Peter Kürten: The Vampire of Düsseldorf Serial Killer Executed in 1931

Peter Kürten, known as the Vampire of Düsseldorf, was one of Germany’s most infamous serial killers whose reign of terror ended at the guillotine. Peter Kürten, known to history as the Vampire of Düsseldorf, was one of the most terrifying criminals of the early 20th century. Born in 1883 into an abusive and impoverished family, Kürten grew up in an environment shaped by violence, alcoholism, and cruelty. These early traumas deeply influenced his personality, and by adolescence he had already begun stealing, assaulting, and committing acts of disturbing sadism. After multiple imprisonments and a brief, failed stint in the Imperial German Army, Kürten returned to civilian life hardened and more dangerous than ever. Throughout the 1920s, as Germany struggled with political chaos, unemployment, and the social instability of the Weimar Republic, he blended in easily—living outwardly as a married, respectable man while secretly nurturing violent fantasies. Between 1929 and 1930, Düsseldorf was gripped by fear as a series of brutal murders and attacks left police baffled and the public terrified. Kürten targeted women, men, and even children, his methods ranging from strangulation to stabbing and arson. His unpredictable brutality suggested multiple perpetrators, but the truth was even more horrifying: one man committing dozens of assaults and murders with chilling calculation.Kürten was finally caught after a survivor’s letter reached police, leading to his arrest in 1930. He confessed openly, describing 68 crimes, including nine murders. Psychiatrists deemed him sane and fully responsible. On 2 July 1931, at Klingelpütz Prison in Cologne, Peter Kürten was executed by guillotine. Even in his final moments, he exhibited the morbid curiosity that defined his crimes.This episode is part of the series Serial Killers of the 20th Century.Watch the full documentary and explore hundreds of historical films at:WorldHistory.tv