She is referred to as the last person to be executed for sorcery in the city of Stolp (Słupsk).
Her first husband, Martin Nipkow, served with the dragoons in Brilon and took her to his hometown of Stolp.
[1][page needed] Katharina Zimmermann turned out to be a great merchant and soon threatened the competition of the neighbouring butcher's shopkeepers.
[2] The accusation of witchcraft levied against the Catholics by the Protestant community was recognized as religiously motivated.
On 27 July 1701 the Faculty of Law of the University of Rostock issued a legal opinion authorising torture against the accused.