In brief
Shalom Nagar, who gained notoriety as the executioner of Adolf Eichmann, passed away on November 26, 2024, in Israel. His death was confirmed by documentary filmmaker Avigail Sperber, known for her work detailing Nagar's experiences.
Nagar, who was in his late 80s, was thrust into a historical moment at just 23, serving as the hangman for Eichmann, responsible for implementing the Holocaust. After decades of hiding his identity for fear of retribution, he ultimately spoke out about the haunting memories of the execution, which marked Israel's singular instance of capital punishment. In the early hours of May 31, 1962, he was forcibly summoned to the prison to execute the Nazi, who, remarkably, requested white wine and cigars prior to his death without wearing a blindfold. As the execution unfolded, Nagar had the grim responsibility of operating the trapdoor that sent Eichmann plunging to his death, a burden he carried heavily in the years that followed, especially during the unsettling task of transporting the body for cremation. Though he had attempted to suppress these memories, they remained a poignant part of his legacy until the end of his life.
