Considerato impropriamente come semplice campo di lavoro, fu di fatto, fra tutti i campi nazisti, il solo campo di concentramento classificato di “classe 3” (campo di punizione e di annientamento attraverso il lavoro). Vi si attuò lo sterminio dei reclusi soprattutto attraverso il lavoro forzato nella vicina cava di granito, e la consunzione per denutrizione e stenti, pur essendo presenti anche alcune piccole camere a gas.
Krebsbach fu il principale responsabile dell’avvio di un vasto programma di uccisioni di massa attraverso iniezioni letali al cuore, effettuate nei confronti dei prigionieri malati. Sotto la sua supervisione, circa 900 prigionieri tra russi, polacchi e ceceni vennero uccisi da queste iniezioni letali. A causa di questa pratica, i detenuti lo soprannominarono “Dr Spritzbach” (Dr Injection). Krebsbach fu anche il responsabile della costruzione di una camera a gas nel seminterrato dell’ospedale nel campo di Mauthausen.
Dopo la fine della Seconda guerra mondiale venne arrestato; la condanna comminatagli durante il Processo di Dachau, come detto, fu le pena di morte. Di seguito, riporto lo stralcio di una parte della conversazione che ebbe luogo durante il processo tra Krebsbach e l’accusa:
“Krebsbach: When I started work I was ordered by the head of Office III D to kill or have killed all those who were unable to work, and the incurably sick.
Prosecutor: And how did you carry out this order?
Krebsbach: Incurably sick inmates who were absolutely incapable of work were generally gassed. Some were also killed by gasoline injection.
Prosecutor: To your knowledge, how many persons were killed in this way in your presence?
Krebsbach: (no answer)
Prosecutor: You were ordered to kill those unfit to live?
Krebsbach: Yes. I was ordered to have persons killed if I was of the opinion that they were a burden on the state.
Prosecutor: Did it never occur to you that these were human beings, people who had the misfortune to be inmates or who had been neglected?
Krebsbach: No. People are like animals. Animals that are born deformed or incapable of living are put down at birth. This should be done for humanitarian reasons with people as well. This would prevent a lot of misery and unhappiness.
Prosecutor: That is your opinion. The world does not agree with you. Did it never occur to you that killing a human being is a terrible crime?
Krebsbach: No. Every state is entitled to protect itself against asocial persons including those unfit to live.
Prosecutor: In other words, it never occurred to you that what you were doing was a crime?
Krebsbach: No. I carried out my work to the best of my knowledge and belief because I had to”.