Hitler's Jewish Soldier? (ATOM Study Guide)

Hitler’s Jewish Soldier? is the story of Alex Kurzem, a young Jewish boy who witnessed the murder of his family and yet survived the Holocaust in extraordinary circumstances. Hiding from the enemy, he was co-opted into a Latvian battalion that was incorporated into the SS, becoming the company’s 'mascot'.

Alex hid his secret for fifty years after emigrating to Melbourne, Australia before embarking on a twenty-five-year search for his family and identity. But some refused to believe his story, accusing him of constructing a hoax, being a liar, a charlatan, a fraud … and not even being a Jew.

Through a series of reenactments, photography and archival film, newspaper montages and interviews, the story of Hitler’s Jewish Soldier? emerges. Ultimately, science and intensive investigation unravel the mysteries of the past and Alex is at last united with a branch of the family he truly belongs to, the Sulskys, now living in Canada.

Curriculum Links:

Hitler’s Jewish Soldier? explores the key themes of:

• The need for and importance of one’s true identity;
• The search for truth;
• The personal impact of war on the individual;
• The importance of family connections.

The feature is relevant to the subject areas of:

• History (Years 10–12)
• English/EAL (Year 12)
• Media Arts and Film Studies (Years 9–12)
• Sociology