers. Following the end of World War II, Eberl went into hiding. He was eventually arrested by the Allies in January 1948.

Eberl committed suicide on 16 February 1948, while in custody awaiting trial for his crimes during the Holocaust.

Legacy

Eberl's role in the Holocaust, particularly at Treblinka, is a stark reminder of the involvement of medical professionals in the Nazi regime's genocidal policies. His actions exemplify the perversion of medical ethics under totalitarian rule.

Related pages

• Treblinka extermination camp
• Action T4
• Operation Reinhard
• Franz Stangl

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