Executions have been taking place since the human being has been placed on earth. You would think that we have learned from our mistakes and would have learned how to treat people with respect even when they make a mistake, are ill or simply aren't as perfect as the rest of us. I don't want to debate the Death Penalty here, Mark is doing this on another part of this website. I am just trying to place and explain all methods of executions which have been used since we set foot on this earth. Maybe you will be surprised how many of those methods are still in use in various nations in this world and this more regular than some of us imagen. The Leathal Injection method has its seperate page, because we are personaly involved in this.

Crucifixion

That method of execution has been used by the Romans. I guess the most famous crucified human beeing is Jesus. The convicts were nailed or tied to a big wooden cross. Then the wooden cross was pulled up and they were left there until they died. Aparently Japan also used this method of execution during the 1500. The difference was that the people weren't just left to die, they were shot with spears.

Beheading

Beheading can be done in a couple of different ways. The method most known I guess is the Guillotine. Aparently that  method is the method which is meant to be not painful at all. Of course it is not a nice site. When the Guillotine was in use executions took place in public. It was a major event and it was a "must" to go and watch. The Guillotine played a major role during the French Revolution. The last public execution in France with the Guillotine was Jun 17. 1939. The last execution with the Guillotine in France was Sep 10. 1977. I have to say when I read that I had a hard time to believe it. 1977 is not so long ago and it made me feel sick. Only in 2007 France integrated the DP in their constitution. The Guilliotine was also in use during the Nazi time in Germany. Sophie and Hans Scholl were executed with the Guilliotine. The last person executed in Germany with the Guilliotine was May 11 1949 and his name was Berthold Wehmeyer. If you want to know more about the Guilliotine then there is plenty of information about it on the net, and it is not all pretty.

The other mehtod to behead people is with a sword or with a special axt. The person has to place his/her head on a block or sit freely and the executioner simply cuts off their head with one big hit. I say "has" because this method is still in use. Saudi Arabia has just beheaded a woman only a couple of days ago. Saudi Arabia is executing in public.

Gas Chamber

The condemned person is strapped into a chair and usually his mouth is kinda sealed to make sure the inmate takes a deep breath. The chair is in a sealed room in which poisonous gas is introduced. The inmate has to take a few deep breaths. I guess it is normal human behaviour to try and stop breathing so you don't inhale what is killing you. And that is what happened a lot in the passed. The Gas Chamber was introduced to the US during the 1920 and is still in use in a few states. The inmates can choose between Gas or leathal Injection.

During the second world war a different Gas Chamber was used. Thousands of people were killed this way. The prisoners were lead into showers. Outside the buildings there were chimney like entrances ontop of the buildings. Through these chimneys they introduced the poisened gas.

Hanging

Hanging is also still in use today. China is still using hanging and of course Iran and Iraq. If the hanging is done properly, meaning the executioner is working out the length of the rope compared to body weight, this method meant to be painless. However if the rope length is not worked out properly, the person being executed is beheaded or the person is strangled. If it is done perfect the neck is broken and the person is dead within seconds. The last known execution in East Germany with hanging was in 1982. That makes me feel even more sick than the 1977 bit. A lot of people in Europe don't even bother with thinking about the Death Penalty because it is so far away. But when you look at the dates... is it really so long ago? And today there are still countries who happily kill. And today there are still people who are in favour of this type of punishment.

Burning

Firing squad

Stoned

Divide into 4 parts

Electric Chair