10. Rolf Mengele tracked down his father, the ‘Angel of Death’ when the evil Nazi was hiding in South America
In the 1980s, Rolf Mengele decided to change his name. Up until that point, he had tried to live with it, even though it would forever link him with his infamous father, the so-called ‘Angel of Death’. Despite being a medical doctor who had sworn to “do no harm”, Josef Mengele was feared by the inmates of Auschwitz concentration camp – and rightly so. Mengele would select men, women and children for his cruel and sadistic experiments. His cruelty was legendary, though, tragically for his victims, he managed to evade justice by feeling to South America.
By seeking refuge on a different continent. Mengele left behind his son, Rolf. His disappearance also meant that, growing up, Rolf was the subject of much attention. Nazi-hunters in particular was sure that he was still in contact with his fugitive father. And, in a way, he was. Mengele wrote several letters to his son, and soon Ralf was intrigued and determined to meet him. He traveled to South America in 1977. However, any hopes Mengele might have had of building a connection with his boy were destined to be dashed.
Recalling his trip, Rolf noted that his father had shown no remorse for his evil actions in Auschwitz. He even tried to justify them. He stated: “I didn’t even bother to listen to him or think of his ideas. I simply rejected everything he presented. I will never understand how human beings could do those things. That my father was one of them doesn’t change my opinion.”
Though he hated his father and all he stood for, Rolf could not bring himself to betray him. He refused to say where Mengele was hiding in South America. As a result, the Angel of Death died without having to answer for his many crimes. With the face-to-face meeting behind him, Rolf changed his name and broke with the past completely. It’s believed he now has a family of his own and is a retired lawyer living a quiet life in Germany.