Who was the Jew that became a Nazi? | Unpacked

Shlomo Perel (Solomon Perel) was a Jewish teenager in Germany during the rise of Hitler and Nazism. After escaping to the Soviet Union and destroying his identification papers, Shlomo transformed himself into dedicated Nazi Josef “Jupp” Perjell. It wasn’t until the war’s end and his immigration to British Mandate Palestine that Josef would begin the lifelong journey of returning to his Jewish identity as Shlomo.
00:00 Intro
00:27 Shlomo Perel's childhood
00:46 The rise of Hitler and Nazism
01:12 The start of WW2
01:32 The state of Polish Jewry
01:52 The trek to eastern Poland under Soviet control
02:57 Life in a Bialystok orphanage
03:08 German invasion of Bialystok
03:40 Lies about Jewish identity
04:21 Becoming a Nazi
05:04 Shlomo Perel or Josef Perjell?
05:27 Fellow Nazi discovers his ruse
06:07 Adoption by Nazi commander
06:55 The Hitler Youth school
07:17 Real Nazi pride
07:56 Girlfriend's mother discovers his ruse
08:31 Travel to Lodz ghetto
09:10 Fighting on the front
09:42 Return to his Jewish identity
11:01 Immigration to the British Mandate of Palestine
11:11 Fighting in the 1948 War of Independence and reuniting with brothers
11:25 Writing his life story
11:32 Admitting truth to former Hitler Youth friends
11:44 Education and acceptance from former Nazis
12:18 Opposing identities
13:03 Survival at the expense of identity
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Image and footage credits:
JOURNEYS
Adobe Stock Images
ArtGrid
British Pathé
Special Broadcasting Service
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
TimelinesTV
PublicResourceOrg
Associated Press
Getty Images
Jewish Family and Children’s Services Holocaust Center
Imperial War Museums
Yad Vashem
Henryk Ross/ Art Gallery of Ontario
CC Film
Les films du losange
GTV Docs LTD
Smithsonian Channel
Global Look Press
WikiCommons
Discovery UK
World War Footage
Chris Collingridge
Rolf Hayo
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Executive Producer:
- Barry Skolnick
Co-Executive Producer:
- Shmuel Katz
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Translation credits:
Portuguese: Saymon Pires, www.livrariasafra.com.br, @safralivraria
About Explainers: From ancient Jewish traditions to the modern State of Israel, we explain it all. Diving into anything and everything related to Jewish culture, history, and even religion.
Understand Jewish holidays, Israeli politics, Jewish diasporic communities, and more. Learn about Judaism in pop culture, debunking myths about Jews, and explore obscure Israeli landmarks. We’re asking questions as basic as “What is the Talmud?”, and as obscure as “How did hip-hop boost Kosher wine sales?”, and everything in between.
About Unpacked: We provide nuanced insights by unpacking all things Jewish. People are complex and complicated - yet we’re constantly being pushed to oversimplify our world. At Unpacked we know that being complex makes us more interesting. Because of this, we break the world down with nuance and insight to drive your curiosity and challenge your thinking.
#history #ww2 #identity

[@epic.and.legendary]

I had the privilege to hear the story from the man himself! When I was at school, four years ago, he came for a talk. At the end he handed out his signed book to everyone. I'll never forget this experience and I'll keep the book with his signiture!

[@JulieKandelCherniak]

Wow. I actually watched "Europe Europe". But to hear the real story about the real person behind the film is truly mind blowing.Thank you for this amazing video.

[@NarnianLady]

I saw the movie too, and was really touched..

[@inotaishu1]

I pity you for having watched that idiotic movie. Perel's story would be difficult enough to belief but the filmmakers made up so much nonsense that it is no wonder the movie wasn't liked.

[@skengasaurus]

For more stories about Jews who became Nazis, read literally any history of the state of Israel which wasn't authored by Israel or its coconspirators!

[@kp1flush]

Where did you find it? Streaming?

[@jenniferbreaux7385]

An important story of resilience. I have no judgment for him. He survived

[@NarnianLady]

Exactly. People survived through all sorts of means.. I did read of some young and adventurous young men surviving and even thriving as black market traders in France. All this, while millions were starving and being killed.. I cannot judge them, they never betrayed anyone's trust.

[@susannadvortsin]

I hope Shlomo found peace with himself before he passed. He seems like a kind and good man. He did what he had to to survive in a horrible situation. He doesn't deserve judgment for that, but compassion.

[@purepalm9078]

His name is literally Shkomo.

[@meeeka]

I met Solly Perel in Germany, when I was there lecturing about Holocaust and Jewish identities. I met him again later in the US at the Wiesenthal Center and Museum in LA. He was the nicest man, obviously stricken with anxiety about his survival yet many Jew in his audience's castigated him, insulted him for having used the Hitlerjugend as a survival mechanism. I've never heard such mean things said to an old man as those said to him; ie better to have lived in "Jewish truth" and been slaughtered than to have "become" one of "them." He looked so wounded when things like that were said.

[@davidfriedfeld]

As my Jewish Grandma would say , “ if you don’t have something nice to say , don’t say it “

[@serpentines6356]

That's heartbreaking to hear that. He was smart for using trickery to survive. His mother planted the seed. Good for her. He listened and did survive. Good for him. I hope he had a good life.

[@michaellavrov660]

Those people probably never endured being in the circumstances Shlomo was

[@thecrazycat8745]

survived at the price of others' lives. he was just as complicit as any other hitler youth.

[@MehWhatever99]

@@thecrazycat8745Hitler youth weren’t soldiers. Not till the very end when most of the real soldiers were dead or too sick to fight. The most he probably did was stand guard somewhere a few times.

[@shainazion4073]

Thank you for telling his story. The long version of his story is incredible.

[@susannadvortsin]

The incident with the gay Nazi. It makes me think that they both had a secret to keep and kept each other's secret, each knowing they could be killed if it was revealed.

[@Topg1]

I wish the Nazi didn’t try to SA him. I’m pretty sure there might have been other Nazi’s on the DL.

[@miss0petersburg]

⁠@@Topg1It’s a Nazi.. I think he was an angel compared to others. A Nazi is a Nazi. There isn’t a good Nazi. My opinion on them didn’t change even if he gave Shlomo a slice of bread. I have no such expectations. But if we pretend this is a normal situation with a normal person, sounds to me like he probably thought shlomo was gay also. Because he could’ve easily take advantage of him when he found out he’s a Jew. Actually I would’ve expected that. Who knows. I don’t care. We have bunch of so called “humanitarians” who are doing much worse now supporting terror groups…..

[@Topg1]

@@miss0petersburg I don’t think there is a good Nazi either. But him being homosexual is no excuse to attempt to rape someone. I don’t care if it was the 1940s.

[@sushipizza4439]

Ah yes perel. My grandma and him were good friends. Shlomo sadly passed earlier this year. That man has serious bravery. He has always been an inspiration for me. The amount he went through and the stories he told me were astonishing. The stories he told me were almost identical to his movie, but a more detailed. I know this sounds a little like a cap, but its true. My grandma was a history teacher in hadera and he came to the school very often to talk to kids. Thanks for the bringing it up

[@YaakovEzraAmiChi]

Wow! What a blessing to know such a man! Good for you! Am Yisrael Chai עם ישראל חי! ❤

[@user-os5xk8wp9k]

Definitely a survivor. My neighbour, while growing up here in Australia, had being marched around as a displaced person. Her mother somehow survived a camp. None of us know what we might do to survive, and to protect those dear to us. Shlomo is a holocaust survivor.

[@valerieminster1626]

He did what his mother told him to do. None of this was his fault. Im glad he found peace within himself and was able to have a successful life with his brothers.

[@edelgyn2699]

He interpreted what his mother told him, I bet his mother didn't tell him to join the Nazi and live a lie. My grandmother also impressed on me the need to survive, and when I asked her at what cost she replied that I should strive to stay alive, but to do so with dignity and humanity towards others. As a 14 year old, I think I might have lied about my identity in an attempt to stay alive long enough to escape the clutch of the Nazi militia, but I would not have stuck around to assist those fuckers. Let us not forget that many of our grandparents told us that some of the best people died in the Holocaust because of acts of generosity and kindness towards others and that many collaborators survived because they traded the welfare of others in order to promote their own self-interest.

[@Aleksandr_Gelyevich_Dugin]

@@edelgyn2699 what kind of pink self imagined world you live in??? all humans consider survival as foremost. If I'd been at this place, I'd have done the same despite being an idealist dickhead and die in holocaust for no reason. It's better to lie and live so that you can tell the truth.

[@meeeka]

There was another Jewish boy who was a Zionist, a Jewish nationalist, while also being a German nationalist. He wanted to marry the two together somehow. His name was Hans Joachim Schoeps. He even tried to make a deal with the Nazis, the youth services, unsuccessfully. After 1938, he managed to escape from Germany to Sweden, where he studied philosophy. He went back to Germany after the war and became a very controversial public figure, in both the Jewish and German communities.

[@nazihater2798]

​@frasermckevitt2417 the Zionist and Nazis worked together on many things, they were one in the same.

[@mattweisbart4061]

"Schoeps was leader of The German Vanguard (Der deutsche Vortrupp) an organization of 150 Jewish students, national conservative anti-Zionists who sought total assimilation into the German nation." He was not a Zionist.

[@gerberjoanne266]

The film based on Perel's life, "Europa, Europa," was excellent. I highly recommend it.

[@user-ig2gt9bb8b]

You need to change the title, he is not the Jew who became a Nazi, he is the Jew who pretended to be a Nazi

[@edelgyn2699]

Sounds like actually carried out Nazi policies - he wasn't just arsing around in fancy costume!

[@fmorris1563]

The ashke-nazi are the nazi

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

& by taking part of the foreign colonisation of Palestine he became a real Nazi in the end

[@PolarisIV]

​@@mickvonbornemann3824Nasis prevented their country from becoming Palestine, don't blame them for their brutal methods it was necessary

[@blaizesibande6634]

You know what touched me? Him reciting Scripture…. Hear O Israel… 😢my absolute favourite Scripture in the old Testament. ❤🩷🌸

[@edelgyn2699]

The Spanish Inquisition recited scripture as they were torturing and murdering people, how touching!

[@mysticaltraveller]

@@edelgyn2699 Lmao

[@PlutocracyStudios]

@edelgyn2699 *Tips fedora*

[@wisdom.research1051]

He was not the only Jew who served the German Army. 20 yrs ago Ma'ariv magazine had a article on this.

[@l.a7710]

I saw this film back in school as a kid and I remember thinking that kids like him and myself could battle anything (internal and external), his life is awe inspiring , just like many others, the will to survive is incredible

[@donkeycamel101]

Great job at narrating this ‼️ Your compassion and love shine forth !🙏💙🇮🇱🤍🌹

[@shrekxrohankishibe]

Just subscribed. Love the content you make.

[@timothysimonjohncroo]

A magnificent historical feature brilliantly presented, produced and told. And the true story behind the very influential and memorable film. Thank you for making this.

[@walterjoshuapannbacker1571]

I used to work with Sally Perel educating German school children about Judaism and the Holocaust around 2005.

[@Tzvi092]

Europa! Europa! is a must see available with English and Hebrew subtitles ❤

[@NarnianLady]

It must be, I saw it in Jerusalem

[@ianblake815]

I heard about this from Simple History. Thanks for doing this!

[@danielcuevas5899]

Would be cool if you could talk about the Jews of Finland during WW2. Many fought along side Nazis to defend against the Soviets. One Jew, Salomon Klass even won the German Iron Cross. Although I believe he rejected it.

[@user-ko3rl4vw6c]

I Think it was WW1

[@jonathanwilliams1065]

@@user-ko3rl4vw6cFinland didn’t exist in WWI Finland treated all Finnish citizens and soldiers the same, so the Germans didn’t know who was a Jew and who was not

[@MaryamofShomal]

This is one of the greatest stories I have ever heard. I swear, the people of the last century were built of stronger stuff than the people of today. God bless this hero, God bless Israel, and God bless the Jews all over the world 🙏🏽🇮🇱🫶🏽🇺🇸🙏🏽

[@lluisboschpascual4869]

These little documentaries are great. Keep up the good work!

[@fonpride2055]

Thanks for the amazing story. Where can I watch the movie of his story?

[@shainazion4073]

*_"Because you must live": The Story of Shlomo (Solly) Perel_* on Yad Vashem

[@WinningOsprey]

Aryan isn’t white people. It was stolen by a French poet around 1850. Aryan is Iranian. Another thing the Nazis appropriated. I don’t intend to change vernacular or working definitions. Just want to shed some light on the history of the term.

[@VIVIHESS]

Facts. Iranians or Indians.

[@Konoronn]

We are Aryans saarr!!

[@neuro.wesley]

Great story! What is the name of the movie that the scenes of the clip are taken of?

[@mspaint93]

Dope you're covering broader history!

[@littlecatfeet9064]

Thank you. I’ve never heard this story. Also, great channel.

[@StarvrosMitchell]

So much great truth, thank you. Was this story made into a movie, what is its name?

[@acat674]

Europa Europa

[@StarvrosMitchell]

@@acat674 thank you so much

[@dezbiggs6363]

And after all this oppression, he immediately joined the brigade that ethnically cleaned the road to juresulem. You'd think he'd learn after the horrors he endured.

[@elianayocheved770]

What a brave guy! I'm glad he went back to his heritage. Hashem put him in a unique position in the world.

[@edelgyn2699]

Bollocks!

[@salamlakmekonen6689]

Love ur vids❤

[@dontcomply2war]

Incredible story of survival for the will to live!

[@Black-n-Right]

Thanks for sharing this story. How inspiring!!

[@Butterfly-ADHD]

Lived experience is often the real teacher. Thank you for passing his message on.

[@tomakerfeldt3782]

This is truly a important story of human ability to survive, and to choose see the world in a new light

[@evinchester7820]

Back in 2002, I came across a review about a book that talked about Jewish soldiers in the Germany military in World War II. It was titled, "Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: The Untold Story of Nazi Racial Laws and Men of Jewish Descent in the German Military," May 6, 2002. Bryan Mark Rigg is the Author. He interviewed Jewish German World War II military vets for his book. When he would be asked to speak at Jewish Community centers, the audience at first was not open at all to hearing about this subject. But at the end of his talk, there were times he'd get a standing ovation. He had a follow up book published in 2009. "Lives of Hitler's Jewish Soldiers: Untold Tales of Men of Jewish Descent Who Fought for the Third Reich (Modern War Studies). Published in March 2009. Bryan Mark Rigg is American veteran having served in the Marines, studied history at Yale and Cambridge, and later taught it at Southern Methodist University and American Military University.

[@alimerhi5531]

Hollywood could use a film like this.

[@UNPACKED]

There is a film of this story - Europa Europa

[@Sara88890]

@@UNPACKED I was wonder where the clips were from, thanks for sharing.

[@allensmith6430]

Interesting video.

[@Nymeria64]

Ultimately you do what you have to in order to survive regardless of what side you were on. While there is bravery and I do have respect for someone that sticks with their morals even at the cost of their own life, there is also a lot of strength in wearing another face and adapting to the world that you find yourself in. I am glad that he survived

[@alvarocorral1576]

Europa Europa is one of my favorite movies and the book was even better. I can’t believe he was able to pull off what he did!!

[@philip.morris]

This is an amazing story

[@writing_desk]

Europa Europa was based from his story. It was a good movie.

[@nelliethursday1812]

Well, director Fritz Lang, when interviewed by Goebbles for possible work with the Nazi party, told Goebbles that he (Lang) had a grandmother who was Jewish. To which Goebbles replied "oh don't worry, we decide who is Jewish"

[@thelastdefenderofcamelot5623]

Not sure where these people come from but even Goebbels and Hitler themselves have been questioned about their origins. Goebbels look more like a French man and Hitler looks like a Jewish hybrid.

[@peterdavid2381]

Hi, me as a german saw the Film teile ( I think it was a german peoduction) really interesting and informative. Am Israel chay! 👍🕊🇮🇱

[@peterdavid2381]

....I saw it twice...

[@tonymcdonnly6492]

Very good video.

[@mr.normalguy69]

Make a video about Otto Skorzeny, the most mysterious man on the planet.

[@donovanlocust1106]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqOWm3ufgr-HfM0si=ESd5p7lsX4SOc_yn Already done , my friend

[@aneliyageorgieva5352]

Very interesting story.

[@mauricecohen3830]

Europa Europa is a must see movie.

[@kevinkev6472]

What a story!

[@richardshiggins704]

A fascinating story of one's will to survive .

[@lucientan8485]

I thought this was about Sergei Taboritsky… I’ve been playing too much TNO.

[@milascave2]

It was a good movie and an amazing story. They took some license with the story in the movie, especially at the end, but basically it is the same story. From Germany to western Poland to Soviet controlled Eastern Poland, and then gradually back to Germany, taking on whatever identity would enable him to survive at the moment. It was incredible. And you thought that your teen years w ere difficult and confusing.

[@adoniscuico335]

even our own commonwealth president manuel l quezon whom he save a hundred jewish here in the Philippines

[@stewartgregory3364]

I remember a book by Vonnegut called Mother Night. There was a Israeli guard who survived the Holocaust by joining the SS. When asked if anyone found out he was a Jew he said yes. When asked what did you do? he said I was SS & had them shot

[@sararichman6612]

So glad i found you channel!

[@davidjacobs8558]

Josef is ultimately a Jewish name too. it's not like Karl or Heinrich.

[@jeanetteb2347]

Interesting story, well told

[@laurie9557]

If he is still alive today, I wonder what he thinks of the never-ending indiscriminate bombing of Gaza.

[@element2138]

You're watching too much Hamas propaganda. Israel warns before they bomb.

[@shainazion4073]

He died in February

[@DeadChavez]

"they got what they asked for"

[@ArmenianBishop]

Thanks for that very interesting biography.

[@vladislavovich100]

Again. A reminder, from history, real. Near 200 000 Jews served in SS and German army during Hitler's time. Story about German Jew army officer visiting his father in concentration camp is the best, I think.

[@edwinamendelssohn5129]

Israel isn't NAZI

[@Packrat_Offical]

it is

[@leeboss1004]

@@Packrat_OfficalIs this guy rеtаrdеd or something

[@nazihater2798]

Most certainly is, the Zionist worked hand and hand with the Nazis in WWII, now the Zionist are the Nazis in Palestine, that's a fact. Learn your history, very easy to find.

[@jacobproductions2191]

@@Packrat_Offical😂 are you joking?

[@Packrat_Offical]

@@jacobproductions2191 no

[@CharlieDelta6-5]

God bless you, Mr. Perel, and may you rest in peace! What you did took a lot of courage. I wonder if anyone else may have done the same thing or something similar.

[@jasubolmedo2130]

Is there a Movie of this Story of Shcolomo

[@ItsRedeagle]

Europa europa

[@dannyhughes4889]

Another incredible story is told in the book The Mascot.

[@littlecatfeet9064]

Thank you, I’ve never heard this story before. Also, great channel ❤️🇦🇺🇮🇱

[@goldenfleece4314]

Great story

[@user-ob8hk9xq1p]

כן ..... אירופה אירופה .. שעורבת ( עד כמה אירוני ) תהליכים לטרור ( בפנים ובחוץ ) בבתים ברחובות בערים במדינות במערב .... אירופה אירופה

[@692ALBANNACH]

Read from a few sources that the Italian Fascist party in the 1920's had quite a few Jewish people belonging to it.

[@YaakovEzraAmiChi]

Such a beautiful story. Wow.

[@meeeka]

That generation of young German Jews has/had many more like Jupp, in the Army; their stories are now being ferreted out and collected.

[@hikodzu]

He truly mastered his alter ego

[@user-pj2lu2mw7h]

There was a few jews in the german army in ww2, 1 was in the luftwaffe he got arrested by the gestapo a few times , göring always bailed him out n he said ' i decide who is a jew or not '

[@teamcougars]

Such a great and beautiful young man thank you for your service and your sacrifice ❤❤

[@duncanbedford4765]

Fascinating. Now is the time to forgive and forget. ❤

[@pamreynolds6812]

Never forgive what the Nazis did and will never forget. It is happening again

[@ManashantiiTheChristian]

Thank you for sharing this story. It is very touching. G-d bless him. God bless Jews. God bless Israel. Manashantii The Christian

[@johndoh4064]

I've always suspected Eichman

[@shafsteryellow]

Him and Arthur Ruppin were cut from the same cloth

[@waterfall1100]

Erich Manstein was also of Jewish descent. That why Hitler sacked him in the end

[@camo_rat]

wow

[@PrincessKLS]

So I guess circumcision wasn’t very common in Germany’s population back then.

[@PrincessKLS]

@reinhardvonlohengramm6296 I don’t know. I know in the US, it’s super common.

[@edelgyn2699]

@@PrincessKLS LOL How do you know? Have you made a personal survey on the topic!? 😲

[@edelgyn2699]

@reinhardvonlohengramm6296 It's not common in the UK, I've encountered a handful of non-Jews who had the surgery done as small children due to medical complications. If you are a Jewish lad in a secular school, invariably your classmates who are circumcised will be Muslims and other Jews.

[@dineyashworth8578]

His mother was such a good mother! I watched the movie years ago. Also the guy presenting the story is so hot......

[@jaxcrax9644]

I have never been good at spotting Jews, but he looks Jewish to me in the picture at 4:26. Probably just another identification error on my part.

[@user-bt2gk6gb4q]

read the book Howling with the wolwes.

[@gerardrusso4156]

He too, is a Holocaust survivor. Excellent video.

[@ashfaqtahmeed194]

ohhhh okkk.

[@Pinakij]

Shlo mo was actually pretty fast

[@1104rakhmat]

Never again....is now

[@nazihater2798]

The Zionist are committing genocide in Gaza, just like the Zionist orchestrated with the Nazi in WWII. The Zionist are now just full fledged Nazis, history repeating itself.

[@reginaldgraves1684]

I am a 78 years old man, have had communal showers at school and the Royal Navy and I thought that circumcision was a choice that all parents made. Are Jews the only people who are circumcised?

[@h.hholmes.492]

Muslims are circumcised too

[@shainazion4073]

Back then through most of Europe, most non-Jews were not circumcised. That is a more recent ideology among the medical world.

[@stephenwright8824]

The male children on both sides of my family have been circumcised for several generations. Only three of those generations were Jewish, and those were on my father's side. The rest were different kinds of Protestant Christian.

[@Rovtful]

Wow

[@ryanmoore2447]

Keep these videos up guy👍👍 you guys are on a roll dropping great content

[@Listerine644]

5:31 It’s crazy how evil a movement has to be for an attempted rapist to be one of the good guys in the story 😬

[@teamcougars]

He is most definitely a Holocaust survivor, he did what he had to do to survive 💜💜

[@joelrankin]

God bless the Jews. God bless Israel, forever.

[@nazihater2798]

You know the Zionist and Nazis worked very closely during WWII, correct? The Nazi Zionist are now in Palestine, that was their plan the entire time, learn your history.

[@manuelcampagna7781]

I watched the movie Europa Europa.

[@RoytheLevy]

❤

[@DunkenMyDonuts]

Definitely thought this was about a certain Hungarian…

[@0animalproductworld558]

There are still righteous Jews in China and Taiwan. I like them.

[@graphicdesignchannel01]

Hey Unpacked. I love your contents❤🇮🇱💪 Plz can you make a video talking about the alleged war crimes of Israel, from an Israeli perspective. Plz I'd love you see you guys shine more light on this🙏🙏. I like the Lady

[@shainazion4073]

Why would they waste their efforts on alledged war crimes?

[@jok2042]

@@shainazion4073mirrors the n@zis and so do you by your denial. Evil you

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

By becoming an Israeli he did become a real nazi in the end, turning up as a foreigner to colonise Palestine in total contradiction of thewishes & interests of the local longstanding nativeborn majority that still formed way over 70% of the population & owned or controlled 90% of the land. Zionism in Palestine was no different to Leibensraum in Poland

[@jok2042]

100% agree with you.

[@Karl-nv5ok]

Hamas troll

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

@@Karl-nv5ok well come on! can you define the difference between the Nazis Leibensraum policies in Poland & Zionism as implemented by Israel?