Corporal Josef Jakobs (30 June 1898 – 15 August 1941) was a German spy, who was executed by firing squad in the Tower of London during the Second World War after conviction under the Treachery Act 1940. His trial took place in camera. He was the last person to be executed in the Tower.[1]
Jakobs was parachuted into Ramsey in Huntingdonshire on 31 January 1941 but was seen descending by the local Home Guard, who rushed to the landing point to find that Jakobs had broken his ankle on landing. He was apprehended still wearing his flying suit and carrying British currency, forged papers, a radio and a German sausage.[1]
The location of the execution was the old miniature rifle range in the Tower's grounds. Jakobs was executed while seated blindfolded in a brown Windsor chair, due to having a broken ankle. A squad of eight Scots Guards armed with Lee Enfield .303 rifles took aim at a white cotton target (the approximate size of a matchbook) pinned over Jakobs' heart. After being given a silent signal from Lieutenant-Colonel C.R. Gerard (Deputy Provost Marshal) the squad fired in unison. Jakobs died instantly. A subsequent postmortem examination found that one bullet had hit Jakobs in the head and the other seven had been on or around the marked target area.
Following the execution, Jacobs' body was buried in an unmarked grave at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Kensal Green, London. The location used for Jakob's grave has since been re-used so the original grave site is difficult to find.
All other German spies condemned to death in the UK during the Second World War were executed by hanging at HMP Wandsworth in south London.