(Video) Ever Heard ‘Schwedentrunk’? The Worst Punishments In History

Torture was considered a legal means of extracting confessions, punishing offenders, and carrying out executions during the Middle Ages. Some approaches were far more brutal than others. Depending on the crime, gender, and social rank of the victim, several forms of torture were used. Torturers would utilize a variety of tactics, equipment, and instruments to prolong life while inflicting excruciating suffering.

This form of torture uses neither tools nor devices but is something one must consume. So, if you hear the words “Swedish Drink” or if someone offers you one, just run for your life!

Its Origin

The Schwedentrunk (Swedish for “tortured drink”) is a torture and execution procedure. During the Thirty Years’ War, Germans who were killed by Swedish troops coined the moniker. They threw the chained servant to the ground, wedged a wooden wedge into his mouth, and poured a bucket of nasty manure water into his stomach, calling it a Swedish Drink.”

Swedish mercenaries were hardly generously compensated, if at all, during the Thirty Years’ War. However, they were told that they were free to take the valuables of any civilian or peasant they came across. The problem is that most valuable things in a town or village were hidden.

Picture: Sound Cloud

To extort these treasures from individuals, the Swedish would concoct the most revolting, foul-smelling concoction they could think of, using dirt, dung, urine, and whatever else they could find. Once this concoction was made, it was poured down the throats of anyone the mercenaries or troops thought was resisting them. The combination was frequently served to boil hot to add to the agony.

The drink was given the German name ‘Schwedentrunk’ since the victims were German. The ingredients used to make this drink would often change but one thing is for sure, everything used is something disgusting such as human excrement, animal feces, sludge, urine, and generally anything else that you definitely don’t want to consume.

Not only victims are forced to drink this disgusting concoction, but the mercenaries would also start doing things like treading on the victims’ bulging tummies after they were significantly bloated. They’d be probed with rods, punched, and, according to some stories, have wooden boards shoved on their stomachs on either side. Of course, the agony was awful, and it is stated that the anguish will only become worse.

Picture: Bonjour Paris

In addition to distaste, disease, and the risk of bacterial infection, the Schwedentrunk caused excruciating gastrointestinal agony. Due to the incompressibility of liquids, the victim’s stomach and bowels must expand to excruciating dimensions in order to handle the large amounts of fluid. The tormentors then used wooden boards to compress the victim’s enlarged tummy or trampled her underfoot.

Punishments in the past were sometimes exaggerated to make the other side appear vicious and less than human, which has always been a popular propaganda tactic. Nonetheless, it’s extremely likely that the Swedish Drink existed, and that people died as a result of it.

Sources: The Infographics Show, The Knowledge Nut, Paper Blog, Everything Explained Today,

Adib Mohd

Recent Posts

Toshiba Turns 95 with a Giant Fridge, Big Vibes & A Spot in the Malaysia Book of Records

Who says anniversaries are just cake and candles? For Toshiba’s 95th Anniversary Dealer Convention, it… Read More

1 day ago

Resorts World Sentosa’s Singapore Oceanarium Introduces New Experiences As Ticket Sales Go Live

Resorts World Sentosa (RWS, 圣淘沙名胜世界) has announced that ticket sales have launched for Singapore Oceanarium… Read More

1 day ago

Barista Brews at Prices You Won’t Believe Exist

Think handcrafted coffee always comes with a hefty price tag? Think again. Across Malaysia, cafés… Read More

1 day ago

POCO Introduces POCO F7: Where Futuristic Design Meets Exceptional Power

POCO, a leading technology brand among young tech enthusiasts, today unveiled POCO F7, setting a… Read More

1 day ago

Proton Owners Hit the Road for Wellness: AG Autoworld x Herbal Farmer Flag Off First-Ever Fun Drive in Johor

What do you get when you mix wellness, good vibes, and 30 Proton cars? A… Read More

1 day ago

OMSMC Earns Spot in Newsweek’s Global Hospital Rating 2025

Oriental Melaka Straits Medical Centre (OMSMC) has been listed in Newsweek’s Global Hospital Rating 2025,… Read More

2 days ago

This website uses cookies.