10 Most Horrific Russian Torture Devices
Mon, Mar 23, 2009
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Image via: Live Journal
The Web seems obsessed by all things Russian at the moment, so what could kindle our curiosity more than a selection of torture devices from that colossal country, preserved for our pleasure? OK, so they’re more Spanish Inquisition than KGB interrogation, but that makes little difference when all we care about is how sadistically sick they are. Enjoy.
1. The Mask of Infamy: who’s been a dirty devil?
Image via: Rapid Library
More a form of public humiliation than a torture device, the Mask of Infamy nevertheless made the culprit pay their sins. Locked onto the head for a time decided by the accuser, the Mask itself kept physical torment to a minimum – though sadists will be pleased to know wearers were often chained to a post, where people in the vicinity could torture them.
Image via: English Russia
Sometimes the Mask contained a ball or some other device to stop the wearer’s wailing. The design of the Mask is said to have been left up to the fantasies of local craftsmen, though it may also have been linked to the type of offense – a case of the punishment fitting the crime.
2. The Street Sweeper’s Daughter: wrapped up in her lovely arms
Image via: Rapid Library
This contraption may have got its name from the Scavenger’s Daughter, an identical model of cruel ingenuity kept in the Tower of London. Born in the 1500s, it’s a charming example of the constraint devices that were all the rage in the Inquisition. Like the Rack in reverse, it worked by compressing rather than stretching the body: the victim’s head was locked into the top point of the A-frame, with their hands at the mid-point and legs at the lower end.
Image via: Southwest Grid
Through carefully studied design, the head was pushed down and knees forced up into a crouching position so squashed it quickly caused acute muscular cramps in the guts and forced blood from the nose and ears. In time the person went from a state of suffering to one of utter madness. Lovely.
3. The Jerking: caught in an uncompromising position
Image via: Rapid Library
Although far from a form of self-stimulation, the Jerking was believed to be a light type of torture, and was widely used in the trials of yesteryear. The arms of the accused were bound behind their back, and a rope around their wrists was tied to a winch. Victims were left hanging by their arms in this less than compromising position or – you guessed it – violently jerked in what appears to have been a form of Strappado or reverse hanging.
Image via: Alcarcalimo2364
If all this sounds too timid, weights were often tied to the ill-fated person’s feet and their flesh ripped with pliers. Apparently jurists of the time thought witchcraft enabled the guilty to endure torture without confessing. It must have been some witchcraft.
4. Water Torture: beyond the pale
Image via: Rapid Library
To, erm, execute this form of torture, the accused was placed on a kind of rack that consisted of a long wooden frame with a raised central part, as well as a pillory-like design at one end. Once the victim’s hands and feet were locked, the torturer went about his dirty work in one of several ways.
Image: J. Damhoudere
One method involved forcing the none-too thirsty individual to swallow large amounts of water via a funnel, with the bloated body then beaten repeatedly with heavy blows. Another technique saw a cloth tube inserted as deeply – and roughly – as possible down the victim’s throat before being slowly filled with water, thus choking them. Thanks but no thanks.
5. The Witch’s Chair: definitely no armchair ride
Image via: Rapid Library
This “remedy” must have extracted a confession or two in its time with the pain it was capable of inflicting. Under suspicion of being a witch or in some other way in union with the devil, the accused was undressed and made to sit in the chair against those tasty spikes in the back- and arm-rests, while the wrists and ankles were shackled. The procedure sometimes dragged on well beyond 24 hours, and even surviving the torture without confessing was deemed proof of guilt of witchery, punishable by death. A no-win situation if there ever was one.
Image via: Jabulela
In later, more sophisticated versions – described below – the iron points could be heated up for an added dose of searing agony.
6. The Head Crusher: what it says on the tin – forget the aspirin
Image via: Jabulela
This grisly product of the Dark Ages didn’t need a fancy name. With the chin placed over the bottom bar and the skull snugly beneath the domed cap, the torturer would begin turning the screw that must have been anything but music to the ears of the accused. The screw pressed against the cap, slowly compacting the head. Thus in awful sequence, first the teeth were crushed, shattering the jaw; then the eyes were squeezed from their sockets; and lastly the brain matter was forced from the ears.
Image via: Live Journal
Another sure-fire method of wringing out a confession, this method of torture could be drawn out for hours if the torturer was a particularly sadistic specimen. Shockingly, versions of the Head Crusher may still be used in parts of the world today.
7. The Rack: torn limb from limb
Image via: English Russia
A classic. One of the most feared and agonising of all torture devices, The Rack was also mechanically precise and so perfect for the incremental pain of interrogation. It consisted of a rectangular frame, to which the wrists and ankles of the accused were tied or chained at either end.
Image via: English Russia
Rollers, a handle and ratchet were used to gradually increase the tension on the victim’s arms and legs, inducing unspeakable pain. The bones were slowly dislocated with a horrendously loud crack before the limbs were plucked from their joints and eventually torn apart with similarly sickening popping sounds. Models that appeared in the late Middle Ages often had spikes to pierce the victim’s back, increasing the torment and the chance of crippling injury if they were spared.
8. The Guided Cradle: intruding where it really hurts
Image via: Rapid Library
OK, let’s get this over with: an excruciating looking instrument sometimes referred to as the Judas Cradle or Chair. The accused was sat on top of a pyramid-shaped seat, with the point implanted rudely in their naked nether regions.
Image via: Lucifer’s Hell
Some theories suggest the idea was to stretch and slowly impale the victim, with weights perhaps added to their legs. Others reckon the emphasis lay on hoisting and repeatedly lowering the victim onto the tip, varying the pressure while keeping them awake – hence its other name: the Vigil. Either way, it was pretty near unbearable. Apparently originally designed to get people to talk without causing undue injury and breakage of bones, it could still easily break the skin – while also leaving a few mental scars – and was potentially fatal. Heard enough?
9. The Hand Saw: straight down the line brutality
Image via: Jabulela
Torture devices don’t come more downright extreme than the Hand Saw, and the diagram leaves little to the imagination. The victim was hung upside down to supply the brain with oxygen and slow down the blood loss so that they didn’t lose consciousness and died a suitably slow and excruciating death.
Image via: Corkscrew Balloon
This cheap but effective two-man torture method was used to cut people in half throughout the Middle Ages, with those accused of adultery and blasphemy among the many who felt the Saw’s teeth bite. In Russia it seems to have been a favourite with judges for witches impregnated by “nightmare devils” or even by Satan himself. Now there’s an argument in favour of contraception.
10. The Chair of Torture: are you sitting comfortably?
Image via: Jabulela
The Chair of Torture dates back to the Middle Ages but may have been used till the late 19th Century. Not quite Russian Revolution territory, then, though fear of those myriad spikes might have kept a few of the masses in line. This ultimate interrogation chair had spikes covering the seat, back, and arm-, leg- and footrests – but there was no rest, for the wicked or anyone else who sat in this thing.
Image via: Live Journal
The victim’s wrists were strapped in to prevent movement, while bars and other movable parts pressed against the limbs ensuring the tips penetrated the flesh deeper. A quick death was far from guaranteed. No vital organs were pierced and the pressure of the spikes themselves plugged wounds, slowing blood loss and often keeping victims alive for a day or more.
Image via: Live Journal
The psychological fear these torture devices aroused was often enough to extract a confession, and victims were frequently forced to watch others subjected to the treatment and witness the pain they too could soon be facing.
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Torture In The Time Of The Tsars » Popular Fidelity » Unusual Stuff Says:
March 25th, 2009 at 3:21 pm[...] hear. Why, back in my day, the Dark Ages, we had real torture devices, by gum! Check out this gallery of infamous medieval torture implements from Russia. When you got strapped into the Witch’s Chair or trapped in the Head Crusher, you [...]
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Los instrumentos rusos de tortura más hororosos Says:
March 25th, 2009 at 8:17 pm[...] Los instrumentos rusos de tortura más hororososwww.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/most-horrific-russian… por thombjork hace pocos segundos [...]
March 24th, 2009 at 11:59 am
KGB, Spainish inquisition???… jajaja… it happend long time ago.
What about CIA, Guatanamo’s, Palestina, etc? it’s happening RIGHT NOW!
American law, free, democracy.. bla, bla, stupids!.. brutality and arrogant must be your fucking flag.
March 24th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Yikes! That sure gives new imagery to the Spanish Inquisition! I can’t believe versions of the head crusher may still be used today, or rather I don’t want to believe they are…ow.
March 24th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
i’m curious, has anyone ever heard of satanists torturing christians?
March 24th, 2009 at 7:36 pm
what’s Russian about those torture devices? they all come from Europe. Russia did have its own original torture instruments but i guess you’re too lazy to check the facts.
March 24th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
ME: for someone who claims to know everything about the US, the only English word you seem to be able to use correctly is FUCK
March 24th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Russia does have it’s own torture technics, ever listened to Russian Pop music…no you haven’t because you haven’t killed yourself.
March 24th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Although I’m Canadian, I’m with TM on this one. Everyone a Guantanamo Bay is getting exactly what they deserved.
March 24th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I’m surprised you didn’t spotlight some items from the Soviet era of Russian history. Some of the stuff the KGB used (and presumably the FSB still uses) was spectacularly horrific.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Wow that is some scary stuff, can you imagein. I bet they use that stuff still at Gitmo!
RT
http://www.privacy-tools.us.tc
March 24th, 2009 at 11:24 pm
This list is missing the most brutal… the Pear of Anguish.
http://www.medievality.com/pear-of-anguish.html
March 24th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
These devices are from the Czech republic. Those photos were taken in the Museum of Torture next to the Charles Bridge in Prague.
March 24th, 2009 at 11:58 pm
Looks fun.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:13 am
Well…. whenever I see the “jajaja” I right off know there it’s some dumbass
so there’s no use paying attention to what it tries to communicate by beating it’s head on the keyboard. Some tards just sit in the internet cafes and between trying to scam old people they find time to post their hatred for the America. It’s actually showing their hidden longing to be out of the shack they share with the sheep/girlfriend in their hell hole contry.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:37 am
ME you are such a dumbarse idiot.
You dont like law, freedom and democracy why dont you move your sorry anus to NKorea or Cuba.
March 25th, 2009 at 2:52 am
“Although I’m Canadian, I’m with TM on this one. Everyone a Guantanamo Bay is getting exactly what they deserved.”
Then why is it that we have had so few charges out of Gitmo when so many people have been held there? Why is it that so many people there have been found innocent? Were they tortured too?
Here in the US we do not use torture and we hold torture to be a vile crime. Those responsible must be punished to the fullest extent of international law, which provides for life in prison.
Canuck, what happens when we decide we need Canada, and your children are having their genitals crushed in front of you (as provided for by the legal opinions of the disgusting John Yoo?) What happens if you are innocent and don’t have anything to tell?
March 25th, 2009 at 3:03 am
jajajaja? Is that some kind of tribal chant?
March 25th, 2009 at 3:33 am
ME is a dumb shit
March 25th, 2009 at 3:46 am
Its good to know that we’ve come far enough since these devices were de riguer that we in the civilized world don’t use this kind of punishment…except water boarding.
Nevertheless, this kind of dark ages stuff still goes on in some parts of the world. Its is undignified for any person who considers himself to be civilized and sane to inflict any kind of torture, for any reason. Cruely is the basest expression of the human will and is unneccessary.
Say a prayer for victims of torture everywhere, in all times.
March 25th, 2009 at 4:26 am
What the hell were these people thinking. Ugh…
March 25th, 2009 at 4:27 am
We bought some of this and sent it to Gitom. It was very well made and came with manuals in Russian.
March 25th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Forwards to CIA.
March 25th, 2009 at 5:33 am
As if #8 weren’t cringe-worthy enough already, prepare to double over in imagined pain….
The point went on the taint! the grundle! the place between the balls and the ass!!!!!!!
I saw this in a Russian museum, and the tour lady explained it in wayyyy too much detail.
March 25th, 2009 at 6:56 am
American bastards are doing the same thing in Iraq…Guantanamo Bay. I wish in the above chairs, Barrack Obama was seated. And I rip the ass of America’s first lady with that saw!
March 25th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I’d love to slowly die by one of these techniques, crucifixion, or the iron maiden.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Indeed supremacist’s made the worst example’s voilence and torture on human kind and they are the real terrorists.but you forgot to mention American warcrimes and Israeli warcrimes in the list which has to be more brutal then we have read above….ask the sufferers and they will tell you real stories of these Anmial minded human beauty’s which are rulling the world with there bloody hands..
unfortunately its hard to find thousends of detainees kept in israel and the illegal american jails……
March 25th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Did you notice that these torture devices were targeting single, independent women, aka witches? The men at that time just couldn’t handle it if they couldn’t control a female.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
All these pictures were taken from the medieval torture museum in prague. weak, come up with your own stuff.
March 25th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Wow…just wow
March 25th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
DEAR GOD! I have seen some of these but a couple were actually new to me. Like the one where they would saw you in half!! Insane.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
absolutely brutal man!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
suck it, you filthy german…
March 25th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
what about USA and waterboarding, and other stuff USA does???
March 25th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
now THAT is some seriously messed up stuff!
March 25th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
They are mainly Spanish and English devices. I have not seen a single Russian one.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
The “pear of anguish” linked in the above comment could have been described better. The points on the tips of the three expanding petals are designed to enter the cervix. Then when the device is expanded… extreme, truly extreme feminine pain.
March 25th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
There’s the Brustreisser (German for Breast ripper). This is a set of huge iron claws which were heated until glowing, clamped into a woman and used to tear her breasts off.
March 25th, 2009 at 9:52 pm
KGB is the first mentioned. only after it there’s Spanish inquisition.
March 26th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Uncle Sam has another variation. US soldiers have been photographed roasting captured african rebel soldiers over fire like a pig on a skiwer.
March 26th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Oddly, Yakov Smirnoff didn’t make the list.
March 27th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I just subscribed to your RSS feed, because I like the idea of an enviromental blog and many of your posts. Here it seems to have been a delight describing these cruelties. I am familiar with medieval torture methods, to a certain point. But I don’t see what this article has to do either with environment, or with Russia. Furthermore, the comments you got show that people first subdue to their voyeurist urges and then insult each other about national matters. I don’t think this has anything to do with environment and will probably unsubscribe your feed. I’m dissappointed.
March 29th, 2009 at 5:09 am
“Jajaja” is the Spanish version of “hahaha” — since in their language the “j” is pronounced like an “h.” But that doesn’t excuse the fact he’s a complete idiot.
Nice list though.
March 29th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Damn…that’s really hot.
March 31st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Look up crocodile shears in google to see a picture…This tubular iron CROCODILE SHEARS was heated red-hot and used to tear off the penis. Playful means were used to ensure the victim had a nice, stiff erection before the torture was employed.
April 7th, 2009 at 3:25 am
Russians are crazy. I think thet haven’t changed a lot ever since
April 30th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
stuipid
May 19th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Dick Cheney would be in his element!!!!
June 10th, 2009 at 2:48 am
US would be proud to have them for official use.
June 11th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
wtf bitches
August 13th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Amazing stuff – how brutal were these guys back in the days … meh, stumbled – really amazing post and I have to agree with TM … lol
October 30th, 2009 at 5:50 am
Oh yeah do not forget the CIA’s listening to rock music all night for the islamic terrorists… how horrible that must be.
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:26 pm
this shows a nipple just so you know okay
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:28 pm
there is a picture that shows nipples
November 28th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Guantonimo doen’t use demonic style torture like the inquesition, they use pychological stuff like sense deprivation, waterboarding, chinese water torture with the drips.
December 6th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
It was like something in a museum.Very impressive!
January 24th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Some of those torture machins look really painful, especially the chair with the spikes! I’m glad we don t live in the middle ages!
Greet
Nick
March 1st, 2010 at 6:45 pm
this stuff would hurt