“Death is my Trade” centers on the life of Rudolph Höss, the commandant of Auschwitz II-Birkenau for the majority of its existence. The main character's name in the film is Franz Lang. This name change was deliberate to ensure that the character is not automatically viewed as being some sort of villain or demon. Franz is an average German kid growing up during World War I. The film follows Franz as he grows up and becomes a hard, efficient, organized worker who eventually joins the National Socialist party in Germany. Impressionable young Franz takes orders as one of the utmost points of honor and duty, so when he is eventually asked by Heinrich Himmler to become commandant of the largest extermination camp built during WWII he barely hesitates to consider how heavy such a burden will be.
| Directing | Theodor Kotulla | Director |
| Writing | Theodor Kotulla | Writer |
| Writing | Robert Merle | Novel |
| Sound | Eberhard Weber | Music |
| Crew | Dieter Naujeck | Cinematography |
| Editing | Wolfgang Richter | Editor |
| Camera | Jürgen Hasenack | Assistant Camera |
| Camera | Harald Kratzer | Still Photographer |
| Lighting | Friedel Zachäus | Lighting Design |
| Lighting | Willi Meier | Lighting Technician |
| Lighting | Michael Lünebach | Lighting Technician |
| Lighting | Georg Bringezu | Lighting Technician |
| Camera | Hans Neu | Dolly Grip |
| Art | Wolfgang Schünke | Production Design |
| Art | Wolfgang Fredrich | Property Master |
| Art | Hajo Jörgens | Property Master |
| Costume & Make-Up | Gerd Schuberth | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Annette Groschupp | Makeup Artist |
| Costume & Make-Up | Uta Wilhelm | Costume Design |
| Editing | Gabriele Friedrichs | Assistant Editor |
| Editing | Christa Helwig | Assistant Editor |
| Crew | Günter Scheir | Special Effects |
