In a significant revelation, a police file from Argentina, long thought to be lost, has surfaced, shedding new light on the escape routes and political entanglements of Josef Mengele, infamously known as the "Angel of Death" of Auschwitz. This document, which had been missing for over 20 years, details not only Mengele's aliases and travel patterns but also highlights the complicity of Argentine and German authorities in allowing him to evade justice until his death in 1979.
Mengele, born in 1911, was notorious for his inhumane experiments on inmates at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where over one million people were murdered during the Holocaust. After the war, he managed to escape to South America via the "Ratlines" network, living under the alias "Gregor Helmut" in Buenos Aires. The newly uncovered police file indicates that he lived a life of relative comfort, financially supported by his affluent family, and mingled in elite circles, often visiting neighborhoods like Belgrano.
Historian Bogdan Musial, who has studied Mengele extensively, emphasized the importance of this file, stating, "These details about what happened to him after 1945 are very interesting and have not been precisely examined before." The documents show that from 1956, there were close connections between former SS officers and elements of the Argentine police and military, facilitating a network that helped Nazi fugitives like Mengele remain hidden.
Despite the growing evidence of Mengele's presence, it wasn't until late 1959 that the Federal Republic of Germany submitted an official extradition request. This request came only after a private tip-off, rather than through any proactive judicial effort. The file reveals that Argentine authorities had already interrogated Mengele and warned him of imminent arrest shortly before the extradition request was made.
According to sociologist Daniel Feierstein, who has focused on post-war accountability in South America, the Argentine police seemed to protect their own informants by removing crucial evidence and covering up internal investigations. "The police apparently shielded their own informants by removing key clues and obscuring internal inquiries," Feierstein noted.
Moreover, the documents detail Mengele's movements between Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, including police reports of his interrogations and warnings about potential arrests. In February 1959, he even applied for a passport at the German embassy in Buenos Aires under his real name, indicating a level of confidence that he would not be apprehended.
By January 1960, the Argentine police were aware that Mengele had fled to Paraguay, and from 1963 onwards, Brazilian authorities began requesting detailed information about him, as their investigations led them to believe he was in Brazil. Mengele ultimately died in Brazil in 1979, with his grave discovered in 1985 and identified through DNA analysis in 1992.
The newly rediscovered police file has sparked calls for full transparency regarding the complicity of various governments in Mengele's evasion of justice. Human rights organizations and historians are demanding the international opening of all relevant archives in Argentina, Brazil, and Germany, along with the publication of previously classified documents concerning Mengele and his network.
"Only through thorough documentation can we historically condemn the system of willful ignorance and serve as a warning for future generations," said Feierstein. The file's re-emergence marks a new phase in the historical reckoning surrounding one of the most notorious Nazi criminals.
Critics have long pointed to the Federal Republic's half-hearted attempts to capture Mengele, suggesting a lack of genuine will to pursue him. Musial argues that the state was not merely failing; it was successful in its aim to avoid pursuing him. "The goal was not to track him down," he asserts, indicating that the political climate of the time may have played a role in Mengele's freedom.
As the world approaches the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, this revelation serves as a stark reminder of the failures to hold accountable those responsible for unspeakable atrocities. The implications of this file extend beyond Mengele's individual case; they call into question the broader complicity of nations in harboring war criminals.
In light of these findings, the MDR's documentary series "exactly" will delve deeper into Mengele's story and the systemic failures that allowed him to live freely for decades. The episode, which airs on May 6, 2025, at 9:45 PM on Das Erste, promises to explore the historical significance of these documents and their implications for our understanding of post-war justice.
This investigation not only highlights the intricate network that facilitated Mengele's survival but also emphasizes the urgent need for accountability and transparency regarding the actions of governments that turned a blind eye to the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. As more information comes to light, it becomes increasingly clear that the story of Josef Mengele is not just a chapter in history but a continuing lesson in the importance of vigilance against injustice.
