Crime History: Der Taschentuch-Mord - Die Moral der Berliner Unterwelt
Summary
This episode investigates the 1932 murder of Auguste Königke in Berlin, where she was bound and suffocated in her home. Hosts Florian Prokop and Jana Falkenstein, with historian Regina Stürico, explore the investigation led by famous detective Ernst Gennert. While Walter Königke, the victim’s son, is initially suspected due to his underworld ties, evidence points to his ex-fiancée Charlotte Kleber. The case reveals the organized nature of Berlin’s criminal “Ringvereins,” leading to the identification of the actual killer.
Topics discussed
Cold open: The discovery of the crime scene
Introduction and the Königke family background
Historical context: Berlin in 1932 and the Winterfeld market
Crime scene analysis: Evidence and the missing money
Suspect Walter Königke: Motive and alibi
Charlotte Kleber: The ex-girlfriend with underworld ties
International police cooperation between Berlin and Paris
The Ringvereins: Criminal support networks in Weimar Germany
Arrest of Friedrich Mann and his accomplice Alfred Schulz
The confession: How the murder was committed
The trial, execution, and Charlotte Kleber's fate
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