Overview:

Josef Mengele wrote numerous letters to his family while in hiding in South America after World War II. These letters reveal his thoughts about his actions during the war and his struggles to evade capture.

Content:

• Letters include mundane personal updates and expressions of frustration over his inability to return to Germany.
• His correspondence shows no remorse for his crimes, instead, he rationalized his actions and expressed pride in his work.
• Some letters indicate his family provided financial and emotional support while he remained in hiding.

Significance:

These letters provide insight into Mengele’s psychological state and lack of accountability, as well as the complicity of those who supported him after the war.

Where to Access:

Some letters are housed in the Simon Wiesenthal Center archives. Excerpts have been published in historical studies and biographies of Mengele.