Erich Wasicky
Austrian SS officer, pharmacist in Mauthausen concentration camp and convicted war criminal
About Erich Wasicky
Lived 1911 – 1947 (aged 36). Erich Wasicky was an Austrian pharmacist and physician.
Erich Wasicky (May 27, 1911, in Vienna – May 28, 1947, at Landsberg Prison, Landsberg am Lech, Allied-occupied Germany (aged )) was a pharmacist at the Mauthausen concentration camp in charge of gassing victims.
Wasicky was a physician. He joined the NSDAP and was a member of the SS. Between 1941 and 1944, he worked as a pharmacist at Mauthausen concentration camp. It was his duty to select victims to die in the gas chamber. The exact number of his victims is not known, but more than 3,100 died in neighboring Hartheim concentration camp, which fell under Wasicky's jurisdiction. After the Nazis started using the poison Zyklon B, Wasicky was put in charge of establishing this process in both Mauthausen and Hartheim.
According to witnesses, Wasicky worked closely with SS doctor Aribert Heim. The two performed gruesome experiments together, such as injecting various solutions into the hearts of Jewish prisoners to see which killed them the fastest.
After the end of World War II, Wasicky was tried for war crimes by a U.S. military tribunal. On May 13, 1946, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. On May 28, 1947, he was hanged at Landsberg Prison. Wasicky was originally scheduled to be hanged on May 27, 1947, which was his birthday. He requested that his execution be delayed until the next day. The request was granted.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Erich Wasicky's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Erich Wasicky's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Erich Wasicky?
Austrian SS officer, pharmacist in Mauthausen concentration camp and convicted war criminal (1911-1947)
When was Erich Wasicky born?
Erich Wasicky was born on 27 May 1911 in Vienna.
When did Erich Wasicky die?
Erich Wasicky died on 28 May 1947 in Landsberg Prison.
What was Erich Wasicky's occupation?
Erich Wasicky was a pharmacist and physician.
What nationality was Erich Wasicky?
Erich Wasicky was Austrian.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erich Wasicky. https://biography.guide/erich-wasicky/
MLA: "Erich Wasicky." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erich-wasicky/.
Chicago: "Erich Wasicky." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erich-wasicky/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:31 UTC