As we all know, all the guilty Nazis practically begged for a firing squad. Instead, we hung them (except Goring who somehow got a poison pill when the firing squad request was denied). How this went is up for debate. If you look at some of the photos (Keitel especially), it is pretty brutal - lots of blood. It seems the floor door might've been too small and people might've hit their head on the way down (the door might've snapped back as well).
Also, the drop might not have been large enough and some might have slowly died without air as opposed to cracking their necks quickly. Of note is Streicher who dropped a 'heil hitler' during the process. Rumor is the executioner (John Woods) possibly adjusted the knot to assure payback for this (again, the facts are all fuzzy). At one point, he had to go to the hidden area under the trap door because you could hear moaning. People think he grabbed the hanging guy and pulled on him to expedite.
Sounds like John Woods was an interesting guy - how do you get that job? Ironically, he was electrocuted a few years later. His life would make an interesting movie.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Woods
Looking at the Keitel picture I am torn. On one hand, I say he was a Nazi and responsible for countless deaths so who cares how he died. On the other hand, I want to say America is better than this (which is why we had a trial in the first place) and we should've granted the firing squad request. What say you?
Note: the images below are of dead people and are graphic:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_executions
http://www.historynet.com/hanging-offense-american-hangman-nuremberg.htm
Also, the drop might not have been large enough and some might have slowly died without air as opposed to cracking their necks quickly. Of note is Streicher who dropped a 'heil hitler' during the process. Rumor is the executioner (John Woods) possibly adjusted the knot to assure payback for this (again, the facts are all fuzzy). At one point, he had to go to the hidden area under the trap door because you could hear moaning. People think he grabbed the hanging guy and pulled on him to expedite.
Sounds like John Woods was an interesting guy - how do you get that job? Ironically, he was electrocuted a few years later. His life would make an interesting movie.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Woods
Looking at the Keitel picture I am torn. On one hand, I say he was a Nazi and responsible for countless deaths so who cares how he died. On the other hand, I want to say America is better than this (which is why we had a trial in the first place) and we should've granted the firing squad request. What say you?
Note: the images below are of dead people and are graphic:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_executions
http://www.historynet.com/hanging-offense-american-hangman-nuremberg.htm