233. Stop Believing Mengele Lived Miserably in Brazil – He Didn’t! with Betina Anton

Forget Odessa and misery: Mengele’s postwar reality was different.

What if everything you thought you knew about Josef Mengele’s post-war life was wrong? Far from being a miserable fugitive, the “Angel of Death” lived comfortably in South America — supported by networks that had nothing to do with the mythical Odessa organisation.

Host Paul Bavill welcomes journalist and historian Betina Anton, author of Hiding Mengele, to uncover the real story of Mengele’s escape, life in hiding, and the myths that continue to surround his legacy. Drawing on her own childhood experiences in Brazil’s German community, and six years of research, Betina reveals a far more unsettling truth than the legends suggest.

You’ll discover:

• The Myth of Misery: Why Mengele’s life in Brazil was far from wretched — from beaches and barbecues to soap operas and dinner parties.
• Odessa Exposed: The reality behind the supposed Nazi escape network, and how personal “buddy systems” actually kept fugitives safe.
• Mossad’s Near Misses: How Nazi hunters came within touching distance of Mengele — and why he always slipped away.
• Evil in Everyday Life: Letters and accounts showing Mengele’s mundane concerns, from waistlines to wine, alongside his total lack of remorse.

Join us for a myth-busting conversation that shatters the comforting lies we tell ourselves about justice and punishment. To dive deeper, pick up Betina’s book Hiding Mengele here:

👉 https://uk.bookshop.org/a/10120/9781837733002

Follow Betina Anton on Instagram: @betina_anton

Support the show on Patreon for early access, exclusive content, and of course, the iconic History Rage mug: patreon.com/historyrage

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From all of us at History Rage: stay curious, stay passionate, and above all — stay angry!

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