The Höcker Album is a photo album that originally belonged to SS officer Karl Höcker. Höcker was stationed at Auschwitz from May 1944 until the evacuation of the camp complex in January 1945. He served as the adjutant (administrative aide) to SS officer Richard Baer, the last commandant of Auschwitz. This media essay shows some of the photographs of Höcker that appear in the album.
This is a page from SS officer Karl Höcker’s photo album. The caption reads “With Commandant SS-Sturmbannführer Baer Auschwitz 21.6.1944” (“Mit dem Kommandanten SS-Stubaf. Baer Auschwitz 21.6.1944”). It was likely the first page in the album.
Höcker (right) served as the adjutant to SS officer Richard Baer (left), the last commandant of Auschwitz. Baer became the commandant of the Auschwitz main camp (also called Auschwitz I) on May 11, 1944.
Item View![Obersturmführer Karl Höcker, June 21, 1944. [LCID: 34580]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/21be029f-f135-4b97-92f3-d7a1c25e5be3.jpeg "Obersturmführer Karl Höcker, June 21, 1944. [LCID: 34580]")
Portrait of SS-Obersturmführer Karl Höcker, June 21, 1944.
Höcker was stationed at Auschwitz from May 1944 until the evacuation of the camp complex in January 1945. He served as the adjutant to SS officer Richard Baer, the last commandant of Auschwitz. This photo is from Höcker’s photo album.
Item View![Karl Höcker (on left, looking at the camera) relaxes with SS physicians, including Dr. [LCID: 34797]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/9faa7e46-dc11-4218-a875-ef45cd927aeb.jpeg "Karl Höcker (on left, looking at the camera) relaxes with SS physicians, including Dr. [LCID: 34797]")
SS officer Karl Höcker (on the left, looking at the camera) relaxes with SS physicians. Among them are Dr. Fritz Klein (far left); Dr. Horst Schumann (partially obscured next to Klein, identified from other photographs); and Dr. Eduard Wirths (third from the right, wearing a tie).
The photo is from an album that belonged to SS officer Karl Höcker. The Höcker Album includes 116 pictures taken in and around Auschwitz between May 1944 and January 1945. This image is one of four photos on a page with the caption “After the outing” (“Nach der Ausfahrt”).
Item View![Karl Höcker; the original caption reads "Sommer 1944". [LCID: 34593]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/c93388f7-ab4e-403a-a606-49d09f618328.jpeg "Karl Höcker; the original caption reads \"Sommer 1944\". [LCID: 34593]")
Photograph of SS officer Karl Höcker, included in his photo album. The Höcker Album includes 116 pictures taken in and around Auschwitz between May 1944 and January 1945. The original photo caption reads “Summer 1944” (“Sommer 1944”).
Item View![Richard Baer and Karl Höcker look over a document with SS-Standartenführer Dr. [LCID: 34807]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/698fefb7-7537-4e33-bf1e-af4505977970.jpeg "Richard Baer and Karl Höcker look over a document with SS-Standartenführer Dr. [LCID: 34807]")
Auschwitz commandant Richard Baer and his adjutant Karl Höcker look over a document with SS-Standartenführer Dr. Enno Lolling. Lolling was the head of the Office for Medical Services and Camp Hygiene in the SS concentration camp system. From left to right: Lolling, Baer, Höcker.
This photo is from an album that belonged to SS officer Karl Höcker. The Höcker Album includes 116 pictures taken in and around Auschwitz between May 1944 and January 1945. This photograph was taken on September 1, 1944, when Lolling was at Auschwitz for the ceremonial dedication of the SS military hospital.
Item View![Yuletime, 1944. Karl Höcker lights the candles on the Yule tree. [LCID: album26]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/large/a73cb356-fc4f-495d-9008-18fc1fb46494.jpeg "Yuletime, 1944. Karl Höcker lights the candles on the Yule tree. [LCID: album26]")
A page from SS officer Karl Höcker’s photo album. The Höcker Album includes 116 pictures taken in and around Auschwitz between May 1944 and January 1945. The photographs on this page show Höcker lighting the candles on a Yule tree. The caption reads “Yuletide Celebration, 1944” (“Julfeier, 1944”).
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