GERMANY: INTERVIEW WITH DR. HANS MUENCH

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• published: 21 Jul 2015
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German/Nat The German authorities have launched an investigation into comments allegedly made by an associate of the Nazi Joseph Mengele. Han Muench is accused of claiming that the gassing of inmates at the Auschwitz death camp spared them from further suffering. The 87 year old retired doctor was quoted in an article by the German magazine "Der Spiegel". But, in an exclusive interview with A-P-T-N, Muench denied the comment and claimed he actually protected some of the camp inmates from the gas chambers. This is the small Bavarian town of Rosshaupten in Germany - home to 87-year-old retired doctor, Hans Muench. Muench, who admits helping Nazi doctor Joseph Mengele carry out medical experiments at Auschwitz concentration camp during the Second World War, is currently under investigation. The investigation was launched two weeks ago after 'Der Spiegel' magazine quoted Muench as saying that gassing Jews at Auschwitz spared them from having to suffer deadly diseases. A spokesman at the Bavarian state chancellery said prosecutors began investigating the doctor for downplaying what the Nazis did at Auschwitz, where some 1.5 (m) million Jews perished. But Muench claims he actually protected some of the camp inmates from the gas chambers. SOUNDBITE: (German) "It is proven by the court before the court that I protected these women from the gas chambers. Normally the experiments were made even though they were unnecessary, and then they were sent to Birkenhau to the gas chamber." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Hans Muench In the 'Der Spiegel' article, Muench is quoted as saying he could only "speak the best" about Mengele, who arrived at Auschwitz on the same day as Muench in the summer of 1943. Mengele, known as the Nazi "Angel of Death," conducted experiments on Jewish inmates at Auschwitz, including injections in their eyes to try to change the colour. Muench said it was his job to analyse material Mengele sent to him. SOUNDBITE: (German) "In the institute where I worked, we did the diagnostical research. We received the prepared samples. We only knew the prisoner's number. If we had been interested, we could have found out which area they came from, but we didn't." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Hans Muench The magazine article said Muench showed no remorse for working at Auschwitz. But Muench said he had many arguments with Mengele, while his daughter criticised the 'Der Spiegel' article. SOUNDBITE: (German) "I had nothing against Mengele when we were in Auschwitz, but I had many arguments with him, although not in this area (of the experiments)." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Hans Muench SOUNDBITE: (German) "People believe 'Der Spiegel'. We are being threatened. We received threatening letters. We had to change our telephone number. Our whole lives have changed here, and for something that in 'Der Spiegel', in my opinion, is absolutely false." SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Hans Muench's daughter In Munich, a spokesman for the Bavarian Justice Ministry said the state prosecutor had opened an investigation into the 'Der Spiegel' article. SOUNDBITE: (German) "This (the magazine article) is being checked for new information, and based on that, the state prosecutor is obliged to open an investigation, and that is what we have done." SUPER CAPTION: Andreas Zwerger, Bavarian Justice Ministry spokesman Frankfurt prosecutors are also looking again at war crimes charges that Muench was acquitted of in 1947. The two probes may be combined to speed up the process. But Muench says there is nothing left to investigate. SOUNDBITE: (German) SUPER CAPTION: Dr. Hans Muench Muench's housekeeper claims some World War Two refugees in Rosshaupten are grateful to the retired doctor. SOUNDBITE: (German) You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/45a1fe90c5c8572b3ab3b1a07828a0d9 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork