Josef Mengele was the oldest of three sons born to Karl and Walburga Mengele in the village of Gunzburg. Karl was a local industrialist who owned a plant that manufactured farming equipment. He was known as a stern but fair employer and a hard worker. It was his wife Walburga, however, whom his employees feared the most. A big woman with a terrible temper, she was often known to walk the floor of her husband's factory and publicly tell off employees for being lazy and poor workmanship. Warnings were hurriedly passed down the production line whenever Walburga was seen walking towards the factory, and workers purposely avoided her to get away from her wicked temper. Walburga ruled her home with an equal amount of firmness, demanding respect and obedience from her three sons, Josef, Alois, and Karl, Jr. A devoted Catholic, Walburga saw to it that her boys practiced the faith of the Church. She acted the same way in her relationship with her husband, Karl. One afternoon, Karl arrived home in a new automobile he had purchased in order to celebrate the success of his factory. However, instead of a good job from his wife, Karl was greeted with anger for wasting money on something as silly as a car without first talking with her. This was a moment in Josef's childhood that made him realize how his mother wanted total control over the family. Josef's memory of the relationship of his parents left an impression on his life. He describes in his memoirs that his father is a cold man who is distant and preoccupied with his work at the factory. Walburga is described as someone not capable of loving. She did though raise up Josef as a disciplined, respectful son but her cold-hearted methods may have added to her son's ability for murder and bloodlust as an SS doctor at Auschwitz. Despite the lack of love and affection in his home, young Josef is remembered as a bright, cheerful boy in Gunzburg. Peers and adults both greeted him as "Beppo," a kind ni...
