The story of Harry Haft
In 1941, 16-year-old Harry Haft was arrested for being Jewish and sent to Auschwitz. There, he caught the eye of an SS officer named Schneider who saw potential in his build.
Schneider had a proposition: Box for the entertainment of Nazi officers. Win, and get extra food. Lose and be executed. For Harry, there was no real choice. His first opponent was a fellow prisoner from his hometown. Each Sunday, Harry entered a makeshift ring. No rounds. No gloves. No rules. Fight until someone couldn't continue. The loser was executed. Harry learned quickly that showing mercy meant death for both fighters.
The Nazi guards treated Harry like their prized animal. Extra food rations, better quarters, special protection.The cost? He had to defeat fellow prisoners who were already dying from starvation. Then came a more demanding test: The Nazis had kept a French heavyweight champion healthy just for a match with Harry. At 5'9", Harry faced a 6'3" giant. The fight was brutal. Harry was bleeding heavily but trapped his opponent in a corner, knocking him unconscious.
By 1945, Harry knew his value to the guards was ending. During a death march, he killed a Nazi guard and escaped into the Bohemian Forest. 76 victories. Countless lives on his conscience. But his story wasn't over.
Harry fled to America and turned professional. After winning 12 fights, he caught someone's attention: On July 18, 1949, Harry faced the future champion, Rocky Marciano. For the fight, Harry claims that mobsters had threatened Harry in the locker room, demanding he take a fall. For him, the choice was familiar - survive or fight.
Harry started strong, landing body blows in round one. He went toe-to-toe in round two. But Marciano knocked him out in the third. After this loss, Harry retired: 13 wins, eight losses.
After retiring from the ring, Harry became a fruit vendor in Brooklyn, married, and had kids. But the past haunted him. The anger and depression stayed. PTSD consumed him. Only in his final years did he break his silence. Harry spent two days telling his story to his oldest son, Alan. When asked about regrets, he looked at his fists and said: "My regrets are the lives that passed through these hands."
Harry Haft's story isn't just about boxing. It's about survival at an unimaginable cost, the result of choices that haunt a lifetime, living with what you had to do to stay alive.
https://x.com/projectkim/status/1861525562004774954/photo/1
In 1941, 16-year-old Harry Haft was arrested for being Jewish and sent to Auschwitz. There, he caught the eye of an SS officer named Schneider who saw potential in his build.
Schneider had a proposition: Box for the entertainment of Nazi officers. Win, and get extra food. Lose and be executed. For Harry, there was no real choice. His first opponent was a fellow prisoner from his hometown. Each Sunday, Harry entered a makeshift ring. No rounds. No gloves. No rules. Fight until someone couldn't continue. The loser was executed. Harry learned quickly that showing mercy meant death for both fighters.
The Nazi guards treated Harry like their prized animal. Extra food rations, better quarters, special protection.The cost? He had to defeat fellow prisoners who were already dying from starvation. Then came a more demanding test: The Nazis had kept a French heavyweight champion healthy just for a match with Harry. At 5'9", Harry faced a 6'3" giant. The fight was brutal. Harry was bleeding heavily but trapped his opponent in a corner, knocking him unconscious.
By 1945, Harry knew his value to the guards was ending. During a death march, he killed a Nazi guard and escaped into the Bohemian Forest. 76 victories. Countless lives on his conscience. But his story wasn't over.
Harry fled to America and turned professional. After winning 12 fights, he caught someone's attention: On July 18, 1949, Harry faced the future champion, Rocky Marciano. For the fight, Harry claims that mobsters had threatened Harry in the locker room, demanding he take a fall. For him, the choice was familiar - survive or fight.
Harry started strong, landing body blows in round one. He went toe-to-toe in round two. But Marciano knocked him out in the third. After this loss, Harry retired: 13 wins, eight losses.
After retiring from the ring, Harry became a fruit vendor in Brooklyn, married, and had kids. But the past haunted him. The anger and depression stayed. PTSD consumed him. Only in his final years did he break his silence. Harry spent two days telling his story to his oldest son, Alan. When asked about regrets, he looked at his fists and said: "My regrets are the lives that passed through these hands."
Harry Haft's story isn't just about boxing. It's about survival at an unimaginable cost, the result of choices that haunt a lifetime, living with what you had to do to stay alive.
https://x.com/projectkim/status/1861525562004774954/photo/1
