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This article discusses a historical execution by guillotine in Switzerland, including details of capital punishment, crime, and the end of a particular method of execution. It is intended for educational purposes only, to promote understanding of the past and encourage reflection on how societies have evolved away from capital punishment, the role of justice systems, and the importance of humane legal processes. It does not endorse or glorify any form of violence, execution, or capital punishment.
The Last Guillotine Execution In Switzerland: The Case of Hans Vollenweider
Throughout history, the guillotine has been one of the most recognized—and ruthless—methods of execution, originally introduced during the French Revolution as a “humane” and egalitarian alternative to older forms of beheading. While France used it extensively until 1977 (the last execution in Europe), Switzerland also adopted the guillotine in the 19th century after reintroducing capital punishment in 1879 following its brief abolition in 1874. The device was used sparingly in several cantons for civilian crimes (murder, robbery-murder, etc.), with the guillotine borrowed and transported between cantons as needed. The final guillotine execution in Switzerland occurred on October 18, 1940, in the canton of Obwalden, when Hans Vollenweider was beheaded at Sarnen prison for triple murder. This was the last civilian execution by any method in peacetime Switzerland; the death penalty was fully abolished for ordinary crimes in 1942 (and for all crimes, including wartime, in 1992). This analysis examines the crime, trial, execution, and why it marked the end of the guillotine in Switzerland.
Background: Hans Vollenweider and the Crime
Hans Vollenweider (born February 11, 1908, in Zurich) was a repeat offender with a history of theft, burglary, and other crimes. In September 1939, while on the run after escaping from prison, he committed three murders in the canton of Obwalden:
- September 11, 1939: He shot and killed a local farmer, Kaspar Imhof, during a burglary attempt in Giswil.
- September 13, 1939: He murdered two more people (a man and a woman) in a separate incident while fleeing.
- The crimes were particularly brutal and motivated by robbery; Vollenweider was armed and used a firearm.
Vollenweider was arrested shortly afterward. The case shocked Switzerland during the tense early years of World War II (though Switzerland remained neutral). He was tried in Obwalden under cantonal law, which still allowed the death penalty for murder.
The Trial and Sentence
In September 1940, Vollenweider was convicted of three counts of murder by the Obwalden criminal court and sentenced to death. He did not appeal the verdict and refused clemency petitions. The sentence was carried out under cantonal authority, as Switzerland’s federal constitution at the time permitted cantons to retain capital punishment for ordinary crimes until the 1942 national abolition.
The execution method chosen was the guillotine—Switzerland’s standard beheading device since the 19th century. The specific guillotine used was the one from Lucerne (originally from Zurich), which had been transported to Obwalden for the occasion. It was a Swiss-modified version of the French design, with a tall frame and weighted blade.
The Execution
On the early morning of October 18, 1940, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Hans Vollenweider was executed in the courtyard or workshop of Sarnen prison (Strafanstalt Sarnen). The procedure was carried out in private (no public spectators), with the condemned man blindfolded and positioned under the blade. The executioner (likely Carl Gröpler or a Swiss deputy) released the mechanism, and the blade fell, severing his head instantly.
Vollenweider reportedly refused last words, a final meal, and spiritual counsel. After the execution, his body was buried in an unmarked grave. The guillotine was then returned to Lucerne, where it is now displayed in the Historical Museum of Lucerne as a historical artifact.
This was the last time the guillotine was used in Switzerland. Later wartime military executions (17 cases between 1940 and 1944 for treason/spying during WWII) were carried out by firing squad, not guillotine. The civilian death penalty was abolished nationwide in 1942 when the Swiss Criminal Code came into force.
Aftermath and Significance
Vollenweider’s execution is remembered as the final peacetime use of capital punishment in Switzerland under civil law. The case contributed to the growing movement toward abolition, as public opinion shifted against the death penalty after World War II. Switzerland fully abolished capital punishment for all crimes (including wartime) in 1992, becoming one of the first countries to do so constitutionally.
The guillotine’s retirement symbolized Switzerland’s move toward more modern and less visibly brutal forms of justice, even as the country retained the death penalty briefly during wartime.
Historical Lessons
The last guillotine execution in Switzerland highlights the gradual abolition of capital punishment in democratic societies, the transition from medieval-style executions to more standardized methods, and the eventual rejection of state-sanctioned killing. It serves as a reminder of the ethical debates around the death penalty, the importance of due process, and how nations evolve toward human rights protections.
On October 18, 1940, Hans Vollenweider became the last person executed by guillotine in Switzerland when he was beheaded at Sarnen prison for triple murder. This marked the final use of the device in the country and the last civilian execution before the nationwide abolition of the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942. The case reflects Switzerland’s historical experience with capital punishment and its eventual commitment to ending the practice entirely.
Sources:
- Wikipedia: Hans Vollenweider (cross-referenced with historical records and citations).
- Swiss National Museum Blog: “The Last Civilian Execution” (October 14, 2020).
- Executed Today: “1940: Hans Vollenweider, the last guillotined in Switzerland” (October 18, 2013).
- Swissinfo.ch: “Killing off the death penalty in Switzerland” (October 22, 2015).
- Historical Museum of Lucerne: Documentation on the Lucerne Guillotine.
- SRF (Swiss Radio and Television): “Hans Vollenweider – Die letzte Hinrichtung in der Schweiz” (documentary and articles).
- Capital punishment in Switzerland (Wikipedia and academic sources).