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.

Leon faces hunger, beatings, and a fateful separation from his friend, Eddy Hamel.
This episode featured Kevin E. Simpson, Jurryt van de Vooren, and Thamar Barnett.
Music Credits:
An Angel Will Rise (purple-planet.com)
Time Passes (Kevin MacLeod)
On the Passing of Time (Kevin MacLeod)
Sunset at Glengorm (Kevin MacLeod)
Despair and Triumph (Kevin MacLeod)
Long Note Three (Kevin MacLeod)
Defeated (Jonny Easton)
Immersed (Kevin MacLeod)
Leaving Home (Kevin MacLeod)
Original Music by Paul Chavez.
Visit the series website: belhamelpodcast.com
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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.