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Josef Mengele ALS 1942

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Josef Mengele ALS 1942
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Fascinating autograph letter signed by Josef Mengele to his wife Irene, dated 4 January 1942 while Mengele was serving as a doctor in the Nazi army deep behind Russian lines. Much of the letter is devoted to a film that Mengele and his battalion were producing, ostensibly a ''war'' film that included scenes featuring Mengele, and which he told his wife she would soon see. Letter reads in full: ''The New Year has begun and we didn't even notice. Our daily routine just keeps going on. Fortunately, it has been silent recently even though we get the obligatory 'visits' by airplanes. We have turned our new Russian home into a comfortable abode. The local sick quarters have been furnished appropriately, and since yesterday I have a station with 5 beds. You really have to learn to cope with local conditions. We're doing fine together. It's hard for the infantry in this windy cold weather (-34.6 Fahrenheit). However, they seem to be doing better than the Russians, at least that's what the Russian prisoners of war are telling us. It is trench warfare right now. It will be some time until I get permission to go on leave, although I hope that I get some time off before our assault begins in the spring. For several reasons this would be preferable, otherwise another year is lost. How is your health? You haven't written at all recently! Please write and let me know that everything is in order. I believe you had a chance to meet a man from our battalion, and I hope he did everything right with the film. I didn't have the opportunity to write more about this matter, since everything had to be done really fast. If the film was developed correctly, you will have a chance to see me on the screen. Please don't expect to see great battle scenes. As a doctor you don't have time to hold a camera when the battle begins; this is what war correspondents do. I still think that my film will serve as a decent reminder. I won't be on the screen too many times, and I expect you to have many questions when you see the film. It would be best if you were to write your questions down in your next letter and I will send the answers right back! Good idea? I haven't used the two new rolls of film and there is another one in the camera. And when will we have time to watch the films together? Dear Butzele, I haven't even gotten a picture of you, even though I had asked a few times to get a picture. Please send pictures to revive my fading memory!! I hope you understand. We didn't get any mail for quite some time, and I got no letters or packages from you or mother. I haven't received a Christmas letter from you, and I'm certain that you wrote one. Did you get my Christmas letter? Where did you spend New Year's Eve? What's going on in Freiburg? Be well my dearest wife, and write soon. (I know it's not your fault!) Just for today I want to send you 1000 kisses and more kisses for later. Yours, Butz.'' Sheet measures 8'' x 11'', which, folded into fourths, also served as a mailing envelope postmarked 6 January 1942 with two official Nazi stamps. Mengele fills the entire front of the sheet with writing, and half of the verso. Upon the other half of the verso, he signs from ''Dr. J. Mengele'' and writes the name of his wife ''Frau Irene Maria Mengele'' along with her address in Germany. Letter written in pencil in German. Mailing folds with 1.25'' separation along one fold and slight chipping to edges, else excellent.