What term describes the men at the head of the prisoner blocks in concentration camps?

The term that describes the men at the head of the prisoner blocks in concentration camps is "Kapos." Kapos were inmates themselves, often appointed by the Nazi guards to oversee other prisoners. They held significant authority within the camps and were responsible for enforcing rules, managing work details, and sometimes administering punishment. The Kapos often did so under severe pressure from the guards, sometimes leading to a complex and troubling dynamic of power within the camps.

While Blockführer and Aufseher are related to camp roles, Blockführer specifically refers to the head of a block, typically a non-inmate who was a Nazi official. Aufseher translates to "supervisor" and also refers to camp guards, who were not inmates. The term "Prison Wardens" generally describes official authorities in civilian prisons and does not accurately apply to the context of concentration camps, where the Kapos operated within a very different and brutal system.