Dr. Josef Mengele War Merit Cross
1944 April 26, Front and Reverse side - Medal from Dr. Josef Mengele, awarded by Adolf Hitler.
Bronze colored (oxidized) silver finish medal with silk/rayon red, white, and black ribbon. At the left side, displayed is the front side of the medal exhibiting two crossed swords in front of the iron cross. A wreath with a Swasktika in the center appears. At the right side, displayed is the reverse side of the medal with same swords and wreath, yet the center displays the year 1939.
Name/Title
Dr. Josef Mengele War Merit CrossEntry/Object ID
2010.1.2Description
1944 April 26, medal from Dr. Josef Mengele, awarded by Adolf Hitler.Use
Worn or cherished by Dr. Josef Mengele after it was awarded to him by Adolf Hitler, c.1944.Context
Dr. Josef Mengele (1911-1979) was a Nazi "doctor" at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland who performed heinous experiments on inmates, and specifically inmates who were twins. Mengele, known as the Todesengel or "Angel of Death" conducted medical experiments on over 3,000 twins where he tested sterilization methods, inflicted wounds, and performed unnecessary surgeries for research purposes. In addition, Mengele and other Nazi "doctors" believed in the Nazi agenda that was antisemitism. Because of this, Mengele's hatred towards Jews manifested itself in the inhumane procedures he executed. Furthermore, the procedures were not performed with safety, care, or sanitized instruments or environment. The War Merit Cross was created by Adolf Hitler in October 1939. The medal honors bravery and service towards the German war effort. The War Merit Cross with swords (First Class War Merit Cross) recognizes individuals who contributed, though not on the front-lines or in combat. 1939 appears on the medal to resemble the year Adolf Hitler instituted the War Merit Cross.Collection
Dr. Josef MengeleCategory
Medal