Last Execution in the Tower of London

15th August 1941: German Spy Josef Jakobs is shot by firing squad

Josef Jakobs (1898-1941) was a dentist in Germany before becoming involved in several shady schemes. He was arrested in 1939 for his part in a smuggling ring that took bribes from Jews trying to escape the country. He was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp, where he was routinely tortured before he ‘volunteered’ to work for the Abwehr, German military intelligence.

The unfortunate Josef Jakobs had parachuted into Britain on the night of 31st January/1st February 1941. His career as a spy was very brief.

Having been given minimal instruction in parachuting and no practice jumps, Jakobs dangled his leg out of the plane as he prepared to jump. The slipstream forced his leg back, breaking it. Despite being in great pain, the plane’s crew insisted that he continue to jump.