with certain abnormalities, such as dwarfs, midgets, hunchbacks along with other birth defects, and twins were sent to a special block where Mengele could perform his research (THHP par.7). The building in which Mengele housed his specimens was Block 10 – the Zoo, as it came to be called.The twins became known as Mengele’s Children. They received certain privileges such as being allowed to keep their own clothes and their hair, the rest of the inmates were stripped and had their heads shaved. The twins were housed in their own compound with boys and girls lodged separately (Dekel 57). They were spared the beatings and punishment often received by other prisoners and the twins were sometimes even given better food rations (58). Many of the twins recall Dr. Mengele as very kind and remember him giving them treats and candy (Hizme 74). Irene Hizme, who was one of Mengele’s Children summed up the feelings of almost all his specimen’s saying, “he [Mengele] was our savior and our demon,” (74). But Mengele’s Children received a much worse fate than most other prisoners – the endless experiments. The children soon learned that the good treatment they were receiving was only to keep them healthy for these experiments. Mengele’s experiments on the twins are only partially known. Those who suffered the worst of his research took his actions to their grave (Josef Mengele par.5). Of the 3000 twins studied by Mengele only 200 survived, and those who survived say there were some experiments performed that they will never talk about (Dekel 70).Once the twins were selected, they, like all new inmates, were showered and branded with a numbered tattoo (Dekel 57). They were then asked to complete a questionnaire detailing their background, health, demographic information, and all their physical characteristics – their age, weight, height, eye and hair color were very important (59). ...
