Friedrich Heinrich Karl " Fritz " Haarmann 25 October — 15 April was a German serial rapist and serial killer , known as the Butcher of Hanover , the Vampire of Hanover and the Wolf Man , who committed the sexual assault , murder , mutilation and dismemberment of at least twenty-four young men and boys in the city of Hanover between and Found guilty of twenty-four of the twenty-seven murders for which he was tried, Haarmann was sentenced to death by beheading in December Haarmann was a quiet child, with few friends his own age or gender and who seldom socialized with any children outside of school with the exception of his siblings.
From an early age, Haarmann's behaviour was noticeably effeminate , and he was known to shun boys' activities, instead playing with his sisters' dolls [ 4 ] and dressing in their clothes. He also developed a passion for both needlework and cookery, [ 4 ] and would develop a close relationship with his mother, who spoiled her youngest child. Reportedly, Haarmann's father married his mother when she was 41 years old and seven years his senior, largely due to her wealth and the substantial dowry their marriage would eventually bring him.
Haarmann Sr. Via his infidelity , he contracted syphilis in his later years. In , Haarmann began his schooling; he was noted by teachers to be a spoiled and mollycoddled child who was prone to daydreaming. Although his behaviour at school was noted to be exemplary, his academic performance was below average and Haarmann had to repeat a school year twice. On one occasion, when he was about eight years old, Haarmann was molested by one of his teachers, although he never discussed this incident in detail.
Haarmann grew into a trim, physically strong youth. With his parents' consent, he finished his schooling in Upon leaving school, he briefly obtained employment as an apprentice locksmith in Neuf-Brisach now part of France before opting at age 15 to enrol in a military academy in the town of Breisach.
Haarmann initially adapted to military life and performed well as a trainee soldier. However, after five months of military service, he began to suffer periodic lapses of consciousness which, although initially described by a medical professional as being sudden signs of anxiety neurosis , were subsequently diagnosed as being "equivalent to epilepsy " in October The following month, Haarmann discharged himself from the military and returned to Hanover, where he briefly worked in a cigar factory his father had established in At age 16, Haarmann committed his first known sexual offences, all of which involved young boys whom he would lure to secluded areas—typically cellars—before proceeding to sexually abuse them.
