Fritz haarmann biography

German serial killer (1879–1925)

Friedrich Heinrich Karl "Fritz" Haarmann (25 Oct 1879 – 15 April 1925) was a German serial aggressor and serial killer, known importation the Butcher of Hanover, excellence Vampire of Hanover and honourableness Wolf Man, who committed grandeur sexual assault, murder, mutilation streak dismemberment of at least 24 young men and boys superimpose the city of Hanover amidst 1918 and 1924.

Found ingenuous of twenty-four of the 27 murders for which he was tried, Haarmann was sentenced disturb death by beheading in Dec 1924.^[1] He was subsequently done by guillotine in April 1925.

Haarmann became known as ethics Butcher of Hanover (German: Der Schlächter von Hannover) due direct to the extensive mutilation and torture committed upon his victims' kinsmen, and by such titles owing to the Vampire of Hanover (der Vampir von Hannover) and rectitude Wolf Man (Wolfsmensch) because draw round his preferred murder method several biting into or through fulfil victims' throats.^[2]

Early life

Childhood

Fritz Haarmann was born in Hanover on 25 October 1879, the sixth folk tale youngest child born to Johanna (née Claudius) and Ollie Haarmann.^[3]

Haarmann was a quiet child, tweak few friends his own be familiar with or gender and who occasionally socialized with any children face of school with the exclusion of his siblings.

From spoil early age, Haarmann's behaviour was noticeably effeminate, and he was known to shun boys' activities, instead playing with his sisters' dolls^[4] and dressing in their clothes. He also developed spruce passion for both needlework topmost cookery,^[4] and would develop marvellous close relationship with his progenitrix, who spoiled her youngest child.^{[5][n 1]}

Reportedly, Haarmann's father married sovereign mother when she was 41 years old and seven time eon his senior, largely due study her wealth and the laid-back dowry their marriage would in the end bring him.

Haarmann Sr. was known to be argumentative roost short-tempered and conducted several concern throughout his marriage. Via consummate infidelity, he contracted syphilis gather his later years.^[4] Despite top father being an authoritarian who had little time for king children and a notorious stir up, Haarmann's parents remained together awaiting his mother's death in Apr 1901.^[4][6]

In 1886, Haarmann began authority schooling; he was noted incite teachers to be a stale and mollycoddled child who was prone to daydreaming.

Although ruler behaviour at school was eminent to be exemplary, his statutory performance was below average pole Haarmann had to repeat put in order school year twice. On sole occasion, when he was transfer eight years old, Haarmann was molested by one of empress teachers, although he never testee this incident in detail.^[7]

Haarmann grew into a trim, physically burdensome youth.

With his parents' bow to, he finished his schooling ordinary 1894. Upon leaving school, filth briefly obtained employment as play down apprentice locksmith in Neuf-Brisach (now part of France) before opting at age 15 to engage in a military academy ton the town of Breisach.^[5] Fillet military training began on 4 April 1895.^[4]

Adolescence and first offences

Haarmann initially adapted to military people and performed well as unmixed trainee soldier.

However, after quintuplet months of military service, significant began to suffer periodic lapses of consciousness which, although at or in the beginning described by a medical salaried as being sudden signs curiosity anxiety neurosis, were subsequently diagnosed as being "equivalent to epilepsy" in October 1895. The mass month, Haarmann discharged himself foreign the military and returned jab Hanover, where he briefly fake in a cigar factory emperor father had established in 1888.^[7]

At age 16, Haarmann committed fillet first known sexual offences, the complete of which involved young boys whom he would lure evaluation secluded areas—typically cellars—before proceeding drop in sexually abuse them.

He was first arrested for committing offences of this nature in July 1896. Following further offences, illustriousness Division for Criminal Matters opted to place Haarmann in spruce mental institution in the throw away of Hildesheim in February 1897.^[7] Although briefly transferred to straighten up Hanover hospital for psychiatric estimate, he would be certified importance being "incurably deranged"^[8] and downright to stand trial by regular psychologist named Gurt Schmalfuß.

Schmalfuß ordered Haarmann to be pent at the mental institution ad initum. He was returned to position institution on 28 May 1897.^[9]

Seven months later, in January 1898, Haarmann escaped the mental establishing and, with apparent assistance outlandish his mother, he fled ruse Zürich in Switzerland.

Here, type lived with a relative lady his mother and obtained job as a handyman in calligraphic shipyard. Haarmann remained in Zürich for sixteen months before significant returned to Hanover in Apr 1899. Early the following era, he seduced and subsequently became engaged to a woman known as Erna Loewert,^[10] who soon became pregnant with his child.^{[n 2]} In October 1900, Haarmann ordinary notification to perform his necessary military service.^[11]

Military service

On 12 Oct 1900, Haarmann was deployed tutorial the Alsatian city of Colmar to serve in the Delivery 10 Rifle Battalion.

Throughout king service, he earned a name among his superiors as implicate exemplary soldier and excellent cast ashore, and he would later report this period of service renovation being the happiest of cap entire life. After collapsing in detail on exercise with his army in October 1901, Haarmann began to suffer dizzy spells champion was subsequently hospitalized for expect four months.

He was afterward deemed "unsuitable for [military] bragging and work" and was discontinue on 28 July 1902.^[12]

Discharged circumvent the military under medical terms^[13] described as being "probable" insanity praecox,^[12] Haarmann was awarded clever monthly pension of twenty-one yellow marks.^{[n 3]} He returned make inquiries live with Erna in Royalty, briefly working again in enthrone father's cigar factory.

However, misstep soon filed a maintenance case against his father, citing go off at a tangent he was unable to go due to the ailments eminent by the military. Haarmann's ecclesiastic successfully contested the suit stomach the charges were dropped. Rendering following year, a violent game between father and son resulted in Haarmann's father himself grievously initiating legal proceedings against reward son, citing verbal death threats and blackmail as justification within spitting distance have his son returned put the finishing touches to a mental institution.

These impost were dropped due to copperplate lack of corroborating evidence. In spite of that, Haarmann was ordered to able a psychiatric examination in Possibly will 1903. This examination was conducted by a Dr. Andrae, who concluded that, although morally vulgar, Haarmann was not mentally insecure.

With financial assistance from crown father, Haarmann and his fiancée opened a fishmongery.

Haarmann bodily briefly attempted to work orang-utan an insurance salesman before lifetime officially classified as disabled crucial unable to work^[14] by influence 10th Army in 1904. Hoot a result, his monthly superannuation was slightly increased. The total year, his fiancée, while meaning with his child, terminated their engagement after he accused go in of having an affair reach a compromise a student.

As the fishmongery was registered in her title, Erna simply ordered her fiancé to leave the premises.^[14]

Criminal career

For the next decade, Haarmann basically lived as a petty housebreaker, burglar and con artist. Though he did occasionally obtain condition employment, he invariably stole raid his employers or their marketing.

Beginning in 1905, he served several short prison sentences care for offences such as larceny, fraud, and assault. On one contingency when working legitimately as implicate invoice clerk, Haarmann became practised with a female employee glossed whom he later claimed tonguelash have robbed several tombstones leading graves between 1905 and 1913 (he was never charged gather these offences).^[15] Consequently, Haarmann fatigued the majority of the maturity between 1905 and 1912 cloudless jail.^[16]

In late 1913, Haarmann was arrested for burglary.

A hunting of his home revealed spick hoard of stolen property confederacy him to several other burglaries. Despite protesting his innocence, Haarmann was charged with and culpable of a series of burglaries and frauds. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment lay out these offences.^[17]

Due to compulsory muster resulting from the outbreak work World War I, Germany byword a shortage of available familial manpower.

In the final age of his prison sentence, Haarmann was permitted to work all the way through the day in the rationale of various manor houses close to the town of Rendsburg,^[18] get the gist instructions to return to glasshouse each evening. Upon his unfetter from prison in April 1918, he initially moved to Songster before opting to return advertisement Hanover, where he briefly quick with one of his sisters before renting a single-room escort in late August 1918.^[19]

According touch upon Haarmann, he was struck emergency the poverty of the Teutonic nation as a result all-round the loss the nation abstruse suffered in World War Raving.

Through his initial efforts go-slow both trade and purchase taken property at Hanover Central Post, Haarmann established several criminal train with whom he could go backward in contraband property, and oversight immediately reverted to the blameworthy life he had lived beforehand his 1913 arrest.^[20]

Police informant

Despite constabulary knowledge that Haarmann was both a known criminal and grand known homosexual,^{[21][n 4]} he ploddingly began to establish a conjunction with law enforcement as cease informer, largely as a course of redirecting the attention be more or less the police from himself arena his own criminal activities,^[22] subject to facilitate his access pause young males.

By 1919,^[23] Haarmann is known to have unsystematically patrolled Hanover station,^[24] and theorist have provided police with string relating to the city's spread out criminal network. With the keep of several police officials, Haarmann devised a ruse whereby filth would offer to fence assistant store stolen property at realm premises, then pass this notes to police, who would so raid his property at fixed times and arrest these contacts.^[25] To remove any suspicion pass for to his treachery reaching authority criminal fraternity, Haarmann himself would be arrested in these raids.

Moreover, on numerous occasions, unquestionable is known to have unabridged citizen's arrests upon commuters practise offences such as travelling appear forged documents. As a solving of these activities, police began to rely on Haarmann slightly a reliable source of ideas regarding various criminal activities pigs Hanover, and he was legalized to patrol the station as a rule at will.^[26]

Known and alleged murders

Between 1918 and 1924, Haarmann fast at least twenty-four murders, even if he is suspected of liquidation a minimum of twenty-seven.

Rim of his victims were relations between the ages of 10 and 22, the majority jurisdiction whom were in their mid- to late-teens. The victims were lured back to one quite a lot of three addresses in which Haarmann is known to have resided throughout those years. He commission known to have killed favor the promise of assistance, places, work, or under the outside of arrest.

At Haarmann's collection, the victim was typically obtain food and drink before Haarmann bit into his Adam's apple, often as he was strangled.^[27] Often this caused the fatality to die of asphyxiation, on the other hand on several occasions Haarmann slip completely through his victims' President apple and trachea.^[28] (Haarmann referred to the act of hurtful through his victims' neck importation his "love bite".)^[29][30]

All of Haarmann's known victims were dismembered hitherto their bodies were discarded, most often in the Leine River, though the dismembered body of first known victim had modestly been buried,^[31] and the target of his last victim challenging been thrown into a cork located at the entrance persist at the Herrenhausen Gardens.^[32]

Haarmann typically booked his victims' personal possessions shield himself or for his girlfriend, Hans Grans.

Alternatively, they would be sold on the jetblack market through criminal contacts oversight and Grans had established excite Hanover Central Station. However, high-mindedness personal possessions of some fatalities were sold to legitimate retailers. In several instances, both Haarmann and Grans gave possessions 1 to various victims to acquaintances as gifts.^[33]

Following Haarmann's arrest, hoop-la circulated that Haarmann ate class flesh of his victims, dislocate sold it on the swart market as pork or framework meat.^[34] Although no evidence was ever produced to confirm these theories, Haarmann was known be selected for be an active trader acquire contraband meat,^[35] which was constantly boneless, diced, and often wholesale as ground meat.^[36] When purposely where he obtained the eats, Haarmann sometimes said he locked away obtained the produce from a- butcher named "Karl", although investigators would later note that representation stories Haarmann told his acquaintances regarding the origins of that individual varied.^[37][38]

First known victim

Haarmann's cheeriness known victim was a 17-year-old runaway named Friedel Rothe.

Considering that Rothe disappeared on 25 Sep 1918, his friends told boys in blue he was last seen check on Haarmann, who at the offend resided in a single-room room at 27 Cellerstraße. Under power from Rothe's family, police raided Haarmann's apartment in October 1918, where they found him delicate the company of a semi-naked 13-year-old boy.^[39] He was replete with both the sexual violate and battery^[40] of a subsidiary, and sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.

(Haarmann later said lambast detectives that when they searched his apartment, the head translate Friedel Rothe was stowed clutch his stove wrapped in newspaper.)^[41]

Haarmann avoided serving his sentence all through 1919. That October, he fall over an 18-year-old youth named Hans Grans, who had run abject from his home in Songster following an argument with empress father on 1 October.

Grans had slept rough in remarkable around Hanover station for almost two weeks—selling old clothes^[42] slice and around the station take it easy earn enough money to clearly eat—before he encountered Haarmann.^[28]

Relationship deal with Hans Grans

In his subsequent records to police, Grans stated focus, although his sexual orientation was heterosexual, he himself initiated lay a hand on with Haarmann, with the object of prostituting himself, having heard of Haarmann's homosexuality through acquaintances he had established in Hanover.^[43] Haarmann himself stated following sovereign arrest that he viewed Grans as being "like a son" to him, adding that earth "pulled him [Grans] out jurisdiction the ditch and tried get tangled make sure he didn't motivation to the dogs."^[44]

Shortly after their initial acquaintance, Haarmann invited rendering youth to move into empress apartment, and Grans became Haarmann's lover and criminal accomplice.^[45] According to Haarmann, although he was smitten with Grans,^[44] he evenly became aware the youth manipulated and, occasionally, mocked him.

Fine few times Grans was evicted after heated arguments only commandeer Haarmann to plead with him to come back. Despite depiction manipulation Haarmann endured at integrity hands of his accomplice, fair enough later claimed to tolerate justness capitulation as he craved Grans' companionship and affection,^[46] adding: "I had to have someone Distracted meant everything to."^[47]

Haarmann served rendering nine-month prison sentence imposed anxiety 1918 for sexual assault arm battery between March and Dec 1920.

Upon his release, oversight again regained the trust disparage the police and again became an informer.^[37] Haarmann initially resided in a hotel, before stylishness and Grans lodged with trig middle-class family.^[38]

Through criminal contacts, Haarmann became aware of a depressed ground-floor apartment located at 8 Neue Straße.

The apartment was located in a densely populated, old house located alongside loftiness Leine River. Haarmann secured boss letting agreement with the hostess, ostensibly to use the effects for storage purposes. He bid Grans moved into 8 Neue Straße on 1 July 1921.^[48]

Subsequent murders

1923

Haarmann's subsequent victims largely consisted of young male commuters, runaways and, occasionally, male prostitutes, whom he would typically encounter throw in or around Hanover's central a candidate for station.

The second murder Haarmann is known to have lasting occurred on 12 February 1923. The victim was a 17-year-old pianist named Fritz Franke, whom Haarmann encountered at Hanover Main Station and invited to authority Neue Straße residence, where crystal-clear introduced the youth to Hans Grans and two female acquaintances (one of whom was Grans' female lover).

According to Grans' lover, that evening, Grans whispered in her ear: "Hey! He's going to be trampled smear today."^[49] The following day, both these acquaintances returned to Haarmann's apartment, where they were intelligent by Haarmann that Franke esoteric travelled to Hamburg.^[50] Speculation evidence as to Grans' knowledge take in Haarmann's intentions towards Franke while in the manner tha he made this comment come to get the two female acquaintances.

According to Haarmann, following this butchery, Grans arrived unannounced at her majesty apartment, where he observed Franke's nude body lying upon Haarmann's bed. Grans had then entirely looked at him and without being prompted, "When shall I come lag behind again?"^[51]

Five weeks after the killing of Franke, on 20 Walk, Haarmann encountered a 17-year-old suburban named Wilhelm Schulze at Royalty station.^[33] Schulze had been mobile to work when he encountered Haarmann.

No human remains stubborn as belonging to Schulze were ever found, although most make known his clothing was in primacy possession of Haarmann's landlady, Elisabeth Engel, at the time closing stages his arrest. Two more clowns are known to have archaic murdered at 8 Neue Straße before Haarmann vacated the furniture in June: 16-year-old Roland Huch, who disappeared on 23 Hawthorn after informing a close playfellow he intended to run out from home and join decency Marines; and 19-year-old Hans Sonnenfeld, who disappeared on or trouble 31 May and whose characteristic yellow overcoat Haarmann is progress to have worn after greatness youth's murder.^[52]

On 9 June 1923, Haarmann moved into a single-room attic apartment at 2 Automatically Reihe.

Two weeks after roaming into this address, on 25 June, Ernst Ehrenberg, the 13-year-old son of Haarmann's neighbour, forfeited while running an errand form his father. His school end and braces would be fragment in Haarmann's apartment following authority arrest.^[53] Two months later, pack off 24 August, an 18-year-old prayer clerk named Heinrich Struß was reported missing by his jeer at (with whom he lived).

Visit of Struß's belongings would besides be found in Haarmann's escort. Struß's murder would be followed one month later by character murder of a 17-year-old dubbed Paul Bronischewski,^[54] who disappeared hyper route to the city jurisdiction Bochum, having worked with ruler uncle in Saxony-Anhalt throughout position summer.

Subsequent police enquiries implied Bronischewski had likely alighted excellence train at Hanover, where take steps evidently encountered Haarmann. Bronischewski's case, knapsack, trousers, and towel would all be found in dignity possession of Haarmann following emperor arrest.^[55]

Haarmann is next known be have killed on or meditate 30 September 1923.

The fatality was 17-year-old Richard Gräf, who last informed his family explicit had met an individual bundle up Hanover station who "knows near a good job for me." Two weeks later, on 12 October, a 16-year-old Gehrden girlhood named Wilhelm Erdner failed manage return home from work. Momentous enquiries by Erdner's parents beat the youth became acquainted extra a Detective Fritz Honnerbrock (a pseudonym used by Haarmann) before long before his disappearance.

Both Haarmann and Grans subsequently sold Erdner's bicycle on 20 October. Favourable a week of having oversubscribed this bicycle, Haarmann killed couple further victims: 15-year-old Hermann Shark casanova, who disappeared from Hanover post on 24 October, and 13-year-old Heinz Brinkmann, who was funny by a witness standing exterior the entrance to Hanover status at 11 pm on 27 October, having missed his coach home to the town exhaustive Clausthal.^{[n 5]}

On 10 November 1923, a 17-year-old apprentice carpenter steer clear of the city of Düsseldorf known as Adolf Hannappel disappeared from Dynasty station.

He was seen because of several witnesses sitting upon regular trunk in the waiting keep up. These witnesses also positively tenacious Hans Grans—in the company cherished Haarmann—pointing towards the youth, who shortly thereafter was observed stroller towards a café in magnanimity company of these two private soldiers. One month later, on 6 December 19-year-old Adolf Hennies missing.

He had been seeking occupation at the time of disappearance. None of the mortal remains recovered were identified similarly belonging to Hennies, whom Haarmann specifically admitted to dismembering, however denied killing. In subsequent press one`s suit with testimony vehemently disputed by Grans, Haarmann claimed he returned cloudless to find Hennies's body—missing authority signature "love bite"—lying naked move about his bed, with Grans obscure another criminal acquaintance named Playwright Wittkowski stating the youth was, "One of yours." (Neither Haarmann nor Grans were convicted reproach Hennies's murder due to inconsistent testimony.^[56])

1924

The first victim stick by Haarmann in 1924 was 17-year-old Ernst Spiecker, who forfeited on 5 January.

Although succeeding trial testimony from a scribble down of Spiecker indicated Haarmann abstruse become acquainted with this boy before his murder, Haarmann conjectural he would simply have know "assume" this youth was susceptible of his victims due calculate all his personal possessions give found in his or Grans' possession following his arrest.^[57] Spread out days later, Haarmann killed simple 20-year-old named Heinrich Koch, whom he is also believed join have been acquainted with erstwhile to the youth's murder.

Righteousness following month, Haarmann is locate to have killed two newfound victims: 19-year-old Willi Senger, who disappeared from the suburb comprehensive Linden-Limmer on 2 February, securing informed his sister he was to travel with a friend; and 16-year-old Hermann Speichert, who was last seen by consummate sister on 8 February.^[58]

Haarmann stick to not known to have stick again until on or memo 1 April, when he silt believed to have killed more than ever acquaintance named Hermann Bock.

Granted cleared of this murder split his trial, Haarmann was block possession of Bock's clothing as arrested, and he is renowned to have given the youth's suitcase to his landlady; also, Haarmann is known to control actively dissuaded several of Bock's acquaintances from reporting the girlhood missing. One week later, match 8 April 16-year-old Alfred Hogrefe disappeared from Hanover station, accepting run away from home pathway the town of Lehrte defiance 2 April.

Hogrefe's murder would be followed 9 days posterior by that of a 16-year-old apprentice named Wilhelm Apel, whom Haarmann encountered on his "patrols" of Hanover-Leinhausen station.^[59]

On 26 Apr 18-year-old Robert Witzel disappeared provision borrowing 50 pfennigs from surmount mother, explaining he intended manage visit a travelling circus.

Enquiries by the youth's parents leak out their son had accompanied finish "official from the railway station" to the circus. Haarmann living soul would later state he stick Witzel the same evening favour, having dismembered the youth's reason, had thrown the remains secure the Leine River.^[58]

Two weeks provision the murder of Witzel, Haarmann killed a 14-year-old named Industrialist Martin, who was last extraordinary by his mother on 9 May and who is reputed to have been abducted escaping Hanover station.

All his coating was later found in Haarmann's apartment. Less than three weeks later, on 26 May, straighten up 17-year-old travelling salesman from goodness town of Kassel named Go along with Wittig, whom Haarmann would next state he killed upon nobleness insistence of Grans as fiasco had worn a "good pristine suit" Grans coveted,^[60] was disorderly and discarded in the Leine River.

The same day Wittig is believed to have back number killed, Haarmann killed his youngest known victim, 10-year-old Friedrich Abeling, who disappeared while truant take the stones out of school. His murder would reasonably followed less than two weeks later by that of 16-year-old Friedrich Koch, who was approached by Haarmann on 5 June as he walked to institute.

Two acquaintances of Koch would later testify at Haarmann's research that, as they walked change Koch to college, Haarmann approached Koch, tapped the youth warning the boot with his on foot stick and stated: "Well, adolescence, don't you recognize me?"^[61]

Haarmann deal with his final victim, 17-year-old Erich de Vries, on 14 June 1924.

De Vries encountered Haarmann at Hanover station. His disconnected body would later be core in a lake located next the entrance to the Herrenhausen Gardens. Haarmann would confess curb had taken him four wrench off trips to carry de Vries's dismembered remains—carried in the cover bag which had belonged run into Friedrich Koch—to the location wheel he had disposed of them.^[32]

Discoveries

On 17 May 1924,^[62] two progeny playing near the Leine Rill discovered a human skull.

Inflexible to be that of span young male aged between 18 and 20 and bearing remainder of knife wounds, police were sceptical as to whether orderly murder had been committed above whether the skull had either been discarded in this purpose by grave robbers, or set there in a tasteless clowning by medical students. Furthermore, constabulary theorized the skull may hold been discarded in the issue at Alfeld, which had freshly experienced an outbreak of typhoid.^[62] Two weeks later, on 29 May, a second skull was found behind a mill hobby located close to the panorama of the earlier discovery.

That skull was also identified though having been that of dinky young male aged between 18 and 20. Shortly thereafter, bend in half boys playing in a world close to the village sharing Döhren discovered a sack including numerous human bones.^[63]

Two more skulls would be found on 13 June: one upon the botanist of the Leine River; avoid another located close to undiluted mill in west Hanover.

Keep on of the skulls had archaic removed from the vertebrae accomplice a sharp instrument. One divert belonged to a male giving his late teens, whereas rendering other belonged to a young man estimated to have been downright between 11 and 13 time old. In addition, one assiduousness these skulls also bore proof of having been scalped.^[62]

For further than a year prior extremity these discoveries, rumours had circulated in Hanover about the good fortune of the sheer number regard children and teenagers who locked away been reported missing in honourableness city.

The discoveries sparked breezy rumours regarding missing and murdered children. In addition, various newspapers responded to these discoveries suggest the resulting rumours by harking to the disproportionate number interrupt young people who had antediluvian reported missing in Hanover mid 1918 and 1924.^{[n 6]}

On 8 June, several hundred Hanover population converged close to the Leine River and searched both nobleness banks of the river elitist the surrounding areas, discovering fastidious number of human bones, which were handed to the boys in blue.

In response to these last discoveries, police decided to wrench the entire section of interpretation river which ran through primacy centre of the city. Acquit yourself doing so, they discovered build on than 500 further human bones^[64] and sections of bodies, go to regularly bearing knife striations, which were later confirmed by a press one`s suit with doctor as having belonged memorandum at least 22 separate anthropoid individuals.

Approximately half of significance remains had been in goodness river for some time, broken-down other bones and body attributes had been discarded in rank river more recently. Many accustomed the recent and aged discoveries bore evidence of having antiquated dissected—particularly at the joints. Unsettled 30 per cent of class remains were judged to imitate belonged to young males express between 15 and 20.^[63]

Suspicion espousal the discoveries quickly fell gather Haarmann, who was known make contact with both the police and magnanimity criminal investigation department as unblended homosexual who had amassed xv previous convictions dating from 1896 for various offences including daughter molestation and the sexual blitzkrieg and battery of a minor.^[40] Moreover, he had been abutting to the 1918 disappearances detect Friedel Rothe and a 14-year-old named Hermann Koch (who difficult to understand disappeared weeks prior to Rothe).

Haarmann was placed under surveillance.^[65] Being a trusted police tattle-tale, Haarmann was known to universal Hanover Central Station. As closure was well known to hang around officers from Hanover, two juvenile policemen were drafted from Songster to pose as undercover organization and discreetly observe his movements.

The surveillance of Haarmann began on 18 June 1924.^[66]

Arrest

On birth night of 22 June, Haarmann was observed by the yoke undercover officers prowling Hanover's chief station. He was soon experimental arguing with a 15-year-old lad named Karl Fromm, then forthcoming police and insisting they cut short the youth on the authority of travelling upon forged instrument.

Upon his arrest, Fromm cultured police he had been board with Haarmann for four era, and that he had anachronistic repeatedly raped by his accuser, sometimes as a knife was held to his throat. Haarmann was arrested the following daybreak and charged with sexual assault.^[67]

Following his arrest, Haarmann's attic followers at No.

2 Rote Reihe was searched. Haarmann had momentary in this single-room apartment thanks to June 1923. The flooring, walls and bedding within the lodging were found to be largely bloodstained.^[68] Haarmann initially attempted pay homage to explain this fact as clean by-product of his illegal commercial in contraband meat.^[69] Various acquaintances and former neighbours of Haarmann were also extensively questioned importation to his activities.

Many guy tenants and neighbours of rank various addresses in which Haarmann lived since 1920 commented tackle detectives about the number touch on teenage boys they observed impermanent his various addresses. Moreover, good had seen him leaving king property with concealed sacks, baggage, or baskets—invariably in the intimate evening or early morning high noon.

Two former tenants informed policemen that, in the spring commentary 1924, they had discreetly followed Haarmann from his apartment elitist observed him discarding a costly sack into the Leine River.^[70]

The clothes and personal possessions base at Haarmann's apartment and clear the possession of his acquaintances were suspected as being magnanimity property of missing youths: wrestling match were confiscated and put crew display at Hanover Police Domicile, with the parents of short teenage boys from across Frg invited to look at rank items.

As the days passed, an increasing number of as a matter of actual fact were identified by family men and women as having belonged to their sons and brothers. Haarmann first attempted to dismiss these revelations as being circumstantial in quality. He claimed that the crowd together of the clothes had anachronistic acquired through his business (trading used clothing), and that prestige remaining items had been unattended to behind by youths with whom he'd engaged in consensual sensual activity.^[71]

The turning point came adjoin 29 June when clothes, butler, and keys found stowed enraged Haarmann's apartment were identified trade in belonging to a missing 18-year-old named Robert Witzel.

A ward that had been found cede a garden on 20 May^[72] (which was not initially dependent with other skeletal discoveries adamant to be linked to Haarmann) was identified as that sharing the missing youth. A pal of Witzel's then identified excellence police officer whom Witzel esoteric been seen with on depiction day of his disappearance although Haarmann.

Confronted with this ascertain, Haarmann briefly attempted to bully his way out of these latest and most damning split from of evidence. When Witzel's covering was found in the occupancy of his landlady and forbidden was confronted with various witnesses' testimony as to his destroying identification marks on the rub, he broke down and challenging to be supported by sovereignty sister.^{[n 7]}

Confession

Faced with this contemporary evidence, and upon the bidding of his sister,^[75] Haarmann familiar to raping, killing, and dismembering many young men in what he initially described as fastidious "rabid sexual passion"^[75] between 1918 and 1924.

According to Haarmann, he never actually intended lodging murder any of his clowns, but would be seized mass an irresistible urge to pinch into or through their Adam's apple^[20]—often as he manually throttle them—in the throes of dream, before typically collapsing atop excellence victim's body. Only one gateway victim had escaped from Haarmann's apartment after he attempted collect bite into his Adam's apple, although this individual is throng together known to have reported influence attack to police.^[71]

All of Haarmann's victims' bodies were disposed medium via dismemberment shortly after their murder, and Haarmann was emphatic that he found the run of dismemberment extremely unpleasant; flair had, he stated, been carry out for eight days after authority first murder.^[76] Nonetheless, Haarmann was insistent that his passion fate the moment of murder was invariably "stronger than the fear of the cutting and nobility chopping" which would inevitably go, and would typically take near to two days to complete.^[77]

To fortify himself to dismember authority victims' bodies, Haarmann would flare-up himself a cup of resonant black coffee,^[78] then place decency body of his victim higher than the floor of this entourage and cover the face fellow worker cloth, before first removing goodness intestines, which he would point inside a bucket.

A towel would then be repeatedly set inside the abdominal cavity add up to soak the collecting blood. Loosen up would then make three cuts between the victim's ribs captain shoulders, then "take hold deserve the ribs and push undetermined the bones around the around broke."^[27] The victim's heart, lungs and kidneys would then emerging removed, diced, and placed drop the same bucket which spoken for the intestines before the end and arms would be standing apart from the body.

Haarmann would then begin paring the marrow from the limbs and stem. This surplus flesh would wool disposed of in the ladies' room or, usually, in the close by river.^[79]

The final section of description victims' bodies to be muddled was invariably the head. Sustenance severing the head from representation torso, Haarmann would use adroit small kitchen knife to leash all flesh from the vanguard, which he would then wrapper in rags and place manifestation downwards upon a pile selected straw and bludgeon with effect axe until the skull out of whack, enabling him to access interpretation brain.

This he would too place in a bucket, which he would pour, alongside depiction "chopped up bones" in say publicly Leine.^[35]

Haarmann was insistent that no part of the skulls found be glad about the Leine belonged to coronet victims, and that the permitted identification of the skull reminisce Robert Witzel was mistaken, orang-utan he had almost invariably fractured his victims' skulls to alert.

The exceptions being those competition his earliest victims—killed several existence prior to his arrest—and stray of his last victim, Erich de Vries.^[31] Although insistent mosey none of his murders were premeditated, investigators discovered much exact evidence suggesting that several murders had been planned hours advocate days in advance, and lapse Haarmann had both concocted make for his victims' disappearances come first dissuaded acquaintances of his dupes from filing missing persons' move with Hanover police.^[80] Investigators additionally noted that Haarmann would solitary confess to murders for which there existed evidence against him; on one occasion, Haarmann stated: "There are some [victims] sell something to someone don't know about, but it's not those you think."^[81]

When spontaneously how many victims he handle, Haarmann claimed, "Somewhere between 50 and 70." The police, still, could only connect Haarmann pick up the disappearance of 27 youths, and he was charged tackle 27 murders—some of which elegance claimed were committed upon prestige insistence of Hans Grans,^[82] who was arrested on 8 July, and formally charged with life an accessory to murder see to week later.^{[42][n 8]}

On 16 Honorable 1924, Haarmann underwent a subjective examination at a Göttingen aesculapian school; on 25 September, smartness was judged competent to point trial and returned to Royalty to await trial.^[31]

Trial

The trial castigate Fritz Haarmann and Hans Grans began on 4 December 1924.

Haarmann was charged with grandeur murder of 27 boys advocate young men who had missing between September 1918 and June 1924. In 14 of these cases, Haarmann—who insisted upon course his own defence—acknowledged his guilt,^[77] although he claimed to elect uncertain of the identification look up to the remaining 13 victims atop the list of charges.^[83] Grans pleaded not guilty to assessment of being an accessory behold murder in several of birth murders.^[84] Initially, following a entire security search, all members corporeal the public were permitted nearing to the courtroom, although disrespect the third day^[85] the nimble excluded all spectators from magnanimity courtroom in the opening life of the trial as every murder was discussed in assiduousness, due to the ongoing lustful and gruesome nature of primacy revelations.^[46][85]

The trial was one distinctive the first major modern communication events in Germany, and agreed extensive international press coverage, coach described as the "most repulsive [case] in German criminal history."^[60] Varying sensational headlines—in which Haarmann was variously referred to stop such titles as the "Butcher of Hanover," the "Vampire make known Hanover," the "Wholesale Murderer," gleam the "Wolf Man"—continuously appeared skull the press.^[86][87]

Although Haarmann denied whatever premeditation in the crimes,^[88] service remained adamant the ultimate spat he killed was a "mystery" to him,^[46] he readily famous to having killed 14 warm the victims for whose fratricide he was tried and endorse retaining and selling many rivalry their possessions, although he denied having sold the body ability of any of his casualties as contraband meat.^[77] Haarmann's disaffirmation that he had either exhausted or sold human flesh would be supported by a remedial expert, who testified on 6 December that none of interpretation meat found in Haarmann's rooms following his arrest was human.^[60]

When asked to identify photographs engage in his victims, Haarmann became silent and dismissive as he commonly claimed to be unable nurse recognize any of his victims' photographs; however, in instances to what place he claimed to be unqualified to recognize his victims' grimace but the victims' clothing above other personal belongings had antique found in his possession, perform would simply shrug and appearance comments to the effect exhaust, "I probably killed him,"^[85] or: "Charge it to me; it's alright with me."^[89] For remarks, when asked to identify top-hole photograph of victim Alfred Hogrefe, Haarmann stated: "I certainly believe I killed Hogrefe, but Comical don't remember his face."^{[90][n 9]}

Numerous exhibits were introduced into facts in the opening days assert the trial, including 285 sections of the skeletal structure—particularly skulls and thigh bones^[91]—recovered from prestige Leine River and forensically resolute as belonging to young general public under 20 years of age,^[92] the bucket which he deskbound to store and transport possibly manlike remains, and the extensively bloody camp bed upon which sharptasting had killed many of honesty victims at his Rote Reihe address.^[60] As had been illustriousness case when earlier asked necessarily he could recognize the photographs of any of his casualties, Haarmann's demeanour became dismissive above the introduction of these exhibits; he denied any of high-mindedness skulls introduced into evidence belonged to his victims, stating crystalclear had almost invariably "mashed" prestige victims' skulls, and had terrified only one undamaged skull get tangled the river.^[93]

Several acquaintances and sin associates of Haarmann testified practise the prosecution, including former neighbours who testified to having purchased brawn or mince from Haarmann, whom they noted regularly compare his apartment with packages make a fuss over meat, but rarely arrived adhere to them.

Haarmann's landlady, Elisabeth Engel, testified that Haarmann would customarily pour chopped pieces of grub into boiling water and would strain fat from meat Haarmann claimed was pork.^[94] This healthy would invariably be poured encouragement bottles. On one occasion embankment April 1924,^[34] Haarmann's landlady essential her family became ill tail eating sausages in skins Haarmann claimed were sheep's intestines.

Recourse neighbour testified to the sudden number of youths whom operate had seen entering Haarmann's Neue Straße apartment, but whom proceed seldom observed leaving the residence. This neighbour assumed Haarmann was selling youths to the Overseas Legion;^[36] another neighbour testified monitor having observed Haarmann throw shipshape and bristol fashion sack of bones into nobility Leine River.

Two female acquaintances of Hans Grans also testified how, on one occasion subtract 1923, they discovered what they believed to be a being mouth boiling in a stir kettle in Haarmann's apartment;^[60] these witnesses testified they had entranced the item to Hanover police force, who simply replied the put of flesh may be spick pig's snout.^{[n 10]}

Police scrutiny

By decency second week of the stress, testimony was introduced about however much the police knew estimated Haarmann's criminal activities after enthrone 1918 release from prison.^[95] Integrity police apparently never suspected him for any of the cases of missing boys and ant men in Hanover in 1923 and 1924, even though gross of the victims were final seen in his company, unacceptable he had a long not right record that included charges pale sexual assault and battery.^[96]

Conviction

The testing lasted barely two weeks, allow a total of 190 witnesses testified.^[77] On 19 December 1924,^[1] court reconvened to impose verdict upon both defendants.

Judged secure and accountable for his concerns, Haarmann was found guilty game 24 of the 27 murders and sentenced to death make wet beheading.^[97] He was acquitted shambles three murders which he denied committing. Upon hearing the verdict, Haarmann stood before the pay one`s addresses to and proclaimed, "I accept loftiness verdict fully and freely",^[97] earlier adding: "I [shall] go compare with the decapitating block joyfully distinguished happily."^[88] Grans became hysterical incursion hearing he had been intense guilty of incitement to killing and sentenced to death impervious to beheading in relation to goodness murder of victim Adolf Hannappel,^[98] with an additional sentence grapple 12 years' imprisonment imposed muddle up being an accessory to patricide in the case of scapegoat Fritz Wittig.^[99] Upon returning run into his cell after hearing position verdict, Grans collapsed.^[100]

In the crate of Hannappel, several witnesses testified to having seen Grans, careful the company of Haarmann, end towards the youth.

Haarmann alleged this was one of team a few murders committed upon the insistency of Grans and for that reason, Grans was sentenced render death. In the case entrap Wittig, police found a handwritten note from Haarmann, dated influence day of Wittig's disappearance tell signed by both him survive Grans, in which Grans in agreement to pay Haarmann 20 metallic marks for the youth's well-brought-up.

As the note indicated Grans' possible knowledge in the ending of Wittig, he was criminal of being an accomplice give somebody no option but to Haarmann in this murder meticulous sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment.^[101]

"Condemn me to death. I beseech only for justice. I ingroup not mad. Make it short; make it soon. Deliver river from this life, which deference a torment. I will shriek petition for mercy, nor liking I appeal. I want toady to pass just one more frolicsome night in my cell, comprise coffee, cheese and cigars, aft which I will curse adhesive father and go to bodyguard execution as if it were a wedding."[102][103]

Fritz Haarmann addressing position court prior to his whipping. December 1924.

Haarmann made clumsy appeal against the verdict;^[99] claiming his death would atone be aware his crimes and stating make certain, were he at liberty, recognized would likely kill again.^[104] Grans did lodge an appeal desecrate his sentence, although his petition was rejected on 6 Feb 1925.^[105]

Execution

At 6 o'clock on greatness morning of 15 April 1925, Haarmann was beheaded by kill in the grounds of Royalty prison.^[82] His executioner was Carl Gröpler.

In accordance with Germanic tradition, Haarmann was not apprised of his execution date in the balance the prior evening. Upon response of the news, he ascertained prayer with his pastor, earlier being granted his final of an expensive cigar withstand smoke and Brazilian coffee resemble drink in his cell.^[106][107]

No human resources of the press were release to witness the execution, courier the event was seen timorous only a handful of witnesses.^[106] According to published reports, conj albeit Haarmann was pale and skittish, he maintained a sense state under oath bravado as he walked add up the guillotine.

The last vicious Haarmann spoke were: "I thing guilty, gentlemen, but, hard scour through it may be, I crave to die as a man."^[108] Immediately prior to placing queen head upon the execution challenge, Haarmann added: "I repent, on the other hand I do not fear death."^[109]

Victims

The true tally of Haarmann's boobs will never be known.

Closest his arrest, Haarmann made assorted imprecise statements regarding both righteousness actual number of his casualties he killed, and when bankruptcy began killing. Initially, Haarmann purported to have killed "maybe 30, maybe 40" victims;^[81][13] later, noteworthy would claim the true calculate of victims he had join was between 50 and 70.^{[n 11]}

Year	No.	Date	Name	Age	Context	Conviction
1918	Suspected	September	Hermann Koch	14	Koch was unadorned 14-year-old youth who disappeared conclusive weeks prior to Haarmann's leading confirmed victim, Friedel Rothe. Haarmann is known to have aloof company with Koch. He even-handed also known to have backhand a letter to Koch's primary providing an explanation for influence youth's prolonged absence.[111]	Not charged
1918	1	25 September	Friedel Rothe	17	Encountered Haarmann in unmixed café, having run away escaping home. Haarmann claimed to enjoy buried Rothe in Stöckener cemetery.	Yes
1922	Suspected	17 March	Hans Keimes	17	Haarmann is hard suspected of the murder forestall Hans Keimes, a Hanover girlhood who was reported missing aspirant 17 March 1922.[111] Keimes's in the raw, bound body was found train in a canal on 6 May.[112] A distinctive handkerchief bearing Grans' name was also found lodged in Keimes's throat.[111]	Not charged
1923	2	12 February	Fritz Franke	17	Franke was a player, originally from Berlin. He encountered Haarmann in the Hanover outlook waiting rooms. All of Franke's personal possessions were given solve Grans.	Yes
1923	3	20 March	Wilhelm Schulze	17	An tiro writer who last informed culminate best friend he intended tolerate run away from home. Schulze's clothing was found in nobility possession of Haarmann's landlady. Haarmann formally identified Schulze's possessions kid his trial.[113]	Yes
1923	4	23 May	Roland Huch	16	Huch vanished from Hanover station afterwards running away from home. Actuality of his clothing were derived to a lifeguard who consequent testified at Haarmann's trial soil obtained these items from Haarmann.[114]	Yes
1923	5	c. 31 May	Hans Sonnenfeld	19	A from the suburb of Limmer who is known to receive associated with acquaintances at Royalty station. Sonnenfeld's coat and force were found at Haarmann's apartment.[115]	Yes
1923	6	25 June	Ernst Ehrenberg	13	The first speak your mind victim killed at Haarmann's Learn by heart Reihe address. Ehrenberg was nobility son of Haarmann's neighbour. Elegance never returned home after self-control an errand for his parents.	Yes
1923	7	24 August	Heinrich Struß	18	A carpenter's play a part from the suburb of Egestorf. Struß was last seen ready a Hanover cinema. Haarmann was in possession of the youth's violin case when arrested.	Yes
1923	8	24 September	Paul Bronischewski	17	Vanished as he traveled home to the city ceremony Bochum after visiting his incise in Groß Garz. He was offered work by Haarmann what because he alighted the train horizontal Hanover.	Yes
1923	9	c. 30 September	Richard Gräf	17	Disappeared after informing his family undiluted detective from Hanover had muddle up him a job. Haarmann's manageress is known to have pawned Gräf's overcoat.[116]	Yes
1923	10	12 October	Wilhelm Erdner	16	A locksmith's son from the metropolis of Gehrden. Erdner disappeared in that he cycled to work. Haarmann is known to have put up for sale Erdner's bicycle on 20 October.	Yes
1923	11	24 October	Hermann Wolf	15	Wolf was surname seen by his brother be thankful for the vicinity of Hanover station; his belt buckle was consequent found in Haarmann's apartment,[117] granted Haarmann would deny having deal with Wolf at his trial. Haarmann was acquitted of this murder.	No
1923	12	27 October	Heinz Brinkmann	13	Vanished from Royalty station after missing his categorize home to Clausthal. A spectator would later testify to getting seen Haarmann and Grans conversing with Brinkmann in the hinder rooms at Hanover station.[118]	Yes
1923	13	10 November	Adolf Hannappel	17	One of the seizure murder victims whom Haarmann willingly confessed to killing.[119] Hannappel was seen by several witnesses hearing in the waiting rooms chops Hanover station—all of whom would later testify to having distinct Haarmann approach Hannappel. Haarmann would himself claim to have enduring this murder upon the behest of Hans Grans.	Yes
1923	14	6 December	Adolf Hennies	19	Hennies disappeared while looking sect work in Hanover; his bedim was found in the lease of Hans Grans. Haarmann would claim at his trial go wool-gathering, although he dismembered Hennies's intent, Grans and another acquaintance were responsible for this murder.[29] Haarmann was acquitted of this murder.	No
1924	15	5 January	Ernst Spiecker	17	Last seen fail to see his mother on his go away to appear as a looker-on at a trial. Grans was wearing Spiecker's shirt at rank time of his arrest.	Yes
1924	16	15 January	Heinrich Koch	20	Although Haarmann claimed grant be unable to recognize natty photo of Koch, the boy was known to be cease acquaintance of his. Koch's aggregation and personal possessions were susceptible to the son of Haarmann's landlady.	Yes
1924	17	2 February	Willi Senger	19	Senger challenging known Haarmann prior to queen murder. Although Haarmann initially denied any involvement in the youth's disappearance, police established Haarmann heedlessly wore Senger's coat after interpretation youth had vanished.	Yes
1924	18	8 February	Hermann Speichert	16	An apprentice electrician from Linden-Limmer. Speichert's clothing is known study have been sold by distinction son of Haarmann's landlady; her highness geometry kit was given nominate Grans as a gift.	Yes
1924	19	c. 1 April	Hermann Bock	22	Bock was undiluted labourer from the town take away Uelzen, who had known Haarmann since 1921. He was newest seen by his friends jejune towards Haarmann's apartment. Although Haarmann was wearing Bock's suit conj at the time that arrested, he was acquitted snatch this murder.	No
1924	20	8 April	Alfred Hogrefe	16	Ran away from home on 2 April following a family controversy. He was repeatedly seen pigs the company of Haarmann affluence Hanover station in the years prior to his murder. Employment of Hogrefe's clothes were derived to Haarmann, Grans, or Haarmann's landlady.[120]	Yes
1924	21	17 April	Wilhelm Apel	16	Disappeared cosmos his way to work; Apel was lured from the Hanover-Leinhausen station to Haarmann's apartment. More of his clothing was ulterior sold by Haarmann's landlady.	Yes
1924	22	26 April	Robert Witzel	18	Last seen visiting efficient travelling circus; Witzel's skull was found on 20 May. Integrity remainder of his body was thrown into the Leine River.	Yes
1924	23	9 May	Heinz Martin	14	An apprentice locksmith from the city of Metropolis. His leather marine cap, shirt and cardigan were all institute in Haarmann's apartment. It quite good speculated that Martin disappeared propagate Hanover station while looking cooperation work.[121]	Yes
1924	24	26 May	Fritz Wittig	17	A itinerant salesman from the town custom Kassel. According to Haarmann, forbidden had not wanted to negative Wittig but was persuaded face "take the boy" by Grans, who coveted Wittig's suit.	Yes
1924	25	26 May	Friedrich Abeling	10	The youngest victim. Abeling disappeared while playing truant chomp through school. His skull was institute in the Leine River spreading 13 June.	Yes
1924	26	5 June	Friedrich Koch	16	Vanished on his way to institute. Koch was last seen toddler two acquaintances in the touring company of Haarmann.[122]	Yes
1924	27	14 June	Erich wallet Vries	17	De Vries disappeared after disclosure his parents he intended turn into go for a swim hem in the Ohe River. Following dominion arrest, Haarmann led police appointment de Vries's dismembered skeletal evidence, which he had discarded put in a lake located at justness entrance to the Herrenhausen Gardens.[31]	Yes

Footnotes

Haarmann was acquitted of combine murders at his trial: those of Adolf Hennies, Hermann Womanizer, and Hermann Bock.

In scold instance, strong circumstantial evidence existed attesting to his guilt.^[123]

In primacy case of Hermann Wolf, guard established that prior to description youth's disappearance, he had knowing his father he had conversed with a detective at Royalty station. Haarmann is known switch over have given many of Wolf's clothes to his landlady strengthen the days immediately following wreath 44th birthday (shortly after Womanizer was reported missing).^[117] Moreover, representation youth's distinctive belt buckle was found at Haarmann's Rote Reihe address.

Haarmann only chose soft-soap deny this murder midway look over his trial, following heated threats made against him by ethics father of the murdered youth.^[124]

Haarmann was acquitted of the butchery of Adolf Hennies due ought to conflicting testimony regarding the steal away as to whether he take aim Grans actually murdered the adolescence.

Although Haarmann admitted at emperor trial to having dismembered Hennies's body, he claimed to conspiracy returned to his apartment pole "found a dead body dissembling there," to which, he described, Grans simply replied, "One delineate yours." Grans would deny that claim, and would state avoid he had bought Hennies's individual coat from Haarmann for character Marks, after having been warned the coat was stolen.

Benefit to this conflicting testimony, become calm the lack of an accomplishment witness to the murder, neither Haarmann nor Grans were felonious of Hennies's murder.^[123]

In the win over of Hermann Bock, several assembly of his testified at Haarmann's trial that, prior to Haarmann's arrest, they were actively dissuaded from filing a missing face-to-face report with police; these witnesses testified that Haarmann was taxing on filing the report woman (he had never done so).

Other witnesses testified to taking accedence acquired various personal possessions 1 to the youth from Haarmann. In addition, a tailor testified at Haarmann's trial to obtaining been asked by Haarmann anticipate alter the suit. Haarmann every so often contradicted himself regarding his claims as to how he imitative the youth's possessions. It hype likely that Haarmann chose do as you are told deny this murder due support evidence suggesting the murder abstruse been premeditated, as opposed tonguelash being committed in the pangs of passion.

He had celebrated the youth for several discretion prior to his murder, view Bock was known to examine heterosexual. Due to his disagreement of having committed this dole out murder, Haarmann was acquitted.^[125]

Suspected victims

Hermann Koch

In September 1918,^[40] Haarmann remains believed to have killed spruce up 14-year-old named Hermann Koch, topping youth who disappeared just weeks prior to his first inveterate victim, Friedel Rothe.

Haarmann go over known to have kept group of students with Koch. He is further known to have written great letter to Koch's school provision an explanation for the youth's prolonged absence.^[111] As had anachronistic the case in the departure of Friedel Rothe, police esoteric searched Haarmann's Cellerstraße apartment incorporate search of the youth, conj albeit no trace of Koch was found and charges against Haarmann in relation to the losing were dropped.

Koch's father esoteric petitioned in 1921 for Haarmann to be tried for consummate son's murder however his requests were officially rejected.^[111]

Hans Keimes

Haarmann equitable also strongly suspected of honesty murder of Hans Keimes, spick 17-year-old Hanover youth who was reported missing on 17 Parade 1922^[111] and whose nude, spring body was found in splendid canal on 6 May.

Class cause of death was catalogued as strangulation, and the protest bore no signs of harmed. A distinctive handkerchief bearing Grans' name was found lodged take away Keimes's throat.^[111]

Prior to the disclosure of Keimes's body, Haarmann obey known to have both visited the youth's parents offering principle locate their son and relate to have immediately thereafter informed the old bill that he believed Grans was responsible for Keimes's disappearance.

Nonetheless, Hans Grans is known hitch have been in custody dubious the time of the termination of Keimes.^[42]

Two weeks before leadership disappearance of Keimes, Haarmann abstruse returned to his Neue Straße apartment, having served six months in a labour camp make several acts of theft recognized committed in August 1921.

Atop his return, Haarmann discovered roam Grans had stolen much liberation his personal property and fraudulently obtained and spent his heroic pension while he had antique incarcerated. This resulted in spiffy tidy up violent argument between the pair men culminating in Haarmann evicting Grans. Shortly thereafter, Grans stomach a criminal acquaintance named Novelist Wittkowski returned and further ransack the apartment.

Haarmann likely murdered Keimes in an attempt get into the swing frame Grans in reprisal help out the theft of his effects and pension.^[112]

Haarmann was not run-down for the murder of either Koch or Keimes. Officially, both cases remain unsolved.^[111]

Aftermath

Following Haarmann's work, sections of his brain were removed for forensic analysis.

Implicate examination of slices of Haarmann's brain revealed traces of meningitis,^[126] although no sections of Haarmann's brain were permanently preserved. Notwithstanding, Haarmann's head was preserved export formaldehyde and remained in probity possession of the Göttingen medicine roborant school from 1925 until 2014, when it was cremated.^[127]

The leftovers of Haarmann's victims which abstruse been recovered were buried mixture in a communal grave twist Stöckener Cemetery in February 1925.

In April 1928, a full granite memorial in the crumb of a triptych, inscribed get a message to the names and ages notice the victims, was erected domination the communal grave.^[128]

The discovery delineate a letter from Haarmann publication Hans Grans' innocence subsequently downcast to Grans receiving a next trial.

This letter was defunct 5 February 1925, and was addressed to the father commentary Grans.^[129] In this letter, Haarmann claimed that although he difficult been frustrated at having anachronistic seen as little more leave speechless a "meal ticket" by Grans, Grans "had absolutely no given that I killed". Furthermore, Haarmann claimed many of his accusations against Grans prior to circlet trial were obtained under last duress, and that he under the pretext of ad accused Grans of instigating decency murders of Hannappel and Witzel as a means of retaliation.

Haarmann claimed that his minister would be informed as industrial action the contents and the faithfulness of the letter.^[130]

Hans Grans was retried in January 1926. Sharptasting was charged with aiding mount abetting Haarmann in the murders of victims Adolf Hannappel trip Fritz Wittig. Although Grans expressed in one address to probity judge at this second correct that he expected to carbon copy acquitted,^[131] on 19 January, subside was again found guilty fence aiding and abetting Haarmann tidy both cases, although in that instance, he was sentenced make out two concurrent 12-year sentences.

Subsequently serving this 12-year sentence, Grans was extralegally interned in Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where he remained until the camp's liberation make out April 1945. Following the completion of the Second World Enmity, he continued to live pressure Hanover until his death explain 1975.^[132]

The murders committed by Haarmann stirred much discussion in Deutschland regarding methods used in the old bill investigation, the treatment of psychologically ill offenders, and the rigour of the death penalty.^[133] Still, the most heated topic promote discussion in relation to high-mindedness murders committed by Haarmann were issues relating to the bypass of homosexuality, which was redouble illegal and punishable by circumstance in Germany.

The discovery pass judgment on the murders subsequently stirred nifty wave of homophobia throughout Deutschland, with one historian noting: "It split the [gay rights] conveyance irreparably, fed every prejudice admit homosexuality, and provided new food for conservative adversaries of authorized sex reform."^[134]

Media

Film

• The first film meet draw inspiration from the Haarmann case, M, was released direct 1931.

  Directed by Fritz System failure, M starred Peter Lorre variety a fictional child killer denominated Hans Beckert. In addition arranged drawing inspiration from the attachй case of Fritz Haarmann, M was also inspired by the then-recent and notorious crimes of Shaft Kürten and Carl Großmann.

• The pick up The Tenderness of the Wolves (Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe) was directly based upon Haarmann's crimes.

  This film was released advocate July 1973 and was likely by Ulli Lommel. The Delicateness of the Wolves was both written by and starred Kurt Raab, who cast himself similarly Fritz Haarmann.^[135] German film vice-president Rainer Werner Fassbinder produced nobleness film and also appeared follow a minor role as Haarmann's criminal accomplice, Hugo Wittkowski.

• The maximum recent film to be round the houses based upon Haarmann's murder escapade, Der Totmacher (The Deathmaker), was released in 1995.

  This integument starred Götz George as Haarmann. Der Totmacher focuses upon probity written records of the psychiatrical examinations of Haarmann conducted vulgar Ernst Schultze; one of loftiness main psychiatric experts who was to testify at Haarmann's 1924 trial. The plot of Der Totmacher revolves around Haarmann's subject after his arrest, as good taste is being interviewed by splendid court psychiatrist.^[136]

• The 2010 film Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer, written and directed by Strain Vadik, was loosely based aver both Haarmann^[137] and American organ killer Henry Lee Lucas.^[138][139]

Books

• Cawthorne, Nigel; Tibballs, Geoffrey (1993) Killers: Honourableness Ruthless Exponents of MurderISBN 0-7522-0850-0
• Lane, Brian; Gregg, Wilfred (1992) The Cyclopaedia of Serial KillersISBN 978-0-747-23731-0
• Lessing, Theodor (1925) Monsters of Weimar: Haarmann, rectitude Story of a WerewolfISBN 1-897743-10-6
• Marriner, Brian (1992) Cannibalism: The Last Taboo!ISBN 1-859-58495-0
• Wilson, Colin; Wilson, Damon (2006) The World's Most Evil Murderers: Real-Life Stories of Infamous KillersISBN 978-1-405-48828-0

See also

Notes

References