Dorothee Elisabeth Tretschlaff

Dorothee Elisabeth Tretschlaff (1686 - Gerswalde, 14 February 1701), was a German alleged witch. She was the last person to have been executed for witch craft in the state of Brandenburg, and the case against her attracted a lot of attention and was the subject of a great deal of contemporary debate.

Tretschlaff was employed as a maid. She confessed that she had made a pact with the Devil, and that he visited her regularly for intercourse in her bed in the shape of a fly. The Devil was to have provided her with money. The case was centered around the alleged intercourse with the Devil. She was judged guilty of witch craft and executed by decapitation. The sentence was criticized both before and after it was made. Later the same year, the monarch issued an investigation to inquire whether the process had been correct. Tretschlaff was described as depressed and suicidal.

Sources

• This page is a translation of its German equivalent.