Fritz Haarmann

Fritz Haarmann
Mug shot of Fritz Haarmann, taken after his arrest in June 1924
Born	Friedrich Heinrich Karl Haarmann 25 October 1879 Hanover, German Empire
Died	15 April 1925(1925-04-15) (aged 45) Hanover, Weimar Republic
Cause of death	Decapitation by guillotine
Other names	The Butcher of Hanover The Wolf Man The Vampire of Hanover
Criminal charge	27 murders
Criminal penalty	Death
Conviction(s)	24 murders
Killings
Victims	24-27+
Span of killings	25 September 1918–14 June 1924
Country	Germany
State(s)	Province of Hanover, Prussia
Date apprehended	22 June 1924

Friedrich Heinrich Karl "Fritz" Haarmann (25 October 1879 – 15 April 1925) was a German serial killer, known as the Butcher of Hanover and the Vampire of Hanover, who committed the sexual assault, murder, mutilation and dismemberment of a minimum of 24 boys and young men between 1918 and 1924 in Hanover, Germany.

Described by the judge at his trial as being "forever degraded as a citizen," Haarmann was found guilty of 24 of the 27 murders for which he was tried and sentenced to death by beheading in December 1924. He was subsequently executed in April 1925.

Haarmann became known as the Butcher of Hanover (German: Der Schlächter von Hannover) due to the extensive mutilation and dismemberment committed upon his victims' bodies and by such titles as the Vampire of Hanover (der Vampir von Hannover) and the Wolf Man (Wolfsmensch) because of his preferred murder method of biting into or through his victims' throats.

Friedrich Heinrich Karl "Fritz" Haarmann was born in Hanover on 25 October 1879, the sixth and youngest child born to Johanna (née Claudius) and Ollie Haarmann. Haarmann's father had little time for his children, whereas his mother spoiled her youngest child.

Reportedly, Haarmann's father had married his mother (who was seven years his senior) on account of her wealth. Haarmann Sr. was known to be an argumentative, short-tempered individual who conducted several affairs throughout the duration of his marriage. From his early childhood, Fritz developed a bitter hatred and rivalry towards his father, which would continue until his father's death in 1921.

Fritz was a quiet child, with few friends his own age or gender and who seldom socialized with any children other than his siblings outside of school. From an early age, Haarmann's behavior was noticeably effeminate: he was known to shun boys' activities and instead play with his sisters' dolls and dress in their clothes. He also developed a passion for both needlework and cookery.