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.

Eddy and his family are imprisoned at Kamp Westerbork for three months, before they are all deported to Auschwitz.
This episode featured Kevin E. Simpson.
Music Credits:
An Angel Will Rise (purple-planet.com)
Clean Soul (Kevin MacLeod)
Lost Frontier (Kevin MacLeod)
Mesmerize (Kevin MacLeod)
Despair and Triumph (Kevin MacLeod)
Dreams Become Real (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.