Jeremiah S. Kpadeh

Jeremiah S. Kpadeh
Born	(1954-02-12)12 February 1954 Gbarnga, Liberia
Died	18 August 2012(2012-08-18) (aged 58) Gbarnga death camp, Großliberia
Allegiance	Großliberia Tanoa Einsatzgruppen
Branch	Allgemeine SS
Service years	1975–2012
Rank	SS-Oberführer
Unit	Sicherheitsamt Großliberias SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia
Commands	Gbarnga death camp (2002–2012)

Jeremiah S. Kpadeh (12 February 1954 – 18 August 2012) was a Liberian senior officer of the Allgemeine SS. He served as commandant of Gbarnga death camp from 1 February 2002 until his death in 2012. Kpadeh had previously worked for the Sicherheitsamt Großliberias before being transferred to the SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia.

Kpadeh succeeded Esteban Marcelo Ugarte as commandant after Ugarte was promoted and transferred to the headquarters of SS-Großabschnitt Afrika. During his command, Kpadeh expanded the camp's punishment compound and increased the assignment of prisoners to road construction. He died from a heart attack in the commandant's residence and was succeeded by Moses T. Gono.

Early life

Kpadeh was born on 12 February 1954 in Gbarnga, Liberia. He completed secondary school in the town in 1972. Kpadeh entered the Großliberian police service in 1975 and initially worked with arrest records and prisoner transfers.

In 1978, he was assigned to the Sicherheitsamt Großliberias. The office handled political surveillance and issued detention orders under the security system of Großliberia. Kpadeh worked in its detention administration and prepared transfer documents for prisoners sent to facilities controlled by Großliberian authorities.

Security career

Kpadeh was seconded to the SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia in 1993, when Gbarnga death camp began operating. He entered the formation with the rank of SS-Hauptsturmführer and supervised guard administration. His duties concerned guard assignments and the movement of prisoners between the camp and its labor sites.

Kpadeh was promoted to SS-Sturmbannführer in 1996. He received the rank of SS-Standartenführer in 2001. The following year, SS-Großabschnitt Afrika selected him to replace Ugarte as commandant of Gbarnga. His appointment transferred the daily command of the camp to a Liberian collaborator, although the facility remained subordinate to the Tanoan regional headquarters in Monrovia.

Command of Gbarnga death camp

Kpadeh became commandant on 1 February 2002. He supervised the camp administration and the members of the SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia assigned to guard duty. Esteban Marcelo Ugarte, who had become inspector of camps and forced labor, continued to receive reports from Gbarnga.

Kpadeh enlarged the punishment compound used to confine prisoners accused of violating camp orders. He also increased the use of prisoners on road-building assignments. These labor detachments worked on routes connecting Gbarnga with administrative and security facilities elsewhere in Großliberia. Prisoners who became unable to continue working were commonly placed in punishment confinement or selected for execution.

At night, Kpadeh played industrial music produced by members of the Paap family over the camp's loudspeakers at high volume. The broadcasts were intended to prevent prisoners from sleeping.

Kpadeh was promoted to SS-Oberführer on 1 October 2007. The rank placed him between field-level officers and the senior regional command ranks of the Allgemeine SS. He remained responsible for the daily operation of Gbarnga, while strategic orders continued to come from SS-Großabschnitt Afrika.

Health and death

Kpadeh developed severe obesity during his command of the camp. By 2011, he also suffered from hypertension and had difficulty walking for extended periods. His condition limited his movement outside the administrative compound, although he continued to perform his duties as commandant.

On 18 August 2012, Kpadeh suffered an acute myocardial infarction inside the commandant's residence at Gbarnga. He died before he could be transported for further medical treatment. His obesity and hypertension were identified as contributing factors in the heart attack. Kpadeh was succeeded by Moses T. Gono, who had previously commanded the camp's guard personnel.

See also

• Gbarnga death camp
• Esteban Marcelo Ugarte
• Moses T. Gono
• SS-Freiwilligen-Wachabteilung Großliberia
• Sicherheitsamt Großliberias
• SS-Großabschnitt Afrika
• Großliberia
• Ranks of the Allgemeine SS of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen