This gripping account of the highest-ranked woman in the Third Reich who, as Head Overseer of the women's camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, was personally responsible for the murder, torture and suffering of countless prisoners, explores how she became to embody the very worst of humanity.

Maria, September 1946 -- Hometown -- Childhood -- Coming of age -- Anschluss -- Aufseherin -- KZ Lichtenburg -- A good, orderly life -- "Rein kommt Ihr alle, aber niemals wieder lebend raus!" -- The transformation -- Ravensbrück -- Daily life -- The visit -- "To work!" -- Leisure time -- Christmas in Ravensbrück -- The prisoners -- The bunker -- In charge -- The mistress of life and death -- The hunt of the curly-heads -- The biggest cruelty -- Lab rabbits -- The transfer -- Antefoom to Hell -- Hell -- Order and discipline -- Appell was torture -- A normal life -- Oberaufseherin -- The lover -- The "ladies" -- "Mandelka" -- The embodiment of Satan -- "We ALLOW you to work for us!" -- Humiliated, appalled, helpless -- A pause, to acknowledge courage -- The whip -- Selections -- All begging was in vain -- "I often cried" -- The orchestra -- Hope -- Alma -- At the gate -- "She would look beautiful" -- The men -- "The orchestra means life!" -- Christmas in Auschwitz -- The paradox -- The children -- The child was eaten by rats -- An untimely death -- Mala -- Summer of '44/Homecoming -- The living Hell -- Dissolution -- Mühldorf -- Escape and capture -- Dachau -- Margit -- Treated with respect -- Extradition -- Selbstmord -- The beater becomes the beaten -- Cieszyn -- Montelupich -- Arrival in prison -- Harsh, but better -- The escape -- Time passed slowly -- Cellmates -- "Pani Jadzia" -- Always full of ideas -- Personal encounters -- The dirties -- "Virgin mother of my God, let me be fully your own" -- The tribunal -- The lawyers -- Rymar -- Deposition -- The trial -- In session -- Opening -- The case against Mandl -- The evidence -- Defense -- The game is lost (final innings) -- The press -- Challenge of the orchestra women -- Closing arguments -- Guilty -- Sentence -- The waiting -- Christmas Eve 1947 -- Zaba -- Father Stark -- Rachwalowa and the shower room -- Si non è vero -- Remorse -- Hanging, by rope, until dead -- Site of execution -- EGZEKUCJA -- It begins -- The death of Maria -- Sentence complete -- Aftermath -- Certificate of death -- The accounting -- The family -- The father -- What might have been -- Coda.