Karl Rahm - Theresienstadt

[sylvieK4]

Does anyone have any photographs and/or biographical/ service information about Standartenfuhrer Karl Rahm, SS commander of the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto?

Was Rahm a WWI veteran?

Any photos/ info is welcome. Thanks.

[Andreas Schulz]

I can not find a Karl Rahm in the DAL of 01.12.1938, 30.01.1942 and 09.11.1944.

AnDie

[sylvieK4]

Hi, AnDie. Thanks for your reply.

So far I have only found a few sites discussing Rahm. Most sources refer to him as the "third commander" of the Terezin Ghetto, the first and second being Siegfried Seidl and Anton Burger.

Here is a typical quote: (from: http://www.doew.at/projekte/holocaust/s ... heres.html )

Guarded by Czech gendarmes, the ghetto was run by the SS and commanded by Austrians Siegfried Seidl (November 1941 to July 1943), Anton Burger (July 1943 to February 1944) and Karl Rahm (February 1944 to May 1945).

Testimony from Rahm's trial in 1947 was included in the 1960s process against Adolf Eichmann.

See: http://www.nizkor.org/hweb/people/e/eic ... 45-01.html

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any photos or biographical information about this man. A few sites refer to him as a "Colonel", and identify him as an SS officer.

Again, any photos and/or info will be appreciated.

[Researcher]

I have some bio info on Rahm.
Born in Klosterenburg, Austria.
I have him as SS Major (not Colonel)
He was a toolmaker by trade.
Helped set up the Central Office for Jewish Affairs in Holland; 1940
Gunthers Deputy in Prague: 1942 - 43
Commandant of Terezin ghetto: Feb 44 - Apr 45

Regards
Researcher

[Jeremy Dixon]

RAHM KARL
SS-Obersturmfuhrer
Commandant of Theresienstadt concentration camp in Czechoslovakia, known as the paradise ghetto. He succeeded Anton Berger.
Rahm was a short, stocky man from Austria. He had only an elementary school education. A former Social Democrat and skilled toolmaker from the Vienna working class suburb of Klosterneuburg.
In 1940 he worked in Eichmanns Office, he worked under Anton Burger, one of Eichmann's aides, he was in fact Burger's personal aide. Rahm was a machinist from suburban Vienna. On 8 February 1943 Rahm was named as the new commandant of Theresienstadt concentration camp, succeeding Rolf Gunther who had shown little ability or enthusiasm in the project of beautification of the camp. He was now SS-Obersturmfuhrer. Rahm too the beautification project personally in hand. He continually toured the various areas of activity, issuing commands even on minor details. His interest and knowledge in manual labour helped him to make improvements in many technical matters within the camps work force.
Wherever Rahm went within the camp he brought fear to the prisoners, he had a reputation for brutality, and it often showed itself, for he was extremely hot-tempered. On one occasion he found a group of workers from the farm sheltering from the rain, he was so angry that he grabbed one of the men and beat him so badly that he couldn't do manual work any more.
However sometimes Rahm would show his better side. On one occasion a young woman about to be deported approached him and asked if she could stay on in Theresienstadt. Rahm asked her what position she held in the camp, she answered that she was a nurse. Rahm who was somewhat taken off guard, allowed the woman to stay.
Rahm was seized in Austria a year after the war and handed over to the new Czech government which was eager to try him. (Rahm had served the SS for several years in Prague before being assigned to Theresienstadt). For his trial, which took place in early spring of 1947, the Czechs invited an international group of distinguished observers, one of them from Palestine.
The trial took place in Leitmeritz. Standing erect in the witness box but ashen-faced and obviously fearful, Rahm claimed he was only following orders and working for the future of the Third Reich. He said that he had constantly tried to save the Jews, but he was usually overruled. He was told and believed that they were being sent to central Germany to help in reconstruction and only learned of their fate and that of other deported Jews when he saw an American film on the concentration camps during his imprisonment. This seems highly unlikely.
During the trial most of the witnesses disclaimed his testimony, and Rahm often seemed to contradict himself. At 2.00pm on 30 April 1947 the special court covened for the trial handed down its verdict. Guilty as charged. Then at 6.00pm Rahm was hanged. Rahm was executed within four hours of being sentenced, there was no time for an appeal, or anything else come to that!
He left the camp with the last of the SS on 5 May 1945. He was captured by the Allies and put on trial and found guilty of crimes against humanity, he was eventually

[sylvieK4]

Thank you, Researcher and trbrooks for the information.

Does anyone have any photos of Rahm they can share? Thanks.

[Georg_S]

Hello Sylvie!

Her you have all of the three Kommandants of KL Theresienstadt.

Best Regards,

Georg

[sylvieK4]

Wow! Thank you very much, Georg!

[Georg_S]

anytime

/Georg

[MitchL]

I have a friend whose father and grandmother were for some reason given preferential treatment by Rahm. They lived in Rahm's house. Does anyone know about this situation. Also, how is this possible. Finally, how can I get a copy of the transcripts of Rahm's trial?

[J. Duncan]

Found webpage with info on the camp and photos of the perpetrators.
http://www.cympm.com/teresin.html
Rahm's tenure at the camp was rather brief.

[Sampo Jämbeck]

Here is picture of Karl Rahm