Bourreau d’Allemand

Middle-aged man in ornate military uniform holds decree in grand hall with guards behind him.

The German Hangman or sometimes the Hangman of Germany, is an official title granted by Napoleon VI to himself in recognition of the elimination of German as a tolerated language of France. The title granted the power to execute by guillotine any person in France found speaking, reading, or writing the German language.

Two officials confront a frightened woman with a German book in historic Paris street.
Officials interrogate a young woman carrying a German book in early 20th-century Paris.

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