Execution By Beheading

One of the most ancient and effective methods of execution involved decapitating the victims. It has been used since before recorded history so we're not even sure how long it's been going on.


Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:10 Decapitation In Antiquity
05:34 Mechanical Assistance
10:27 Modern Efficiency
14:58 Can They Feel It?
18:52 Conclusion

We begin this episode with a brief exploration into how decapitation was used in antiquity. Perhaps the oldest archaeological evidence of beheading comes from Brazil. Skulls from 9,000 years ago show it was often done after victims were killed. But evidence from these sites, as well as Egyptian writings on the Narmer Palette, show that enemy soldiers were often subjected to this fate as well. Cultures all over the world like to cut the heads off their victims then display them as trophies.


Next we move on to the creation of mechanical devices that decapitate victims. The earliest example is the Halifax Gibbet, found in England around 1210. Scotland also had their version called the Scottish Maiden. And Italy had an early version known as the Italian Mannaia. However, it was the French who really moved forward technology with the invention of the Guillotine. It began service in 1792 and continued being used in France until 1977. The desire to create this device was driven at least partially by sloppy executions in Europe using axes and swords. The executions of Margaret Pole and Mary Queen Of Scots are given as two examples.


During World War Two, Nazi Germany also used guillotines. They preferred to use them mostly on Germans who needed to be killed. One example is from 1943. The White Rose movement began in Germany and offered peaceful resistance to the Nazi ideals. One of the leaders was 21 year old Sophie Scholl. She was arrested along with her broth Hans and their friend Christoph Probst. After a short trial they were all beheaded with the guillotine. Executioner Johann Reichhart said Sophie was the bravest person he ever executed.


Finally we end the episode by exploring whether people can feel it when their heads are cut off. A French doctor in 1905 tried to answer this by slapping the fact of prisoner Henri Languille after his head was removed. Dutch researchers tried a better approach in 2011. They attached electrodes to the brains of rats and monitored what happened as the rats were decapitated.


However you feel about this method of execution it is all over within a few seconds, provided it is done correctly.


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Finally, we used third party images and video while making this episode. These were used under creative commons and/or free use. The original versions of these images and videos can be found using the links below:


Rare Japanese sword documentary footage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQ6HJf70fzQ

Picture of Halifax Gibbet:
By Paul Glazzard, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12556074

Picture of Scottish Maiden:
By Kim Traynor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15894336

The French Revolution Documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzdQATayq1Y

Picture of guillotine:
By Christian Ries - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8033650

Picture of Hans Scholl:
By stadtarchiv-crailsheim.de, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58900954

Picture of Christoph Probst:
By gdw-berlin.de, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58916181

Picture of Hamida Djandoubi:
By Unknown - Original publication: UnknownImmediate source: https://murderpedia.org/male.D/d/djandoubi-photos.htm, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64135084