The Butcher of Hanover: Fritz Haarmann | True Crime Story

Germany's got a bit of a dark history, but Hannover has got something unique: Today we are gonna talk about Fritz Haarmann, Hannover's best known serial killer. It's a true crime story.
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Americans and Germans are as different as the countries they live in - or maybe not? An American metalhead living in Germany shares his experiences. This is his channel: Krautsalat!

[@wolfmanAl]

"Der Totmacher" is a brilliant movie. Go see it. The entire movie is set in one room, kind of like a chamber play, the interogation room of the police and there are just three main characters; Haarmann, the psychologist questioning him and a silent stenotypist. The whole movie gets very claustrophobic at times, as the two man are stuck in there with the serial killer Haarmann, who is at times brutal and then childlike naivé. This is devinitively one of Götz Georges greatest roles, who was one of the greatest german postwar actors. I can´t recommend this movie enough!

[@Sarimae23]

Gört george in his best role

[@albedoshader]

It’s even more unsettling because it’s heavily based on the actual interrogation records.

[@uwerieger9793]

"Der Totmacher" is one of the best german movies ever with the great actor Götz George

[@daskraut]

can confirm: der totmacher (although this was another serial killer's pseudonym) is a brülliant movie!

[@Baccatube79]

DER TOTMACHER is a fantastic movie, also to improve yor German with (it's mostly dialogue), and Götz George playing Haarmann peaks in his acting here.

[@uzelbruzel]

Definitely worth the watch!

[@Baccatube79]

And SCHTONK! if you are in for a laugh. It is a biting satire about underlying nazism, about press and their greed for sensations in Germany even some 40ish years after WWII. The movie recounts the story of one of the biggest press scandals in German history when the monthly journal STERN greatly announced they had bought Hitler's diaries which then turned out as mere forgeries. STERN never really recovered from that. The movie SCHTONK has the best cast Germany had to offer at that time, and it is just brilliant. But of course, your German has to be at a certain level to fully appreciate it. Subtitles only help so much here.

[@prinzprospero]

@@daskraut "der totmacher" was the nickname of rudolf pleil, a serialkiller short after 2. worldwar.

[@Ikller-xh7qq]

Maybe you should also take a look on Armin Meiwes, also known as "Der Kannibale von Rotenburg"...Might be interesting for you too^^

[@Eowynnofrohan]

ayyy fellow wisconsinite here (and aspiring German speaker, who has German heritage-- I'd like to go there someday)! I live in the town where Ed Gein was born. thankx for the info, i was searching for a video about this after learning about this guy today. i only hear about a few American serial killers, been discovering ones from other countries as well.

[@derlindts4341]

An other film about Haarmann is "Die Zärtlichkeit der Wölfe/Tenderness of the Wolves" (1973) with actor Kurt Raab. It is gorier as "Der Totmacher" and a good example of the German films of the 70s. But it puts the story in a post-WW2 area.

[@kilsestoffel3690]

I love the Hanover related content.

[@AP-RSI]

The Movie is called "Der Totmacher" from 1995 with Götz George as Haarmann and is basically just about questioning Haarmann after his arrest.

[@bennai2]

You shouldn't forget that the police work at that time wasn't pretty good. So you didn't need to be careful with evidence.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Good point. And speaking of that, I was told where the lead police officer is buried, i might go look for his grave.

[@TomRuthemann]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany I'll be interested to know, Eric!

[@zidaya333]

Meine Oma hat das noch mitgemacht, das die Kinder verschwanden... ich wurde immer geimpft nie zu fremden zu Sprechen.

[@TheMelody911]

Wow! I'm living almost 35 years in lower Saxony and I've never heard the story of Haarmann! I knew what he did, but the story I've never heard! Thanks Eric! Greetings from the coast🤘🤗

[@PropperNaughtyGeezer]

Ja, Im lm living over 50 years in lower saxony. These are the stories that the grandmother told us as a child when there were no "Bibi Blocksberg" or "Hanni and Nanni". Not even the compact cassette was invented. The lady had experienced two world wars and that was one of the more harmless stories. Some other Storys were even a little creepy. The fairy tales and legends were not much more pleasant. I don't think I slept a single night until grade 4. That these stories have not yet been discovered by Hollywood. Troya was a little skirmish against the siege of Magdeburg and Indiana Jones has never had an adventure against Hellmuth von Mücke. Jack Sparrow would appear colorless alongside Klaus Störtebeker or D'Artagnan against Christian von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel. Who is John Rambo against "Kongo-Müller" or Maverick and Top Gun against Manfred von Richthofen and the "Flying Circus". Even his enemies solemnly donated a wreath to mark his death. And if there is a German in Hollywood in a movie, then he can end up being killed by the hero. Or a horror movie with Merkel and Schäuble as antagonist. What can be creepier?

[@TheMelody911]

@@PropperNaughtyGeezer wow....das ist ziemlich cool! Sry das ich auf deutsch antworte, aber mir fehlen die Worte! Ich bin 48 (komme gebürtig aus den Niederlanden) das habe ich alles nicht bedacht!

[@PropperNaughtyGeezer]

@@TheMelody911 Nachdem Du die Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm so mit 4-5 Jahren zum Einschlafen vorgelesen bekommen hast, schläfst Du nicht mehr ruhig. Und zwar das dicke Buch mit Bildern. Da stehen noch ganz andere Märchen drin, wie Rapunzel. Der bebilderte Struwwelpeter war auch ganz harter Tobak. Musst Du mal nach googeln. Allein hier vor Ort, Der Rattenfänger von Hameln, Till Eulenspiegel von Schöppenstedt, der Tetzelstein im Elm und die ganzen Hexenlegenden aus dem Harz und auch der August II von Wolfenbüttel war begeisterter Literat und Gründer der August Bibliothek aber auch begeisterter Hexenverbrenner, der siebzig Zauberer und Hexen verbrennen ließ.

[@tscheina5142]

Richtig, ganze Generationen wurden vom Struwwelpeter und den Märchen der Gebrüder Grimm traumatisiert. Ab den 60ern übernahm das dann "Aktenzeichen XY". Als Lektüre empfehle ich von den Grimms "Von dem Machandelboom", das ist mal richtig starker Tobak.

[@findis]

Yet another fantastic piece. I love the true stories of areas.

[@supertaati8107]

Heeey I missed you 🤩 very interesting topic of today's video 🤔

[@TomRuthemann]

Great research!

[@funkhelmfriedel9239]

Great content. Great editing. Thank you. Subbed :)

[@larsschonebaum7015]

You put in a lot of effort and it clearly shows:)

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Thank you! I actually spent too much time learning about him and watching videos about serial killers. It kind of sucked me into a hole for a couple days. Which is mostly why i say at the end of this video that i want to go enjoy my day and clear my head

[@fenrir20678]

Hm, da hab ich als Hannoveraner doch tatsächlich noch was gelernt. Danke Eric! :)

[@Zino027]

Informativ. Thank you

[@randomlyawesome]

Thanks for this awesome and informational video, it really helped me out on my school research paper.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Ha! For real?! Awesome! (Randomly Awesome😝)

[@narbizar]

Great documantary, thanks

[@lindaarrington9397]

I loved your video Ty

[@thocpn-44-51]

My hometown ♥️

[@SachsenMustang123]

Check out "Fritz H" by the German metal band Macbeth!

[@MrsBirdiegoeshell]

There is also a book about the interviews between Ernst Schultze, the psychiatrist, and Fritz Haarmann, on which the movie is based (by Christine Pozsar). Here you find the court proceedings and everything Haarmann had to say. Btw, love your channel!

[@tHiNk413]

Yesssss, blood&murder-historylesson from my favorite American KZbinr! I'll get the popcorn!

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

🥰

[@rahlap2449]

Most disturbing german "killer" is Armin Meiwes (his story inspired Rammstein to make the song "Mein Teil"). He is not a serial killer but man his story is BY FAR the most insane thing I've ever heard. To me he even tops Jeffrey Dahmer even if he (luckily) only killed one person (and it was with that persons consent). What drives people to do things like that?

[@TrueSonOfWalhall]

That was this cannibal right?

[@rahlap2449]

@@TrueSonOfWalhall Yeah the one who searched the internet for a person who wanted to get eaten. He found a man and they talked to each other and made a "contract". Then they got drunk and the volunteer ate some painkillers and viola both ate his dick. All on cam. Then Meiwes put some body parts into a freezer to feast on them later on. To this day he says he did nothing wrong because apparently Germany had no laws for cannibalism back then

[@berthaschwarze6704]

There is a very interesting interview with him and lots of backstory. I think it is insane. The story is very insan. The „victim“ however gave consent to being killed / eaten. He wanted to eat somebody and looked for someone who wanted to be eaten.

[@bba7625]

My hometown I love it. One of the best cities in Germany if you ask me.

[@niklaszink6435]

Eisregen has a song about him called Onkel Fritze

[@vincentbaron4254]

The Rockband Ost+Front has a song about him: Denkelied

[@dripdaddy2192]

It’s not a horror movie. Probably right up your alley..

[@prinzprospero]

the matter with the human flesh is a little bit obscure. in the trial they don't talked about it, because there was a forensic doctor named schackwitz who would got into troubles. two of grans' "little ladies" brought a few weaks before the arrest of haarmann a bucket with aspic to him and said they asume it's human flesh from a boy who stood overnight by haarmann. the doctor smelt on it, laughed and said it's definite meat of animals.

[@Sarimae23]

BTW....did anybody tell you about the Old Punk-Meetings in the 80s/90s in Hannover ? No ?????? Ask around, Hannover was the Punk-Meeting of all Punk-meetings for Decades. They were called CHAOS DAYS (Chaos-Tage)

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Yes! Thank you for pointing it out but a few of my very good friends are punks. In fact, it was one of the points of interest that almost made it into the previous Hannover video!

[@Sarimae23]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany So was me in the time...

[@anne-katrin.diedszun]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany Eric, seems that you are disappeared 🤔😉. Are you travelling Germany?

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

@@anne-katrin.diedszun thanks for noticing...still here...some busy things though. My guys behind the camera have been very busy on another project the past month but I did get to travel a little. I have 2 videos coming from Schleschwig-Holstein!! Teaser....I went for my first time to the Holy Ground!🤘 I'm excited for this video!!

[@anne-katrin.diedszun]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany yay, looking forward to the video while thinking about mud parties 😁

[@r.d.7274]

Besides "Der Totmacher", another German film about Haarmann is the 1973 film "Tenderness Of The Wolves".

[@derlindts4341]

Some other facts about the Haarmann murders: The bones of the victims were found by children who played at the shores of the River Leine. And many victims were runaways from other cities of whom nobody know they were in Hannover. Haarmann picked them up at the station. For entering the platforms which were closed for non-passengers he used a passport of the Hannoverian police. He was a "Kriminal", a kind of deputy sheriff.

[@sergej9719]

Sehr tolle Idee. Die dunkle/ und helle Geschichte Hannovers.

[@badlawyer4342]

If you want to know some spooky stuff read the fairy tails from the Brother Grimm i dont mean the Disney stuff. I mean the real storys. They were born in a smale town in hessen called "Steinau an der Straße".

[@kraftandre5538]

Interesting, strange and scary story.

[@omgsolikevalleygirl]

how to deal with violent psychopaths like that - I don't even want to think about it

[@kaerr_blockbuster]

If u like Stuff like that , watch “Der Goldene Handschuh“ no Horrorflick but serious stuff , not easy to watch at all. Love your Videos. Keep up the good work 🔝👍🍀

[@TomRuthemann]

Yep, gruesome film about Fritz Honka.

[@Baccatube79]

Read the book first before considering to watch the movie.

[@tHiNk413]

@@Baccatube79 The book is great! But it really got to me...

[@Baccatube79]

@@tHiNk413 Me too. I felt the constant need to wash up while I was reading it.

[@tHiNk413]

@@Baccatube79 Right? So filthy, dirty, greasy, it felt like I should've read it in the shower right away.... But Heinz Strunk? Well, he's a genius, I think...

[@Cowglow]

I think i'm gonna skip on the wursten for bit. Cool video, disgusting story.. Keep coming them coming!

[@Jay-in-the-USA]

Das Leben schreibt die besten Horrorgeschichten...eigentlch traurig 😌

[@Titamiva]

Wiki says: Er wird auch Der Vampir, Der Schlächter, Der Kannibale und Der Werwolf von Hannover genannt. Die Bezeichnung Der Totmacher geht auf den gleichnamigen Film aus dem Jahr 1995 zurück, obgleich ursprünglich der Serienmörder Rudolf Pleil so genannt wurde.

[@zarahmb1711]

Die Sache mit Haarmanns Kopf ist spannend, da hat sogar der Landtag drüber debattiert: www.goettinger-tageblatt.de/Die-Region/Goettingen/Universitaetsmedizin-Goettingen-aeschert-Fritz-Haarmanns-Kopf-ein

[@AK-kq8xq]

Hi. Other „famous“ guys with the same passion at that time were Peter Kürten (the vampire of Düsseldorf), Carl Großmann and Karl Denke. As the Story in each case is rather depressing, you might like to hear a more uplifting one, also. Search for Das Wunder von Lengende (village ~50 km East of Hannover)

[@dcbsmt]

Have you seen My Friend Dahmer? Really good.

[@countercpu5447]

Carcass Band Lunchtime 😁

[@TheMelody911]

And a movie you should watch is: Der goldene Handschuh. A movie about another serial killer from Hamburg! And a true story!

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Oh, interesting. Thanks for the tipp

[@matze19701]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany Its the Story of Fritz Honka, he murdered Older alkoholic Prostitutes in Hamburg around the 70s. Ist a very disturbing movie....but really well made!

[@katelance6479]

Er hat in Hildesheim ein paar Jahre in der "Sülte" gesessen. Eine klinik für "Geisteskranke". Das Gebäude existiert noch. Nachdem es lange leer stand, ist jetzt ein Hotel dort. Die Sülte war sehr beliebt bei "Geisterjägern".

[@berthaschwarze6704]

Ah ja das Subkultur. Am Schild hab’s ich erkannt.

[@Mm-qx8uk]

In the video I have to think of 2 songs that I think are based on the gentlemen OST+FRONT - Denkelied und OST+FRONT - Puppenjunge hope you Like the songs

[@overwatch-plays1474]

Hanover is the best city :D

[@artjomsiljaev1428]

FML, I saw you today eating a Calzone at the Main Station, I wasn't sure if it was you so I didn't approached you but now I realised that it WAS you, now I'm regretting it😂😂😂

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Ahahahaa! Yep. Did we make eye contact? I saw someone look at me and I even wondered if anyone walking by has seen my videos.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Even funnier if someone watches this Haarmann video and then recognizes me at the Bahnhof (since thats where he picked up his boys) 🤣

[@artjomsiljaev1428]

@@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany yes, I was also standing at the Pole where you were standing. I was wearing a Grey Jacket and Shorts, and also had a black Bag.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

@@artjomsiljaev1428 next time, feel welcome. Nobody likes to be bothered when eating but I am less bothered than most people😁

[@MrsNanaBlue]

Speaking of real crime stories, look for the murder of Hinterkaifheck. This case is so disturbing. It haunted me quite sometime and made me close windows and doors. It never got solved... de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinterkaifeck

[@BadMoonHorrors]

Statistically speaking, are there and were there more serial killers in the US than in other countries (Wikipedia lists 65 for Germany and 400 for USA)? Incidentally, Ed Gein was actually the inspiration behind the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (also Psycho and Silence of the Lambs) but not Friday the 13th, which was inspired entirely by the financial success of Halloween. A Metalhead not into Horrorfilms is so anti cliche ;)

[@mlfhntr625]

Me who lived in the Callenberger Neustadt ....

[@Micmac358]

Death metal band named macabre made a song about him called "fritz haraamann Der metzger" I'd highly recommend checking it out if you're interested in a death metal band where they write about killers ..wasn't for that song i wouldn't be here lol

[@frankb.4684]

Watch out for Church Of Misery albums.

[@Rsama60]

DerTotmacher ist kein Horrorfilm. Sehr sehenswert und eine der besten Leistungen von Götz George.

[@lordsimping3665]

Me who was Born and lives in Hanover and has been at the river where he dumped the bones: 😗✌️

[@hendrikseiffert7406]

If you are in Hannover and want to hear more you can book really good Tours www.fritz-haarmann-tour.de/

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Oh, interesting. Thanks for that tip

[@DaveSCameron]

Your fashion sense is most definitely Deutsche 👍

[@katjaschulz296]

Crazy.. Don't know that 🙈🙈

[@Lucretia1975]

Your German is so cute!

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

☺ danke

[@danielwebster5748]

Damn I feel so old I was born in 1972

[@nathan_v2269]

that would be such a painful way to die goddamn, Rest In Peace boys.

[@mats7492]

There is also a Schlager about Haarman from 1961.. it even reached the german charts..Interesting about that song is that the lyrics claim he killed girls, which is obviously untrue but at that time having homosexual relationsships was apparently seen as worse than being a serial killer.. ive ocassionally heard this song in a beer tent at the Hannover Schützenfest with people dancing to it.. which was very surreal kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqe8p62QgbeMgLM

[@danielwebster5748]

It's not really allegedly buckets of human meat were found.

[@user-ce1dj3jo1l]

โลเคชั่นสวยมาก

[@eagle1de227]

"Homo homini lupus est"...

[@not-a-theist8251]

Mmm Leberwurst. This intro was fucking creepy. But that's appropriate for the topic

[@silkedavid8876]

Interesting. Thanks, your channel has such a nice variety! I must admit, most of the time I am looking at your hairstyle. Is it all just from the top? Because you have this funny ponytail thing going on. Can you show it one day? It is very nice hair, by the way. I always liked people with unusual hair cuts. Just read the comments, are we a funny bunch, I like your hair, someone else wants to see your feet.

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Thank you! Well...my first video my hair is not tied. And i think one other....but its cut like a classic mohawk just really long😁

[@kilsestoffel3690]

I am almost a bit jealous. I used to have really long hair, but the last ten years it's getting thinner and doesn't look good anymore when it's too long.

[@jonathanwatkins222]

Heute bei ARTE so reingetrödelt, wäre was für Euch? TRACKS: Metal-Special | ARTE kzbin.info/www/bejne/iV62hatsgJutrsU

[@zidaya333]

das hart, da meine Oma noch sagt das sie das alles mitbekommen hat da sie nicht weit entfernt wohnte We had a Kinder Singerlied, das dich warnte nicht von Hahmann gefasst zu werden, , es war für mich g

[@kaiulrich6185]

What s your favourite club in Nordstadt ?

[@KrautsalatAnAmericaninGermany]

Subkultur! Edamm 87. Once they are able to reopen you can go in there and see the big sign on the wall above the bar

[@larsstrohmeier2320]

it really is a lovely location - the owner is doing some great alternative projects during the time he can't open the club, but as soon as it's clear to open up again it's a great place to go =) As they say: Support your local butcher ;)

[@zidaya333]

Aber ihr Nachbar war auch der Polizist der den katzendieb idamals gefangen hat ich hab herrn Göke immer sein Nachtisch gebracht

[@carolineweaver343]

you are adorable!

[@35i_Hearse_Driver]

Mmmmmh... Leberwurst 🤤🤤🤤🤤

[@jurgenhaflinger1188]

Leberwurst........ Wuahhhh