Eddy Hamel was the greatest American soccer player you’ve never heard of. He was the first American to play in any major European league, and for a while, he was the most popular player at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, Ajax of Amsterdam.
He was also a Jew, at a time, and in a place, where his religion was effectively a death sentence. After two decades of brilliant football, first as star player and then as a highly successful coach, beloved by the Jews of Amsterdam, Eddy and his family were swept up in the Nazi’s ‘Final Solution.’ Hamel became one of very few Americans to be sent to Auschwitz.
Now, more than a century later, this is his story.
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Eddy Hamel was the greatest American soccer player you’ve never heard of. He was the first American to play in any major European league, and for a while, he was the most popular player at one of Europe’s biggest clubs, Ajax of Amsterdam.
He was also a Jew, at a time, and in a place, where his religion was effectively a death sentence. After two decades of brilliant football, first as star player and then as a highly successful coach, beloved by the Jews of Amsterdam, Eddy and his family were swept up in the Nazi’s ‘Final Solution.’ Hamel became one of very few Americans to be sent to Auschwitz.
Now, more than a century later, this is his story.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under the Reichskommissariat order, Eddy faces arrest during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.
This episode featured Jurryt van de Vooren.
Music Credits:
An Angel Will Rise (purple-planet.com)
Concentration (Kevin MacLeod)
Clean Soul (Kevin MacLeod)
Devastation and Revenge (Kevin MacLeod)
Satiate Strings (Kevin MacLeod)
Leaving Home (Kevin MacLeod)
Original Music by Paul Chavez.
Visit the series website: belhamelpodcast.com
Follow us @belhamelpodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.