The Story of Josef Jakobs

Introduction

The Tower of London, a haunting symbol of medieval cruelty, holds a history rife with torture and infamous executions. Among its incarcerated, not limited to royalty, stood an unlikely figure during the dark days of World War II: Josef Jakobs, the final person to face execution within its grim confines. This article delves into Jakobs' life, from his origins to his unexpected role as a German spy and his ultimate end at the Tower of London.

Early Years and Unforeseen Espionage

Josef Jakobs was born on June 30, 1898, in Luxembourg. His life began unremarkably until the cataclysmic events of the early 20th century swept him into history's whirlwind. Growing up in Berlin after his family's relocation from Luxembourg, Jakobs' journey took unpredictable turns. He enlisted in the German army during World War I and earned the Iron Cross for his service. However, the war merely marked the start of a life defined by chaos, creativity, and espionage.

Post-war, Jakobs pursued dentistry in Berlin and found his calling in the profession. In 1926, he married Margarete Knoeffler, and three children graced their lives. Yet, the economic turmoil of the 1930s disrupted his domestic stability. The Great Depression forced him to close his dental practice, leading him down unconventional paths for survival.

From Dentist to Unlawful Deeds

Struggling in post-World War I Germany's economic turmoil, Jakobs turned to unconventional means to support his family. With the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s, he embarked on a perilous journey, operating in the shadowy world of counterfeit gold. Subsequently, he fell under the scrutiny of the Nazi regime.

His involvement in selling forged passports to Jews desperate to flee Nazi Germany further entangled Jakobs in criminal activities. The Gestapo soon apprehended him, charging him with "high treason and political intrigue," leading to his imprisonment in the notorious Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1939.

Intriguingly, even amid Sachsenhausen's horrors, Jakobs found a glimmer of hope. He struck a deal with the Abwehr, the German military intelligence service, agreeing to become a spy in England. His motivations were a complex web of self-preservation, anti-Nazi sentiment, and the allure of espionage's romanticized image.

Unveiling Espionage

Leaving the brutal Sachsenhausen behind, Jakobs embraced his new role as a spy for the Abwehr. However, he was an atypical spy: older, lacking emotional allegiance to the Nazis, and far from fluent in English. Despite these shortcomings, his German handlers overlooked them due to their desperate need for agents willing to undertake high-risk missions. His training covered the basics of espionage, from Morse code to wireless communication.

A curious twist occurred during Jakobs' preparation for his mission when he developed a romantic relationship with Clara Bauerle, a singer and actress. In a bizarre turn of events, he introduced Bauerle to his wife, Gretchen, attempting to pass her off as a colleague, but Gretchen remained suspicious. Jakobs' mission involved parachuting into England to report on British weather patterns, marking the pivotal chapter of his life.

Mission in Peril

Jakobs' mission commenced on January 31, 1941, when he boarded a small aircraft at Schiphol Airport, just outside Amsterdam. A short flight brought him into British airspace, where, at nearly 10,000 feet above the English countryside, he was ordered to jump. However, Jakobs had no prior experience with parachuting.

During the jump, calamity struck. His leg, protruding outside the open door, bent backwards due to the force of the wind, causing severe injury. Despite excruciating pain, he was ordered to proceed with the jump, resulting in a painful landing.

An Unfortunate Landing

Landing in the British countryside, Jakobs' situation worsened. His injured ankle rendered movement unbearable. Alone and in agony, he lay on the ground through the night, attempting to conceal incriminating items like fake papers, a ration book, and £500 in cash. As day broke, Jakobs, in unbearable pain, was unable to move. Desperation led him to fire his Mauser pistol into the air, hoping for help. His rescuers turned out to be a Home Guard unit from Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, where he had landed, altering the course of his life.

Facing Justice

The Home Guard unit detained Jakobs until he faced a military tribunal. Sent to Wandsworth Prison in South London, his predicament was dire. If the Gestapo believed he had collaborated with British intelligence, his family in Germany would face retaliation. Simultaneously, if charged with espionage on British soil, death was inevitable.

Jakobs' trial concluded with a guilty verdict. By then, he had been transferred to the Tower of London, infamous for royal executions. His execution loomed, but before facing the firing squad, Jakobs wrote a heartfelt and candid confession to his beloved wife.

A Heart-Wrenching Farewell

In the darkness of his prison cell, Josef Jakobs penned a letter to Gretchen, expressing gratitude for her unwavering support and professing his love. He begged for forgiveness for the pain, both conscious and unconscious, he had caused her. As he confronted his inevitable fate, Jakobs urged his wife to face her loss with courage and advised her to embrace life's uncertainty, prepared for an abrupt end.

Jakobs concluded his letter with the hopeful phrase "Aufweidersehn," meaning "until we see each other again." This final farewell letter encapsulated a man who had traversed an unexpected path filled with twists and turns.

The Final Event

On August 15th, 1941, Jakobs was escorted from his cell at dawn and led to the Miniature Rifle Range within the Tower's grounds. Seated in a standard wooden chair, his wrists bound securely with rope, and a black hood covered his head. Above his chest, a small cloth target was affixed for accuracy.

As daylight emerged, eight Scots Guards soldiers comprising the firing squad raised their Lee-Enfield rifles and awaited the signal. When the order was given, the squad fired simultaneously. One bullet struck Jakobs through the heart, while others impacted around the target area, resulting in instantaneous death.

Following protocol, Jakobs' body was removed and interred in an unmarked public grave at Kensal Green Cemetery. As with many such burials, the precise location remained unrecorded. Thus concluded Jakobs' extraordinary journey, with his demise quietly executed within the Tower's walls, marking the last execution at this historic site.

Conclusion

Josef Jakobs' life story is one of intrigue, daring, and misfortune. His improbable transition from a dentist to a spy embroiled in a high-stakes mission led him to the Tower of London, where he became the final person to face execution within its dark history. Jakobs' tragic tale serves as a reminder that history's pages feature not only kings and queens but also ordinary individuals swept up in the tumultuous currents of wartime espionage.