Egon Zill: Nazi Camp Commandant Who Tortured and Sexually Abused Prisoners

World History: True Stories of the 20th Century · Oct 1, 2026 · 16m

Egon Zill, nicknamed “Little Zill” because of his short stature, was a veteran SS officer who served at numerous Nazi concentration camps and became notorious for personally torturing prisoners and sexually abusing female inmates.

Born in Plauen in 1906, Zill joined the Nazi Party and SA in 1923 before entering the SS three years later as member number 535. His exceptionally low SS membership number reflected his early involvement in the Nazi movement.

Zill served successively at Hohnstein, Sachsenburg, Dachau, Lichtenburg, and Ravensbrück concentration camps. At Ravensbrück, the major…