The story of Franz Stangl, the commandant of Treblinka, based on the author's interview with him while he was in prison in 1971 after his conviction in a war-crimes trial, and supplemented with the testimony of other witnesses. Stangl's story is told in 6 parts: Hartheim, a 'euthanasia' centre and his first important assignment; Sobibor, a killing centre; Treblinka, where he was commandant; the end of the war; his escape from Germany; and his life in Brazil until his arrest in 1967. This is an extremely important source for understanding the psychology of a Nazi