Shalom Nagar, the Israeli prison guard who carried out the 1962 execution of Adolf Eichmann, has passed away at the age of 86. Eichmann, one of the chief architects of the Holocaust, was convicted for his role in orchestrating the Nazi regime’s “Final Solution.” His execution remains the only civilian execution in Israel’s history.
Nagar, born in Yemen in the late 1930s, 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 at Ramle prison. Nagar did not volunteer for the task of executing Eichmann, but it was part of his duties. His responsibilities also 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 deeply haunting. He suffered from nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for years afterward. After the execution, Nagar was ordered to cremate Eichmann’s body, an experience that left him emotionally shaken.
His identity remained a closely guarded secret for 30 years, only being revealed in 1992. Nagar later spoke openly about his experiences, sharing the lasting psychological toll it took on him. He embraced a religious lifestyle in later years and relocated to the West Bank settlement of Kiryat Arba. His story was featured in the 2010 documentary The Hangman.
Eichmann’s trial and execution were significant moments in Holocaust accountability, with Eichmann defending his actions by claiming he was merely following orders.
