Switzerland to open files on ‘Angel of Death’

Geneva: Swiss authorities will open long-secret intelligence files linked to Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, potentially shedding new light on the post-war movements of the Auschwitz fugitive known as the “Angel of Death.”

The decision follows years of demands from historians and journalists seeking access to records held by Switzerland’s Federal Intelligence Service. Authori­ties had earlier refused to release the material, citing secrecy concerns, but later agreed after legal appeals and renewed public interest.

Researchers hope the files may clarify whether Mengele entered or stayed in Switzerland while escaping capture after World War II. 

The records could also reveal how Swiss authorities monitored Nazi fugitives and whether officials were aware of escape routes used by former Nazis fleeing Europe.

Mengele conducted brutal medical experiments on prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp during the Holocaust. 

After the war, he escaped to South America and avoided arrest for decades before dying in Brazil in 1979.

Historians believe the newly opened documents could provide fresh details about the support networks that helped him remain hidden for years.