Beheadings in the Third Reich
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Ploetzensee:

Source: http://gcjm.dyndns.org/khb/2004/20040409.htm
More pictures can be found by different search-engines.
Regards / Michael

Source: http://gcjm.dyndns.org/khb/2004/20040409.htm
More pictures can be found by different search-engines.
Regards / Michael
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Die im Hinrichtungsschuppen aufgestellte Guillotine (unmittelbar nach dem Krieg). Da Hinrichtungsschuppen und Fallbeil im September 1943 durch einen Bombenangriff schwer beschädigt worden waren, wurden in der Nacht vom 7./8. September 1943 alle 186 zum Tode Verurteilten (darunter Karlrobert Kreiten) erhenkt.

Source: http://www.fkoester.de/kreiten/hinrichtung/seite5.html
Please, translate by yourself.
Regards / Michael
P.S. I do not like to link more pictures here, using the terms plötzensee/ploetzensee/guillotine/fallbeil etc. leads to more pictures...
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kneiptang,
Thanks. Picture #1 is not Plotzensee. It is Pancraz Prison in Prague.
#2 is Plotzensee and is the photo I am trying to date. It may have been taken at the time of the execution of the July 20 plotters. I am very interested in identifying the various items in the photograph besides the fallbeil.
#3 is Plotzensee, taken by a Soviet military photographer after the prison was occupied. I have been trying to identify what is in the foreground and believe their are some words in cyrillic on the items. The guillotine is missing its blade. Is that a massive blood stain on the floor?
All three photos are significant. Anyone know of others?
Thanks. Picture #1 is not Plotzensee. It is Pancraz Prison in Prague.
#2 is Plotzensee and is the photo I am trying to date. It may have been taken at the time of the execution of the July 20 plotters. I am very interested in identifying the various items in the photograph besides the fallbeil.
#3 is Plotzensee, taken by a Soviet military photographer after the prison was occupied. I have been trying to identify what is in the foreground and believe their are some words in cyrillic on the items. The guillotine is missing its blade. Is that a massive blood stain on the floor?
All three photos are significant. Anyone know of others?
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Concerning the "beheading" in germany before 1945, I would like to link the movie: "Das Beil von Wandsbek", a DEFA production from 1951, starring the great actor Erwin Geschonneck.
http://www.prisma-online.de/tv/person.h ... eschonneck
As far as I know, 3 or 4 of the Guillotines used by the "Reich" were used for many more years later by the executives of the GDR, to behead the victims...?
Regards / Michael
btw - visit "Plötzensee", a place, you will never forget...
http://www.prisma-online.de/tv/person.h ... eschonneck
As far as I know, 3 or 4 of the Guillotines used by the "Reich" were used for many more years later by the executives of the GDR, to behead the victims...?
Regards / Michael
btw - visit "Plötzensee", a place, you will never forget...
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I want to see Wandsbeck and to read the book.
Yes, I can confirm the guillotine was used after the War, up to 1949 in the West and later, probably in the mid-1960's, in the East. The hand axe also is reported to have returned to use, although the allegation was made by a questionable source, the self-proclaimed GDR executioner, Vopel.
Thanks for your help. I wish I could source the film!
Yes, I can confirm the guillotine was used after the War, up to 1949 in the West and later, probably in the mid-1960's, in the East. The hand axe also is reported to have returned to use, although the allegation was made by a questionable source, the self-proclaimed GDR executioner, Vopel.
Thanks for your help. I wish I could source the film!
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This very good movie you can buy at amazon, on VHS and(?) DVD:

It is one of the best films with Erwin Geschonneck, besides "Nackt unter Wölfen", another DEFA production and an remarkable movie of that time.
Geschonneck is a great actor, I have seen all the films starring Geschonneck, the man deserves a lot of respect.
Regards / Michael

It is one of the best films with Erwin Geschonneck, besides "Nackt unter Wölfen", another DEFA production and an remarkable movie of that time.
Geschonneck is a great actor, I have seen all the films starring Geschonneck, the man deserves a lot of respect.
Regards / Michael
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I will look for this film. I know of Arnold Zweig's "Das Beil von Wandsbeck" but have not been able to locate a copy of the book. Perhaps you know Zwieg's inspiration was the beheading of the "Altoona Four". It was rumored that a butcher had been hired as the executioner as a stand in for the official executioner, then was driven to suicide by the community. Historical records show a butcher in the area did commit suicide following the execution but the individual was not conclusively identified as the "pinch-hitting" headsman. Authoritative research by Oxford scholar Richard Evans indicates the probable executioner was Karl Gropler but it may have been Alwin Englehardt, both of whom were official and rival executioners. The great hand axe shown in the video cover photo was the kind of instrument used.
Thanks.
Any more information you can share will be appreciated.
Thanks.
Any more information you can share will be appreciated.
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It's available, but not cheap... 8)fredric wrote: I know of Arnold Zweig's "Das Beil von Wandsbeck" but have not been able to locate a copy of the book.
http://www.opengroup.com/labooks/359/3596220696.shtml
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What do you know - less than five bucks in English translation for a second-hand copy!fredric wrote: I know of Arnold Zweig's "Das Beil von Wandsbeck" but have not been able to locate a copy of the book.
http://www.alibris.com/search/search.cf ... 52&qsort=r
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Johann Baptist Reichart = Johann Reichhart
Reindel = Wilhelm Reindel
fredric, using these two names, you will find some more information about both executioners, with the search-engine of your choice.
Hehr and Weiss, I was not able to find, sorry.
Regards Michael
P.S. Concerning "Karl Groppler / "Karl Gropler" you will find some more links in italian and other languages.
Reindel = Wilhelm Reindel
fredric, using these two names, you will find some more information about both executioners, with the search-engine of your choice.
Hehr and Weiss, I was not able to find, sorry.
Regards Michael
P.S. Concerning "Karl Groppler / "Karl Gropler" you will find some more links in italian and other languages.