Hans Vollenweider
Encyclopedia
Hans Vollenweider was a Swiss criminal. He was the last person to be sentenced to death by a civil court in Switzerland
and executed shortly after.
Vollenweider was born in Zurich
. In 1936, he committed a bank robbery and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Because he was still considered dangerous, he remaind locked up longer. One day he is able to escape. After nine days he is taken on 23 June 1939. In these nine days, he had shot the driver Hermann Zwyssig, the postman Emil Stoll and the policeman Alois von Moos. After living in several prisons in different cantons, the cantonal court of Obwalden
sentenced him to death on 19 September 1940. Appeal and request clemency were rejected. In view of the fact that the abolition of the death penalty in Switzerland was already decided for 1 January 1942, the judging was controversial.
One month later, on the morning of 18 October 1940, Hans Vollenweider was executed in Sarnen
in the workshop of the prison with a guillotine
borrowed from Lucerne
. The offender refused last words and last meal as well as spiritual support.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and executed shortly after.
Vollenweider was born in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. In 1936, he committed a bank robbery and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. Because he was still considered dangerous, he remaind locked up longer. One day he is able to escape. After nine days he is taken on 23 June 1939. In these nine days, he had shot the driver Hermann Zwyssig, the postman Emil Stoll and the policeman Alois von Moos. After living in several prisons in different cantons, the cantonal court of Obwalden
Obwalden
Obwalden is a canton of Switzerland. It is located in the centre of Switzerland. The population is 33,997 of which 4,043 are foreigners. Its capital is Sarnen. The canton contains the geographical centre of Switzerland.-History:...
sentenced him to death on 19 September 1940. Appeal and request clemency were rejected. In view of the fact that the abolition of the death penalty in Switzerland was already decided for 1 January 1942, the judging was controversial.
One month later, on the morning of 18 October 1940, Hans Vollenweider was executed in Sarnen
Sarnen
Sarnen is the capital of the canton of Obwalden situated on the shores of Lake Sarnen , Switzerland. It has a population of just under 10,000 and is surrounded by countryside and mountains. Sarnen is located 20 km south of Lucerne.- History :...
in the workshop of the prison with a guillotine
Guillotine
The guillotine is a device used for carrying out :executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which an angled blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the head from the body...
borrowed from Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
. The offender refused last words and last meal as well as spiritual support.