Erich Koch

Erich Koch (June 19, 1896-November 12, 1986) was a German Nazi official. He was a German soldier during World War One and worked as a clerk after the war, joining the Nazi party in 1922. He became Gauleiter of East Prussia, now part of Poland, in 1928 and was the administrator of Nazi-occupied Ukraine from 1941 to 1944, committing war crimes in both regions. At the end of the war he fled west from the advancing Soviet army and went into hiding, but he was captured in Hamburg in May 1949.

Related Topics:
June 19 - 1896 - November 12 - 1986 - German - Nazi - Soldier - World War One - Clerk - 1922 - Gauleiter - East Prussia - Poland - 1928 - Ukraine - 1941 - 1944 - War crime - Soviet - Hamburg - May - 1949

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Extradited to Poland, he was sentenced to death in 1959 for war crimes against the Poles, but was never put on trial for crimes committed in Ukraine. His death sentence was never carried out and many people believed that he traded his life for information about art looted by the Nazis during the war, including parts of the famous Amber Room. There is no proof of this story. He died of natural causes in prison at Barczewo, near Olsztyn, in the heart of former East Prussia.

Related Topics:
Extradited - Sentenced to death - 1959 - Art - Looted - Amber Room - Barczewo - Olsztyn

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