Begin of witch-hunt
* Toward in the end of the 15. century in Germany
* came from France
* The first witch was burned in 1275 in Toulous

vitims of persecution
· all people
· no different of male or female
· no differnet to the stractum of society(Gesellschaftsschichten)
for example:
· Dr. Georg Hahn: chancellor(Kanzler) of Bamberg; was tortoured and burned in 1626 with his housewife and doughter; five mayors were executed, because of the confessions(Geständnisse) from Georg Hahn
· Dietrich Flade: an influential man; because of the political background he died by hanging und burning in 1589
· Else Gwinner: baker’s wife from Offenbach;1601 death by hanging; as well some members of the family too; her mother was burned in 1597
· Chatrin Blankenstein: died 1676 of the base of a death from a neighbour child, because he tried the marmalade of Chatrin; than some cats and rabbits were seen in front of her house; in 1689 her doughter was executed and burned alive
· Witch from Eichstätt: 40 years old; famer’s wife; she was tortoured 2 week and died in 1637
· Agrippa von Nettesheim(Heinrich Cornelius): adventurer-alchemist-doctor; escaped the executio

Who were the hunter
Two main books:
1. Summis desiderantes affectibus ( Hexenbulle)
*written by Pope INNOZENZ VIII; appeared in 1484; the contence: to boost the reputation of the inquisition and to made a campaign against all executed witches
2. Malleus malleficarum (Hexenhammer), appeared in 1484
*written by Heinrich Kramer (Institoris, 1430 – 1505) and Jakob Sprenger (1436 – 1495)
Contence:
1 part: Why is witchcraft the same as heresy(Kätzerei)?
2.part: Different typs and effects of Witchcraft; accurate describtion of practics, sabbats and the devil’s work
3.part:Describte the management of case, methodes of tortoure,verdict and penalty.

This book kept 200 years the status to be the leading source and were used by protestant court, too!!!

Some people, who were against the witchcraft:
· under bishop Gottfried Johann Georg II of Bamberg; 1623 until 1633 - 600 people were burned as witches; he builted special jails with tortur-chambers
· 900 people were burned under the bishop Philipp von Ehrenberg of Würzburg in the same time(1623-1633); the witch-hunt calmed down, as the heir(Erbe) Ernst von Ehrenberg was executed himself
· Heinrich von Schultheis: witch-judge; study the history of demon;
1634 appeared his book: „eine außführliche Instruction Wie in Inquisition Sachen des Grewlichen Lasters der Zauberey ohn gefahr der Unschueldien zu procedieren“;
this book was the most horrible skript of all times
* Ferdinand von Wittelsbach (1577-1650), prince-bishop of Kurköln; area with ca. 2000 victims in base of the Malefiz.

Methodes to identify who was a witch:
°Nadelprobe( to find birthmark or liverspot(Muttermal,Leberfleck)these are symbol of the devil; they were pricked with prepared needles, if no blood run out than the person was decleared as a witch.)
°Schwemmen(to tie up the person and thrown him/her into the water; if the person drown than she/he wasn’t a witch.
°Hand auf glühendes Eisen( to put the hand on the red hot iron;if they pullaway the hand than he/she was a witch.
°Vater unser aufsagen(to pry the lord’s prayer;if the person stuttered than the person was a witch)

Torture-methodes
In fact of Hexenhammer it was offical aloud to use tortur to got confessions that the witches are in alliance with the devil and to got other names from witches.
The witches have the oppurtinity to confess their fallacy (Irrtum).
It gaves 3 steps of torture:
1.step:-to undress; to tie up(fesseln); to hit; salty meals; no water; rape(vergewaltigen);to flog(auspeitschen); to show the tortureinstruments
2.step:
*Beinschrauben( laid around the ankle and were turned tight what crushed the ankles)
*Daumenschrauben( the same like Beinschrauben; but this can tip out the thump)
*Leiter( to strech somebody)
*Spanische Stiefel(2 vices(Schraubstöcke) which the lower legs holded and crushed)
*glühende Zangen( princers in the fire and put it in the armpit and the groin)
3.step:
-tick off the limb (abhacken von Gliedmaßen);
-swallow the knot rope and rip out this(Schlucken von verknoteten Seilen und heftigem rausziehen dieses Seils);
-to put sombody in hot wax;
-to rip out the breast with red-hot princers (Zereißen der Brüste mit glühender Zange);
-Streching until the dead

The end of this torture was the verdict and that end was death by burnning and hanging!!!

End of the dark epoch
In Germany were the last woman as a witch beheaded und burned in 1775(11.april). Her name was Anna Maria Schwägel. She was a maid and came from Kempten.

As well the enlightenment(Die Aufklärung) was comming. The people became more tolerant.

©Jennifer Hofer