THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION RELEVANT TO TRAUMA IDENTIFICATION IN APPARENT SUICIDE BY HANGING AND TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT ISSUES. IN THE SUICIDE GROUP NO INJURIES TO THE SOFT PARTS OF THE NECK ARE OBSERVED, WHILE IN THE SECOND (CAPITAL PUNISHMENT) GROUP MUSCULATURE TEARS AND BLOOD VESSEL DAMAGE ARE EVIDENT. THE TYPES AND LOCATIONS OF FRACTURES NOTED ARE INFLUENCED BY FACTORS SUCH AS THE POSITION OF THE KNOT (USUALLY AT THE SIDE BUT NOT ALWAYS) AND THE HEIGHT FROM WHICH THE OFFENDER FALLS IN AN EXECUTION. THREE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS LEADING TO A HANGMAN'S FRACTURE ARE DISCUSSED IN LITERATURE: (1) A CHIN SHOCK WITH HYPEREXTENSION AND A TRACTION INJURY, (2) UPPER FACE SHOCK WITH HYPEREXTENSION TRAUMA, AND (3) FLEXURE TEARING INTER- AND INTRASPINAL LIGAMENTS IN C 2/3 AND POSSIBLY COMBINED WITH A DENS FRACTURE. THE EXACT PROCESSES LEADING TO FRACTURES OF EACH TYPE ARE CONTESTED; CERTAIN AUTHORS BELIEVE FLEXURE TO RESULT IN DENS FRACTURES. VARIOUS TYPES OF DENS FRACTURES ARE PRODUCED WHEN THE SKULL IS ABRUPTLY BENT VENTRALLY. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE WAY IN WHICH PRESSURE IS APPLIED CLEARLY AFFECTS THE PATTERN OF NECK FRACTURES. ILLUSTRATIONS, TABLES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE FURNISHED. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)