In 1933 he was picked by his old ally Himmler to be commandant of the newly established Dachau concentration camp.[6] Under orders from Himmler, he established 'special' rules for dealing with prisoners, ruled that instituted terror as a way of life at the camp.[7] His initiatives included execution of prisoners for 'violent insubordination' and 'incitement to disobedience'[8] for which he was charged criminally.