| Irma Grese |
A Lashing Bonnie-lass
Irma Grese was probably the most notable
SS-concentration camp officer. She whipped her
prisoners to death for her sexual pleasure.
She was a beautiful angel of death. She was a 21 years
old blond bonniegirl with blue eyes. She walked proudly
around in the camp wearing heavy boots and always
holding a riding whip in her hand.
At the Nurnberg trial she was condemned to be hanged
by her neck until death.
On December 12, 1945 Irma Ilse Ida Grese was taken to
the gallows to meet the famous British executioner Albert
Pierrepoint.
Irma Grese was probably the most notable
SS-concentration camp officer. She whipped her
prisoners to death for her sexual pleasure.
She was a beautiful angel of death. She was a 21 years
old blond bonniegirl with blue eyes. She walked proudly
around in the camp wearing heavy boots and always
holding a riding whip in her hand.
At the Nurnberg trial she was condemned to be hanged
by her neck until death.
On December 12, 1945 Irma Ilse Ida Grese was taken to
the gallows to meet the famous British executioner Albert
Pierrepoint.
In his memoires, Pierrepoint describes her
execution:
She walked out of her cell and came towards us
laughing. She seemed as bonny a girl as one
could ever wish to meet. She answered O'Neil's
questions, but when he asked her age she paused
and smiled. I found that we were both smiling
with her, as if we realised the conventional
embarrassment of a woman revealing her age.
Eventually she said "twenty-one", which we
knew to be corect. -- O'Neil asked her to step on
to the scales. "Schnell!" she said - "Quick, get it
over."
--------------------------------------------------------
Irma Grese stepped out. The cell was far too
small for me to go inside, and I had to pinion
her in the corridor. "Follow me", I said in
English, and O'Neil repeated the order in
German. She walked into the execution chamber,
gazed for a moment at the oficials standing
around it, then walked on to the centre of the
trap, where I had made a chalk mark. She stood
on this mark very firmly, and as I placed the
white cap over her head she said in her languid
voice "Schnell". The drop crashed down, and
the doctor followed me into the pit and
pronounced her dead. After twenty minutes the
body was taken down and placed in a coffin
ready for burial.
Irma was declared dead at 9:34 a.m. Her body
was stripped down to the rubber pants, that all
women had to wear to their executions. These
pants were left untouched, allowing Irma to
keep her female and probably moist secret.
execution:
She walked out of her cell and came towards us
laughing. She seemed as bonny a girl as one
could ever wish to meet. She answered O'Neil's
questions, but when he asked her age she paused
and smiled. I found that we were both smiling
with her, as if we realised the conventional
embarrassment of a woman revealing her age.
Eventually she said "twenty-one", which we
knew to be corect. -- O'Neil asked her to step on
to the scales. "Schnell!" she said - "Quick, get it
over."
--------------------------------------------------------
Irma Grese stepped out. The cell was far too
small for me to go inside, and I had to pinion
her in the corridor. "Follow me", I said in
English, and O'Neil repeated the order in
German. She walked into the execution chamber,
gazed for a moment at the oficials standing
around it, then walked on to the centre of the
trap, where I had made a chalk mark. She stood
on this mark very firmly, and as I placed the
white cap over her head she said in her languid
voice "Schnell". The drop crashed down, and
the doctor followed me into the pit and
pronounced her dead. After twenty minutes the
body was taken down and placed in a coffin
ready for burial.
Irma was declared dead at 9:34 a.m. Her body
was stripped down to the rubber pants, that all
women had to wear to their executions. These
pants were left untouched, allowing Irma to
keep her female and probably moist secret.
Pierrepoint never forgot Irma. As he slipped
the noose around her neck and pulled the hood
down over her face she gave him an
"enigmatic smile" which haunted him for the
rest of his life.
Two of the most devoted executioners had met!
the noose around her neck and pulled the hood
down over her face she gave him an
"enigmatic smile" which haunted him for the
rest of his life.
Two of the most devoted executioners had met!
While Irma was resting in her coffin
only wearing the rubber pants, the
property she left in the prison was
listed:
cash: 439.65 Reichmark
1 bank account on 4,391.57
Reichmark
6 rings made of yellow metal
1 suspender with leather straps
1 raincoat
3 shirts
2 pyjamas
1 apron
3 pair of stockings
1 pair of blue shoes
1 pair of high boots
1 dress
2 pair of socks
1 skirt
2 blouses
1 blue pullover
1 cloth
2 pants
1 bra
1 backpack
1 wallet
1 birth certificate
2 combs
1 pair of riding trousers
only wearing the rubber pants, the
property she left in the prison was
listed:
cash: 439.65 Reichmark
1 bank account on 4,391.57
Reichmark
6 rings made of yellow metal
1 suspender with leather straps
1 raincoat
3 shirts
2 pyjamas
1 apron
3 pair of stockings
1 pair of blue shoes
1 pair of high boots
1 dress
2 pair of socks
1 skirt
2 blouses
1 blue pullover
1 cloth
2 pants
1 bra
1 backpack
1 wallet
1 birth certificate
2 combs
1 pair of riding trousers