Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution

Corruption proliferated within the SS, with widespread abuse, bribery and self‑serving practices systematically taking root across the organisation. At the same time, Dr Josef Mengele pursued a gruesome series of genetic experiments, using children as guinea‑pigs to further his research.

Corruption is a programme presented as an episode, falling within the broader genre of televised documentary storytelling. It is structured as a single instalment that investigates a dark chapter of history, focusing on the internal decay of a notorious organisation. The format follows the conventions of an episode‑length investigation, delivering its material in a concise, focused manner. The central narrative tracks the spread of corrupt practices inside the SS, illustrating how moral decay became entrenched within the ranks. Parallel to this, the episode follows Dr Josef Mengele as he conducts a series of horrific experiments, employing children as test subjects for his genetic research. These twin storylines highlight both institutional corruption and individual cruelty. By juxtaposing the systemic rot of the SS with Mengele’s personal atrocities, the episode underscores how widespread ethical breakdown can coexist with singular acts of brutality. It shows how the culture of corruption facilitated an environment where such inhuman experiments could be pursued without restraint. The programme also sheds light on the specifics of Mengele’s work, describing his use of children in a gruesome quest for genetic insight. Through this focus, the episode paints a stark picture of the lengths to which the SS’s corrupt framework allowed scientific perversion to flourish.