Criminal Cases in Historical Documents from the University Library

10/21/2025

A different take on True Crime: On Thursday, 23 October 2025, the Würzburg University Library invites you to a special guided tour. The focus will be on sources and documents that deal with historical criminal cases.

A guided tour as part of the #einzigartig event series provides insights into real criminal cases from the university library's archives. (Image: Lena Kuhn / UB Würzburg)

In the guided tour "Bloody Traces - True Crimes from Past Centuries" on Thursday, 23 October 2025 at 7 p.m., those interested can immerse themselves in the dark side of history. Historical documents and sources from Würzburg University Library (UB) provide fascinating insights into true crime cases from past centuries.

Thrilling crime stories and authentic true crime cases are at the centre of this extraordinary tour. Particular attention is paid to notorious figures such as the Hölzerlipsbande, who once spread fear and terror on the banks of the River Main, or the tragic story of the brothers Juan and Alfonso Díaz.

Those interested can search for clues using historical documents and let the sources speak for themselves: What happened back then? Who were the perpetrators, who were the victims? And what were the consequences of the crimes? The fascination with true crime is not a new phenomenon. Murder and crime have preoccupied people in the past too.

Participation in the guided tour is free of charge. The meeting point is in the Special Collections Reading Room of the Central Library at Hubland.

The #einzigartig Event Series

The guided tour is part of the event series "#einzigartig - Highlights from the Special Collections of Würzburg University Library", which focuses on unique objects from the library's holdings. All information on #unique can be found here.