Peter Kürten
Serial Murder / Sexual Assault
Düsseldorf, Germany
German
1929–1930
Capital Execution
EXECUTED (1931)
Peter Kürten, widely known as “The Vampire of Düsseldorf,” was a German serial killer responsible for a series of brutal murders and sexual assaults in Düsseldorf during the late 1920s. His crimes were characterized by extreme sadism and depravity.
After being captured in 1930, he confessed to numerous crimes. He was sentenced to death and executed by guillotine in Cologne on July 2, 1931.
For his final meal, Kürten made a specific request, which he reportedly consumed with notable enthusiasm:
- Wiener Schnitzel
- Fried potatoes
- A bottle of white wine
Before his execution, Kürten remained infamous for his detachment. His last recorded words were: “Tell me, after my head is chopped off, will I still be able to hear, at least for a moment, the sound of my own blood gushing from my neck? That would be the greatest pleasure to end all pleasures.”
