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'The Tattooist of Auschwitz': How Dr Josef Mengele's horrifying experiments on Auschwitz victims inflicted fear

'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' is a historical drama television series based on the book of the same name by Heather Morris

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: All episodes of 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' are now available for streaming on Peacock, offering viewers a poignant portrayal of the love story between Lale Sokolov, portrayed by Harvey Keitel, and Gita Furman, played by Anna Próchniak.

Set against the backdrop of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, the series delves into the harrowing experiences of Lale and Gita as prisoners. Their story takes a compelling turn when Lale encounters Dr. Schumann, whose presence sheds light on the atrocities unfolding within the camp.

But is Dr. Schumann's character based on a real-life person? Well, his character was inspired by Dr Josef Mengele, who was dubbed as the 'Angel of Death' due to his extreme experiments. However, here's everything we know about the Nazi doctor.

Who was Josef Mengele?

The series is adapted from a book authored by Heather Morris, wherein Lale confirms that this doctor was indeed Josef Mengele.

Josef was a German Schutzstaffel (SS) officer and physician during the Second World War. He earned the chilling nickname 'Angel of Death' due to his role in the Auschwitz concentration camp, where he allegedly conducted inhumane medical experiments on prisoners, as per The Cinemaholic.

He was born on March 16, 1911, in Günzburg, Germany. He pursued a career in medicine, dedicating his studies to fields such as human genetics and anthropology, among others.

In 1938, he reportedly became a member of the Nazi Party and concurrently joined the Frankfurt Institute for Hereditary Biology and Racial. In 1943, he was appointed as the chief physician at Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the most notorious concentration camps operated by the Nazi regime during the Holocaust, as per the outlet.

As a doctor, he allegedly conducted barbaric medical experiments on prisoners, subjecting them to horrific procedures. He allegedly used to decide who would be deemed fit for forced labor and who would be condemned to immediate death in the gas chambers.

Inside the atrocities committed by Josef Mengele

Josef was among those responsible for overseeing the administration of Zyklon B in the gas chambers located within two crematoriums at the camp, as per the source outlet. He allegedly had a fascination with twins during his tenure at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Known for his gruesome fascination with twins, he subjected victims to horrific experiments, causing his name to become synonymous with cruelty and inhumanity.

According to the Holocaust Encyclopedia, Josef inflicted agonizing procedures on victims, including injections of unknown substances and surgeries without anesthesia. He also deliberately infected them with diseases, perpetrating unspeakable atrocities, as per reports.

Upon arrival at the camp, Josef would reportedly select physically capable adults for forced labor, while others, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly, were sent to the gas chambers. Victims were reportedly marked with numbers tattooed on their arms before being led to their deaths, instilling fear among all who encountered him, as per Auschwitz-Birkenau.

How did Dr Josef Mengele die? 

Despite attempts to bring him to justice, Josef managed to evade capture, eventually fleeing to South America. After the war, he worked as a farm stableman before obtaining citizenship in Paraguay. He later moved to Brazil, where he died on February 7, 1979, succumbing to a stroke while swimming.

'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' is now streaming on Peacock