Biography of Josef Mengele

Born as the eldest son, March 16, 1911, in Gunzburg, Germany was Josef Mengele. His father was a very wealthy business owner of a manufacturing company of farming equipment. Josef grew up with a strict catholic religion. Later being accepted the University of Munich and obtaining a degree in philosophy. He then pursued a medical degree from the University of Frankfurt am Main, concentrating on physical anthropology and genetics (Killer File). “In January of 1937, at the Institute for Hereditary Biology and Racial Hygiene in Frankfurt, he became the assistant of Dr. Otmar von Verschuer, a leading science figure widely known for his research with twins” (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). In 1937 Josef Mengele earned his medical degree and made the decision to enlist into the Nazi Party. This is where a man that everyone perceived as smart, intelligent, and nice turned into what he would soon be called, “the angel of death”.

Soon after joining the Nazi Party Dr. Mengele is believed to have worked as a medical personnel that was concentrated in the Central Immigration Office. In this time period the idea of the Aryan Race was still being fully developed. Hitler would soon make his idea of a “final solution” a reality. This included “the extermination of the Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, homosexuals, communists, and other undesirables” (Killer File). Mengele was later wounded while on campaign and later returned to Germany in January of 1943. In April of 1943 Josef Mengele was appointed as an SS captain of the Nazi party and was soon transferred to Auschwitz (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). Most people don’t realize that Josef Mengele was not the only doctor at Auschwitz nor was he the highest ranking physician there. Acc...

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...burg, located Mengele’s grave and exhumed his corpse” (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum). Dr. Josef Mengele had evaded his captors for 34 years and spent the remainder of his life as a happy free man.

Works Cited

Amen. Dir. Costa Gavras. 2002. DVD

"Josef Mengele." killer file. Moreorless, 30 April. 2001. Web. 21 April. 2014. . (Killer File)

"Josef Mengele." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 1 June. 2013. Web. 1 April 21. 2014. . (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

"Secret diaries of Nazi doctor Josef Mengele offer glimpse into twisted mind." Mirror. N.p., 30 Jul. 2011. Web. 21 April. 2014. . (Secret Diaries)