Johann Reichhart executed 3,165 people throughout Germany and at times in Austria and Hungary. The executioner from the Upper Palatinate executed political opponents, criminals, “pests” and resistance fighters – including the siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl.
During the 1920s, Johann Reichhart's execution was not particularly profitable; at the turn of the decade, he complained about not enough orders. When Germany surrendered in 1945, Reichhart was initially confronted with serious accusations from the victorious powers - they called him a murderer, a Nazi, a bastard. He was convicted, but because of poor health - he was almost beaten to death by Nazis in the internment hospital – he was spared the labor camp. His son Hans committed suicide in 1950, keeping himself afloat by breeding dogs and producing tonic and perfume. After a temporary stay in a temporary mental hospital, he finally died in a care facility in Dorfen, near Regensburg. You can find more news in our brand new brand new news brand Merkurkur.