The Jewish Teenager who hid in the German Army (Strange Stories of WWII)
TLDRSolomon Peril, born in 1925 in Germany, was a Jewish boy who hid his identity to survive the Holocaust. As Hitler rose to power, Solomon's family faced persecution, leading them to flee to Poland. When the Nazis invaded Poland, Solomon and his brother Isaac escaped to the Soviet border. Solomon later found himself in an orphanage, where he joined a Communist youth group. After being captured by the Nazis, he concealed his Jewish heritage and became a member of the German Army, where he formed a close bond with a sympathetic officer. Eventually sent to a Hitler Youth boarding school, Solomon continued to hide his true identity while enduring Nazi indoctrination. After the war, he learned of the Holocaust's horrors and the fate of his family. His experiences were later chronicled in his autobiography and adapted into the film 'Europa Europa'.
Takeaways
- 📜 Solomon Peril, born in 1925, was a Jewish boy who hid his identity to survive the Holocaust.
- 👣 In 1933, at the age of eight, Solomon's family faced persecution with Hitler's rise to power.
- 🛡️ To avoid persecution, Solomon and his family fled to Poland in 1936, but the invasion of Poland in 1939 forced them to change plans.
- 🧑🤝🧑 Solomon and his brother Isaac escaped to the Soviet Polish border to join the Russian army, while the rest of the family went to a ghetto.
- 👮 Solomon, posing as an ethnic German named Joseph Purgel, joined the Wehrmacht (Vermont Army) and served as an interpreter.
- 🤝 He formed a close friendship with a German officer, Heinz Kelzenberg, who protected his secret Jewish identity.
- 🏫 Solomon was later sent to a Hitler Youth boarding school, where he was indoctrinated with Nazi ideology while living in constant fear of discovery.
- 💔 Despite the war's tide turning against Germany, Solomon continued to conceal his identity, even as he rose to the rank of platoon leader in the Hitler Youth.
- 🕊️ With the end of the war, Solomon was recognized and freed by American forces without being shot, allowing him to reclaim his true identity.
- 📚 After the war, Solomon discovered the fate of his family and learned the truth about Auschwitz and the Holocaust.
- 📖 Solomon Peril authored an autobiography about his experiences, which was adapted into the film 'Europa Europa'.
Q & A
What was Solomon Peril's original name, and when and where was he born?
-Solomon Peril's original name was Sally, and he was born in a small town named Pina, just northwest of Brunswick, Germany, on April 21, 1925.
What significant event occurred in 1933 that affected Solomon's life?
-In 1933, Adolf Hitler rose to power and became Chancellor of Germany, which marked the beginning of the Nazi regime's persecution of the Jewish population.
Why did Solomon's family close their shoe shop?
-Solomon's family was forced to close their shoe shop after Hitler's Stormtroopers painted 'Don't buy from Jews' across their windows.
What was the impact of the Nuremberg racial laws on Solomon?
-The Nuremberg racial laws, enacted in 1935, resulted in Solomon's expulsion from school due to his Jewish heritage.
Why did Solomon and his brother Isaac decide not to go with the rest of the family to the ghetto?
-Solomon and his brother Isaac decided to escape east to the Soviet-Polish border and join the Russian army to avoid being sent to the ghettos under Hitler's regime.
How did Solomon manage to hide his Jewish identity when he was captured by the Nazis?
-Solomon hid his Jewish identity by grinding his communist affiliation and Jewish ethnicity papers into the ground and claiming to be an ethnic German named Joseph Purgel from Grodno.
What role did Solomon play in the Vermont Army?
-Solomon worked as an interpreter for Russian prisoners in the Vermont Army and became quite popular among the ethnically German soldiers.
How did Solomon's relationship with Heinz Kelzenberg evolve over time?
-Initially, Heinz Kelzenberg made unwanted advances towards Solomon. However, after recognizing Solomon's true identity, Heinz promised to keep his secret and a genuine friendship developed between them.
What was the reason Solomon was sent to a Hitler Youth boarding school?
-Solomon was sent to a Hitler Youth boarding school because he was a minor and the Vermont Army had no choice but to send him away, as they were involved in the war.
How did Solomon manage to conceal his circumcision during public showers at the Hitler Youth boarding school?
-Solomon crafted foam to cover his modesty during public showers, praying it would be enough to hide the fact that he was circumcised.
What happened to Solomon's family during the Holocaust?
-Solomon's brother Isaac and his wife survived and were living in Munich, and his brother David escaped and started a life in Palestine. However, Solomon's parents and sister did not survive the Holocaust.
What did Solomon Peril do after the war, and how is his story known today?
-After the war, Solomon Peril published his acclaimed autobiography detailing his experiences. His story was later developed into the acclaimed motion picture 'Europa, Europa'.
Outlines
🧳 Journey of Solomon Peril: A Hidden Jewish Hero
Solomon Peril, born in Pina, Germany, in 1925, was a Jewish boy who survived the Holocaust by hiding his identity. As Hitler rose to power in 1933, Solomon's family faced persecution, leading them to flee to Poland. When the Nazis invaded Poland, Solomon and his brother Isaac escaped to join the Russian army, while the rest of the family went to a ghetto. Solomon spent time in an orphanage, where he learned Russian and joined a Communist youth group. Eventually captured by the Nazis, he managed to conceal his Jewish identity by claiming to be an ethnic German named Joseph Purgel. He served in the Vermont Army, where he formed a close bond with a medical officer, Heinz Kelzenberg, who protected his secret. Solomon's life was a series of close calls and brave acts, culminating in his survival of the Siege of Leningrad.
📚 Solomon's Trials in Hitler Youth and Beyond
After the Siege of Leningrad, Solomon was sent to a Hitler Youth boarding school, where he was subjected to Nazi indoctrination. Despite the constant threat of his true identity being discovered, particularly during public showers, Solomon managed to maintain his cover with the help of a supportive friend. He even experienced moments of happiness, including a romance with a BDM girl, whose mother suspected his secret but kept it. As World War II began to turn against Germany, Solomon continued his role in the Hitler Youth, only to be liberated by American forces towards the end of the war. He returned to his true self and discovered the fates of his family members—some survived, while others perished in the Holocaust. Solomon's incredible story was later documented in his autobiography and adapted into the film 'Europa Europa,' providing a unique perspective on the Holocaust and its impact on one Jewish family.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Hitler Youth
💡Nuremberg Laws
💡Vermont Army
💡Holocaust
💡Auschwitz
💡Indoctrination
💡Jewish Persecution
💡Autobiography
💡Ghettos
💡Russian Army
💡Europa Europa
Highlights
Solomon Peril, a Jewish member of the Hitler Youth, was born in Pina, Germany in 1925.
Solomon's family fled to Poland in 1936 to escape the Nazi regime.
Solomon and his brother Isaac joined the Russian army instead of going to the ghetto with the rest of their family.
Solomon spent two enjoyable years in an orphanage in Russia, joining the Communist youth group and learning Russian.
After the Nazis captured Solomon, he hid his Jewish identity and claimed to be an ethnic German named Joseph.
Solomon became popular among the German soldiers he worked with as an interpreter for Russian prisoners.
Medical officer Heinz Kelzenberg discovered Solomon's true identity but kept his secret and became his friend.
Solomon survived the Siege of Leningrad with the help of Heinz, who died in his arms.
Solomon was sent to a Hitler Youth boarding school in 1942 due to being a minor.
At the school, Solomon endured indoctrination and the constant fear of his true identity being discovered.
Despite the circumstances, Solomon found moments of levity and even fell in love with a BDM girl.
Solomon's family faced tragic fates during the Holocaust, with his parents and sister not surviving.
After the war, Solomon reclaimed his true identity and traveled to be with his brother Isaac in Palestine.
Solomon published an acclaimed autobiography detailing his unique experiences during the war.
His story was later adapted into the acclaimed film Europa, Europa.
Solomon's journey was marked by incredible luck, bravery, and the kindness of others.
He faced the constant threat of exposure and execution due to his Jewish identity.
Solomon's experiences provide a unique perspective on the Holocaust and World War II.
Transcripts
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