Frequently Asked Questions
Visitors arriving at this site often have a few immediate questions about Josef Jakobs, his capture, and the historical records surrounding the case. The answers below provide a brief overview.
Background
Josef Jakobs was a German agent parachuted into Britain in January 1941. He was captured shortly after landing and later executed in the Tower of London.
Yes. Josef Jakobs was executed by firing squad on 15 August 1941 and was the last person executed within the Tower.
Capture
Jakobs landed by parachute near Ramsey in Huntingdonshire. Injured during the landing, he was quickly discovered by local farmers and then apprehended by the Home Guard.
He was interrogated by MI5 at Camp 020 before being tried under the Treachery Act.
Because Josef Jakobs claimed to be a serving member of the German military, he was treated as an enemy agent rather than an ordinary civilian offender. He was tried by court martial under the Treachery Act, and his death sentence was therefore carried out by firing squad rather than by hanging.
Research & Sources
Many of the official files relating to the case are held at The National Archives in Kew in the KV series. Josef’s court martial records are under the WO series.
Yes. The research is based primarily on archival records, including MI5 files, military documents, and contemporary reports.