Helena Curtens
Encyclopedia
Helena Curtens (b. 1722 in Gerresheim - d. 19 August 1738 in Gerresheim) was an alleged German witch
. She was one of the last people executed for sorcery in Germany and the last person executed for this crime in the Rhine area. Her case is one of the most known cases in Europe, as she was long thought to be the last person executed for this crime in Germany.
Curtens was arrested after reports about observations of the ghost of a 14-year old girl. She was exposed to torture, during which she pointed out her neighbour Agnes Olmans. Olmans was the daughter of a woman called Zaubergreth, who was rumoured to have been a witch. They were accused of having intercourse with demons. Olmans denied the charges and demanded to be exposed to the ordeal of water. This was denied her, as this method was no longer used in the area. Both Curtens and Olmans was judged guilty of sorcery and sentenced to be executed. They were executed by burning 19 August 1738.
Curtens and Olmans are often claimed to be the last executed for sorcery in Germany. In reality, Maria Renata Saenger von Mossau
was executed in 1749 and the farmer Anna Schnidenwind
, née Trutt 1688, was executed in Endingen am Kaiserstuhl 24 April 1751 convicted of having caused the great fire of Wyhls
by a pact with Satan. The very last execution for sorcery in Germany likely occurred in Landshut
in 1756. Anna Maria Schwegelin
was sentenced to death for sorcery in 1775, but she died in prison and was never executed.
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
. She was one of the last people executed for sorcery in Germany and the last person executed for this crime in the Rhine area. Her case is one of the most known cases in Europe, as she was long thought to be the last person executed for this crime in Germany.
Curtens was arrested after reports about observations of the ghost of a 14-year old girl. She was exposed to torture, during which she pointed out her neighbour Agnes Olmans. Olmans was the daughter of a woman called Zaubergreth, who was rumoured to have been a witch. They were accused of having intercourse with demons. Olmans denied the charges and demanded to be exposed to the ordeal of water. This was denied her, as this method was no longer used in the area. Both Curtens and Olmans was judged guilty of sorcery and sentenced to be executed. They were executed by burning 19 August 1738.
Curtens and Olmans are often claimed to be the last executed for sorcery in Germany. In reality, Maria Renata Saenger von Mossau
Maria Renata Saenger von Mossau
Maria Renata Saenger von Mossau was a Bavarian nun executed for heresy, witch craft, apostasy and satanism, one of the last people executed for these charges in Germany and Europe....
was executed in 1749 and the farmer Anna Schnidenwind
Anna Schnidenwind
Anna Schnidenwind, née Trutt was one of the last people in Germany and in Europe confirmed to have been executed in public for witch craft....
, née Trutt 1688, was executed in Endingen am Kaiserstuhl 24 April 1751 convicted of having caused the great fire of Wyhls
Wyhl
Wyhl is a municipality in the district of Emmendingen in Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany.It was known in the 1970s for its role in the anti-nuclear movement....
by a pact with Satan. The very last execution for sorcery in Germany likely occurred in Landshut
Landshut
Landshut is a city in Bavaria in the south-east of Germany, belonging to both Eastern and Southern Bavaria. Situated on the banks of the River Isar, Landshut is the capital of Lower Bavaria, one of the seven administrative regions of the Free State of Bavaria. It is also the seat of the...
in 1756. Anna Maria Schwegelin
Anna Maria Schwegelin
Anna Maria Schwegelin was an alleged German witch, long considered the last person to be executed for witchcraft in Germany....
was sentenced to death for sorcery in 1775, but she died in prison and was never executed.