Is the Werewolf of Bedburg a real monster or the result of mass hysteria? (7 photos)

At the end of the 16th century, the small German town of Bedburg was in a fever of terror. The townspeople were attacked by a mysterious monster that started with livestock and then switched to people.





Periodically, local farmers found their cows. But not eaten, as after an attack by wild animals. Someone seemed to be swaggering, tearing up the carcass and throwing it into the pasture.



People sinned against a large and very smart wolf. But everything turned out to be much worse. The emboldened monster remained unpunished and switched to other prey - children and young girls. When panic gripped the community, people gathered a group of experienced hunters and exterminated almost all the wolves in the area. But the killings did not stop.

The Man in Wolf's Clothing





During a new sortie, the men came across another animal and released the dogs. The flock drove the predator into a dead end. But when the hunters arrived, they froze in amazement with their mouths open: a naked man was lying huddled on the grass. A man from their community, authoritative and respected - Peter Stubbe - a wealthy farmer, widower, father of two children and a pious parishioner.

He was brought to the city, accused of the murders, and a trial was organized. It is clear that at that time such processes were not without torture. And on the rack, Peter confessed that he was that elusive beast - a werewolf who terrorized the city and surrounding villages and killed an unimaginable amount of livestock. Stubbe accounted for more than a dozen children and teenagers, several adult men and women.

Deal with the devil



And he received unprecedented powers by renouncing God and making a deal with Satan. In exchange for an immortal soul, he received from the king of darkness a belt made of wolf skin, which, when worn, turned into a wolf. Huge, scary, unstoppable and always hungry. The thirst was quenched only by fresh blood.

But at some point, sheep, goats and calves became scarce. And Peter switched to people. He didn't even spare his own son.



The man was sentenced to death by torture. Daughter Sybil and mistress Katarina were recognized as accomplices. The women were “mercifully” strangled. And Peter had to suffer in the hands of an experienced executioner.



As a warning to others, they hung the carcass of a wolf on the torture stake, whose head was replaced with Peter’s head. Stubbe remains in history as one of the most heinous murderers. But who he really was - a bloodthirsty maniac, a madman, or simply a suitable scapegoat to appease the public - remained unknown.