Educational purpose only. This post documents historical events related to World War II and condemns the Nazi regime, war crimes, and all totalitarian ideologies. We do not glorify violence or hate.
Opening the Coffin of Josef Mengele: The Forensic Examination of the “Angel of Death”
Josef Mengele, the notorious SS physician known as the “Angel of Death” at Auschwitz-Birkenau, evaded justice for decades after World War II. His death remained a mystery until 1985, when an investigation in Brazil led to the exhumation of a body that would finally confirm his fate.
This article examines the events surrounding Mengele’s death, the exhumation of his remains, and the forensic investigation that proved beyond doubt the identity of one of history’s most wanted war criminals.
1. The Death of Josef Mengele in Brazil
After fleeing Europe following the war, Mengele lived in Argentina and Paraguay before settling in Brazil . On February 7, 1979, while swimming at the beach in Bertioga, near São Paulo, he suffered a stroke and drowned .
At the time of his death, Mengele was living under the assumed identity of Wolfgang Gerhard, an Austrian citizen whose documents he had taken . The body was buried in the municipal cemetery of Embu, near São Paulo, under Gerhard’s name .
The individuals who had sheltered Mengele, the Bossert family, attended his burial and made arrangements for the funeral. They later testified that Mengele had wished to be cremated, but Brazilian law required authorization from next of kin, which was not available at the time .
2. The 1985 Exhumation
In June 1985, following a tip from the West German Consul General in São Paulo, Brazilian authorities launched an investigation into Mengele’s whereabouts . On June 6, 1985, police exhumed a body from a grave in the Embu cemetery .
The remains were believed to be those of Josef Mengele, buried under the name Wolfgang Gerhard in February 1979 . Coroner Jose Melo stated he was “90 percent certain” the body was Mengele’s .
3. The International Forensic Investigation
An international team of forensic scientists from Brazil, West Germany, the United States, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center was assembled to examine the remains . The initial examination of the skeleton took place at the Institute of Legal Medicine in São Paulo, beginning on June 17, 1985 .
The investigation included:
Osteological (bone) analysis
Dental examination
Anthropological measurements
Photographic superimposition of the skull
The forensic findings indicated the remains belonged to a male, Caucasoid, aged approximately 68-69 years, with a stature of 172.2 cm . This matched Mengele’s known physical characteristics .
4. DNA Confirmation
Initial identification was based on anthropological and dental evidence, but DNA testing later provided conclusive proof. In 1992, DNA analysis conducted by Dr. Alec Jeffreys and Dr. Renate Hagelberg confirmed the identity of the remains . Comparison of DNA extracted from the femur bone with DNA from Mengele’s son and wife established paternity beyond reasonable doubt .
The DNA evidence showed less than a 1 in 1,800 chance that the remains belonged to anyone unrelated to Mengele’s son .
5. The Evidence and Controversies
Several sources of evidence contributed to the identification:
Testimony from the Bosserts: The family who sheltered Mengele testified extensively about his life and death .
Dental Records: Dental examinations revealed a gap between the upper teeth, which matched testimony from those who knew Mengele .
Osteomyelitis Misdiagnosis: Earlier documents suggested Mengele had osteomyelitis as a youth, but the skeletal examination revealed no evidence of this condition. The changes in the hip were those of a fracture, not infection .
The Bosserts testified that Mengele assumed the identity of Wolfgang Gerhard, who was much taller (188 cm) than Mengele (174 cm) . This detail was crucial in confirming the identification.
6. Official Confirmation
In 1989, Frankfurt prosecutors officially closed the investigation into Josef Mengele, concluding that he had died in Brazil on February 7, 1979 . The statement declared:
“We would have preferred to present a living Mengele to the court to determine his guilt and satisfy the need for justice of the victims.”
Primary Sources:
Wiener Holocaust Library — Correspondence regarding Mengele’s death (1985-1991)
Jeffreys, A.J. et al. — “Identification of the skeletal remains of Josef Mengele by DNA analysis” (Forensic Science International, 1992)
Helmer, R.P. — “Identification of the Cadaver Remains of Josef Mengele” (Journal of Forensic Sciences, 1987)
U.S. Department of Justice — Forensic investigation report on Mengele remains (1985-1989)
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology — International team report (1985)