Shalom Nagar, the Israeli prison guard who carried out the 1962 execution of Adolf Eichmann, one of the chief architects of the Holocaust, has passed away at the age of 86.
Nagar was assigned to hang Eichmann, a task he did not volunteer for but carried out as part of his duties at Ramle prison. Eichmann’s execution remains the only civilian execution in Israel’s history.
Eichmann, infamous for his role in orchestrating the Nazi regime’s “Final Solution,” was captured in 1960 by Israeli agents in Argentina, where he had fled after World War II.
His highly publicized trial in Jerusalem ended in 1961 with his conviction on multiple charges, including crimes against humanity and the Jewish people.
Born in Yemen in the late 1930s, Nagar moved to Israel as an orphan in 1948. After serving in the Israeli military, he joined the prison service and was assigned to guard Eichmann. His responsibilities included tasting Eichmann’s food to ensure it wasn’t poisoned.
The decision to task Nagar with the execution was made randomly, and he later described the experience as haunting.
He suffered from nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for years afterward.
Following Eichmann’s execution, Nagar was ordered to cremate the body, a moment he recalled with trembling hands and an overwhelming emotional toll.
Nagar’s identity remained a closely guarded secret for three decades, revealed only in 1992 amid lingering concerns over potential reprisals.
He later spoke openly about the event, detailing its impact on his life.
In later years, Nagar embraced a religious lifestyle and relocated to the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba. His story was the subject of the 2010 documentary The Hangman.
Eichmann’s trial and execution marked a crucial moment in Holocaust accountability, with Eichmann defending his actions by claiming he was merely following orders.
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