1941: Josef Jakobs, the last executed in the Tower of London

ExecutedToday.com ^ | April 15, 2020 | Headsman

[CheshireTheCat]

In its day, the Tower of London has seen off with many an illustrious head.*

Its last use as an execution grounds occurred, all but invisibly, on this date in 1941, with the shooting of German spy Josef Jakobs.

It’s safe to say that Jakobs won’t be competing with Anne Boleyn in the book sales department any time soon. He was, truth be told, barely a spy at all: parachuted into Huntingdonshire on January 31, 1941 with intent to reconnoiter, the guy was observed in his descent by (undoubtedly excited) local defense volunteers. They raced to the landing point but needn’t have: Jakobs was practically immobile, having broken his ankle upon landing. So that was the end of the espionage mission.

[TexasGator]

“was observed in his descent by (undoubtedly excited) local defense volunteers. They raced to the landing point but needn’t have: “

According to several sources he spent the night in a field and fired his pistol which was heard by the local farmers that then ‘captured’ him.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

I always thought it was a bit harsh shooting people like this. They were soldiers just the same as the ones who fought in uniform, just of a different sort. I had no issue with executing one’s own citizens who sided with the enemy because they committed the crime of treason.