Willi Schatz

Willi Schatz (February 1, 1905 Hannover, Germany – February 17, 1985 Hannover, Germany) was a Nazi SS-Obersturmführer (Lieutenant) as a SS-KZ Zahnarzt (Concentration Camp Dentist) who served in Auschwitz and Neuengamme.

Early life
Schatz was born in 1905, the son of a dentist. He first attended elementary school and then a high school in Hannover from where he graduated. Like his father, he then studied dentistry at the University of Göttingen and received his doctorate in 1933. In 1933 he became the member of the NSDAP and the SA. Because of his facilitation with abortion in 1939 he was excluded from the party until he was called to the Heer on June 10, 1940 as he worked as a dentist in Hanover. On 3 July 1943, he retired from the Army and on July 22, 1943 he became a member of the Waffen-SS.

World War II
In the fall 1943 Schatz graduated from one of the SS-Medizinischen Akademie (Medical Academies) in Graz as a SS-Untersturmführer and was used in the SS-Hauptquartier (Headquarters) in Oranienburg. From January 20, 1944 until the fall of 1944 he became the second in charge by his superior, SS-KZ Zahnarzt Willi Frank at Auschwitz. He was then transferred to Neuengamme where he served until the war's end in the same function. In 1945 he was promoted again to SS-Obersturmführer.

Post War
At the end of the war he fell in British captivity from which he was dismissed in January 1946. Soon after he opened a dental practice in Hanover.

Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials
Schatz was arrested in 1959 and stood trial for his crimes in the camps before the Assize Court in Frankfurt am Main which became known as the Frankfurt Auschwitz Trials. He was accused of having selected prisoners at Auschwitz which he denied that he took part of. Since this ultimately could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt, he was acquitted on August 20, 1965.

Death
Schatz died from cancer on February 17, 1985.