At the head of the concentration camp at Auschwitz stood the camp commandant, responsible for all matters connected with the KL, particularly security of the complex, so commander of the SS garrison and also the director of the SS economic enterprises:

May 4, 1940-November 10, 1943 SS-Obersturnbannfuhrer Rudolf Höss

November 11, 1943-May 8, 1944 SS- Obersturmbannfuhrer Arthur Liebehenschel

May 11, 1944-January, 1945 SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Richard Baer

The commandant had complete authority over the camp and the SS garrison. In turn, he reported to the Inspectorate of Concentration Camps. When, on March 3, 1942, the inspectorate became part of the SS Main Economic-Administration Office Wirtschaftsverwaltungshauptamat, SS-WVHA the concentration camp commandants came under the authority of Amtsgruppe D in the SS-WVHA (Office Group D).