Friedrich II of Prussia is remembered as “the Great.”
But before he became the most famous Prussian king, he tried to run!

In this first part of a two-episode series, we go back to the beginning: to Friedrich II von Preußen’s childhood under the rule of his father, the so-called Soldier King. We talk about Prussia before it was shaped into a European super power, a court ruled by discipline and fear, and a father whose effectiveness as a ruler did not necessarily make him a great dad.

Also: if you want the original story of the Amber Room, why it started in Prussia, why Friedrich Wilhelm gave it away, and how it became one of the most mysterious lost artworks in history, you need to listen to this episode.

Friedrich II of Prussia, Frederick the Great, Friedrich Wilhelm I, Soldier King of Prussia, Hans Hermann von Katte, Wilhelmine of Prussia, Prussian royal family, Prussian court history, Prussia 18th century, Potsdam Giants, Lange Kerls, Amber Room history, Amber Room Prussia, Amber Room Peter the Great, Prussian military culture, royal abuse history, historical escape attempt, Prussian monarchy, European royal family trauma, Fresh Hell Podcast

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In 1920s Vienna, a woman calling herself Baroness Cadvé ran what appeared to be a private language school for children. Behind the polite advertisements and the respectable address in the city center was something much darker.

This episode tells the story of Edith Kadivec, the woman at the center of the 1924 Vienna "Sadist Trial,” in which she was accused of abusing children for the sexual gratification of wealthy and powerful clients. The case exposed not just one abusive teacher, but a whole network of doctors, businessmen, artists, and aristocrats who believed their status would protect them.

This episode contains discussion of child abuse and exploitation.

f this episode brought up difficult feelings for you or someone you care about, you’re not alone, and support is available. Here are some trusted organizations and hotlines where you can find help, support, and information.

National Child Abuse Hotline
Call 1-800-4A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visit childhelp.org
Available 24/7 for confidential support, crisis intervention, and referrals to local services.

National Human Trafficking Hotline
Call 1-888-373-7888 or text BEFREE (233733)
Chat and resources available at humantraffickinghotline.org
Confidential support, crisis intervention, and connections to services nationwide.

RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat at rainn.org
Provides support for survivors of sexual violence of any age.

Rat auf Draht (Helpline for children and young people)
Free, confidential support for children and teens.
Tel: 147
Website: rataufdrah.at

B-PLAN – Hilfe für Betroffene von Menschenhandel und Ausbeutung
Support and assistance for trafficking survivors in Austria.
Website: b-plan.at

Frauenhelpline (Women’s Helpline)
Confidential support for women experiencing violence or abuse.
Tel: 0800 222 555 (Free in Austria)
Website: frauenhelpline.at

Gewalt-Hotline (Violence hotline)
Offers information and referral for people affected by violence.
Tel: 0800 188 188
Website: gewaltinfo.at

Child Helpline International
Connects you to child helplines around the world.
Website: childhelplineinternational.org
Find a local number in your country.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – Anti-Trafficking
Global resources and support information.
Website: unodc.org (search “human trafficking”).

ECPAT International
Works to end child exploitation worldwide and provides links to support services.
Website: ecpat.org

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If you want to watch Henry's wonderful documentary, you can find the English version here:

https://www.henryhauck.de/en-us

and the German version here:

https://www.henryhauck.de/de

In this episode we speak with filmmaker Henry Hauck, a cousin of one of the "Missing Children of Pirmasens", a series of missing person cases from the 1960s, that have never been resolved and continue to haunt the town to this day. 

Decades later, Henry chose to confront this history by making a documentary, not only as a filmmaker, but as a family member living with unanswered questions.

In our conversation, Henry talks about growing up in the shadow of a disappearance, the long-term impact these cases have on families and the town of Pirmasens, and about the main suspect...Günter Justus!

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Today we’re sharing an episode from our friends at Our True Crime Podcast, covering the deeply troubling murder of Michelle McNeill.

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We’re back to bridge the space between the holidays and the return of brand-new episodes.

This volume revisits the 1904 murder of Lucie Berlin in a rapidly modernizing Berlin, the still-unsolved killing of Peggy Andrews in Columbus, Ohio, and the controversial 1902 murder of Bertha Schippan in rural South Australia.

If you want the full versions, with expanded background, investigative detail, and all the frustrating unanswered questions: they’re waiting for you in our back catalogue.

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While we take a holiday break, we’re bringing you Best Of, Vol. 3: a condensed revisit to three cases from the Fresh Hell archives.

This episode features the disappearance of the three lighthouse keepers on Eilean Mòr, the chilling crimes of Viennese con man and serial killer Hugo Schenk, and the Victorian-era murder of Anna Evans Skeeters in Bermuda.

If you want the full versions, with all the background, forensic detail, and inevitable side tangents, you can find them in our back catalogue.

Brand-new episodes are coming soon. Until then, this is Fresh Hell, briefly condensed!

Happy Holidays, Hellions

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On December 24th 1996, in Minneapolis, a series of escalating disturbances unfolded across the city, leading to an explosion during the city’s Christmas celebrations. What began as isolated incidents at shopping centers and local businesses quickly revealed themselves to be connected, linked by the same individuals.

Jingle Bells Calm by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100187

Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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In November 1995, 16-year-old Ruth Wilson vanished after leaving her home in Surrey. She didn't go to school as planned though. Instead she ordered some flowers, and took a taxi to a quiet rural lane near Box Hill. Then...she disappeared without a trace. Thirty years later, her family and investigators are still searching for answers. Was Ruth planning to run away? Did she meet someone that day? And why did she choose that isolated spot? In this episode, Annie and Johanna take a closer look at Ruth’s life, the timeline of her last known movements, the witness statements, and the theories surrounding her disappearance.

Ruth Wilson, Surrey, Box Hill, missing person case, 1995 disappearance, UK true crime, unsolved mystery, teenage runaway theories, Betchworth, cold case investigation, Fresh Hell Podcast, missing teenager, British cold cases, Ruth Wilson case, true crime podcast

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In the final part of our Dr. Crippen series, we’re heading into the Old Bailey for one of the most sensational trials in Edwardian history. We’ll walk you through the courtroom, the personalities, the evidence, the theatrics, the “Saul Goodman–before-Saul-Goodman” defense strategy, and the moment the jury returned in just twenty-seven minutes.

Part 4 brings the story to its end… or at least as close to an end as this case has ever gotten. Because more than a century later, Crippen’s guilt is still being argued, and the science is still being debated!

drcrippen, hawleycrippen, belleelmore, ethelleve, crippentrial, oldbailey, edwardianlondon, pentonvilleprison, historicaltruecrime, coldcasehistory, freshhellpodcast, truecrimepodcast, truecrimehistory, forensiccontroversy, dnaforensics, londonhauntings, hauntedlondon, hilldropcrescent, crippeninnocent, crippenmystery, londoncrimehistory, crimearchives, truecrimecommunity, historicalmysteries, podcastseries

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In Part 3 of our Crippen series, we follow the case across the Atlantic and back again. After the dramatic arrest aboard the Montrose, Inspector Dew brings Crippen and Ethel to Québec, where the crowds are already waiting and the extradition machinery kicks into motion. We cover their guarded return voyage, the secrecy, and the surprisingly calm behavior of a man accused of murder.

Once back in London, Crippen and Ethel are met with angry crowds, Bow Street is overrun with reporters, and the British press enters full Crippen-mania. Ethel heads to Holloway, Crippen to Pentonville, and the city prepares for one of the most anticipated trials of the Edwardian era. Next stop: the Old Bailey.

Hawley Harvey Crippen, Dr. Crippen, Ethel Le Neve, Inspector Walter Dew, SS Montrose, SS Megantic, Canada extradition, Québec City, Bow Street Police Court, Pentonville Prison, Holloway Prison, Edwardian true crime, Crippen return voyage, early forensic history, London murder case, historical manhunt, Crippen trial, Fresh Hell Podcast.

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