Switzerland to open secret files on Auschwitz ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele
Switzerland to open secret files on Auschwitz ‘Angel of Death’ Mengele
Switzerland to open secret files on Auschwitz – The Swiss Federal Intelligence Service has announced its intention to unseal long-kept records about Josef Mengele, the infamous Nazi doctor known as the “Angel of Death.” While the agency has confirmed this decision, it has not yet disclosed a specific timeline for the release. Mengele, who evaded capture after World War Two, has remained a subject of intrigue for decades. Rumors have persisted that he spent time in Switzerland, despite an international arrest warrant being active against him. Historians and researchers have sought access to these files for years, but Swiss authorities have consistently withheld them until now.
The Escape to South America
After the war, Mengele, a member of Germany’s Waffen SS, quickly assumed a new identity and fled to South America. His escape was facilitated by the Red Cross, which issued travel documents at the Swiss consulate in Genoa, northern Italy. These documents were originally intended for war-displaced individuals across Europe, but Mengele and other Nazis exploited the system to avoid prosecution. The Red Cross later apologized for this oversight, acknowledging that its procedures had allowed the escape of notorious war criminals. However, the files on Mengele’s activities have remained sealed, raising questions about the agency’s transparency.
Mengele’s role at Auschwitz is well-documented. As a doctor, he was responsible for selecting prisoners, particularly children and twins, for brutal medical experiments before sending them to their deaths. The camp, located in Nazi-occupied Poland, saw the murder of approximately 1.1 million people, including around a million Jews. His reputation as a “human experiment” specialist has cemented his place in history as one of the most feared figures of the Holocaust. Yet, his connection to Switzerland has only recently become a focal point of historical inquiry.
A Hidden Link to Switzerland
Despite his escape to South America, Mengele was known to have taken a skiing vacation in the Swiss Alps with his son Rolf in 1956. This detail, revealed decades ago, hinted at a potential return to Europe. While officially he lived in South America for the rest of his life, Swiss historian Regula Bochsler has long questioned whether Mengele revisited Switzerland after an international arrest warrant was issued in 1959. Her research uncovered evidence suggesting the Nazi might have made a strategic move to the Alpine nation during that period.
Bochsler’s investigation into Switzerland’s role as a transit hub for fleeing Nazis led her to discover a 1961 warning from Austrian intelligence to the Swiss authorities. The alert indicated that Mengele was traveling under a pseudonym and could be on Swiss soil. Simultaneously, his wife had rented an apartment in Zurich and applied for permanent residency. “There seems to be evidence Mengele was planning a trip to Europe in 1959,” Bochsler explained to the BBC. This connection has sparked speculation about the family’s possible presence in Switzerland during the 1950s and 1960s, even as the authorities kept their records confidential.
Frustrated Requests and Legal Action
Historians like Bochsler have faced repeated rejections when trying to access the files. In 2019, she submitted a formal request to the Swiss Federal Archive, only to be denied. The files were sealed until 2071, citing national security and the need to protect the extended Mengele family. Fellow historian Gérard Wettstein, who also sought access in 2025, encountered the same resistance. “It seemed ridiculous,” he told the BBC. “As long as they are closed until 2071, it fuels conspiracy, everyone says ‘they must have something to hide’.” Wettstein took the matter to court, funding the legal battle through a crowdfunding campaign that raised 18,000 Swiss francs in just a few days. This effort ultimately pressured the Swiss authorities to reconsider their stance.
The decision to release the files marks a shift in the agency’s approach, though the exact terms of access remain unspecified. A recent statement from the Swiss Federal Intelligence Service indicated that the files will be made available “subject to conditions and requirements yet to be defined.” This suggests a cautious approach, balancing transparency with the need to safeguard sensitive information. For now, the public can only speculate about the contents of the documents, which may shed new light on Mengele’s ties to Switzerland.
What the Files Might Reveal
While the files could provide insights into Mengele’s movements, some historians remain skeptical about their significance. Sacha Zala, president of the Swiss Society for History, believes the documents may not reveal much about the Nazi himself. “There is nothing relevant about Mengele,” he stated. “But there might be references to foreign intelligence services or informants.” Zala suggests that the Swiss authorities might have maintained secrecy to protect information shared with other nations, such as Israel’s Mossad, which was actively hunting Nazis in the late 1950s.
The files could also detail interactions between Swiss officials and foreign intelligence agencies. For instance, Zala suspects that Mossad may have communicated with the Swiss during the 1950s and 1960s. This would justify keeping the files sealed, as sensitive intelligence exchanges are often redacted to prevent leaks. However, the mention of Mossad in the context of a 70-year-old hunt for Nazis may not be enough to justify the extended secrecy. The files’ contents, still unknown, have become a focal point for debates about historical accountability and the role of Switzerland in the post-war era.
Bochsler’s persistence in uncovering Mengele’s possible return to Switzerland highlights the importance of archival transparency. Her research into the Mengele family’s activities in Zurich has uncovered details such as the apartment’s location near the international airport, which could have facilitated quick access to and from the country. The Zurich police files she reviewed show that the flat was under surveillance in 1961, with records noting Mrs. Mengele driving her Volkswagen alongside an unidentified man. Whether that man was her husband or a collaborator remains a mystery, but the evidence points to a deliberate attempt to stay close to Swiss borders.
The release of these files represents a milestone in the ongoing quest to understand Mengele’s life after the Holocaust. While the Swiss authorities have acknowledged the need for transparency, the delay in opening the records has raised questions about the motivations behind their secrecy. The files could confirm or refute claims of Mengele’s return to Switzerland, offering new perspectives on the nation’s role in sheltering Nazi war criminals. For historians, the delay has been a source of frustration, but the eventual unsealing of the documents may provide a clearer picture of the past. As the Swiss intelligence agency moves toward transparency, the public watches closely, eager to learn what the files might reveal about one of history’s most notorious figures.