The horrors of World War II have been exhaustively examined, but the actual cost of its aftermath is still being dealt with and processed. Enter director Dan Goldberg’s documentary The Jewish Nazi?. The title refers to a Jewish child who became the mascot for a battalion of Nazi soldiers. Sounds far-fetched? Well, that’s not even a quarter of the craziness unpeeled here.
Alex Kurzem was just a boy in Belarus when Nazi soldiers stormed in. They massacred his friends and families and then told anyone still alive to go home and come back tomorrow to be killed. The kid instead flees into the Belarusian woods and hides. After a short time there, a battalion of Latvian soldiers find him. Sergeant Jekabs Kulis decides not to murder the Jewish child and instead turns him into the battalion’s mascot. Of course, his name changes, and he is egged on to participate in the horrific actions the Axis undertook during that time.
After World War II ended, Kurzem was adopted and eventually moved to Australia. There, he made a home for himself, married, and had children. Kurzem never revealed his past until he was older. Once his story got out, it aroused suspicion and scrutiny from many, leading forensic researcher Colleen Fitzpatrick to look into Kurzem’s many claims, some of which appeared too outlandish to be believable. Was there a young Jewish boy upheld as a Nazi mascot? Is Kurzem telling the truth, or is he spinning yarns for fame?

“…decides not to murder the Jewish child and instead turns him into the battalion’s mascot.”
The first 20 minutes of The Jewish Nazi? have a “been there, seen that” vibe. It’s a little Europa, Europa mixed with Ivan’s Childhood. But when the claims of falsehoods and lies come out, the film becomes more engaging. Shortly after that, another twist emerges, proving this to be far more than advertised or what the initial set-up promises. That is followed by one revelation and another twist, with a few more curveballs thrown in. Of course, Goldberg had no idea where all the threads would eventually lead, but by the end, there are no questions as to who Kurzem truly is.
The numerous interviews with experts and family members are gripping. Kurzem is first portrayed as a loving family man before his past is uncovered, which makes audiences like him from the start. The disclosure of this or that document, which verifies parts of the main subject’s history, adds tension. The finale is a perfect way of wrapping up everything that just happened while feeling life-affirming.
The Jewish Nazi? may start slow, but it morphs into a truly absorbing experience. The numerous twists and turns in this real-life tale are surprising and add layers to everything happening. This is a must-see, and while it is very heavy at times, the conclusion is uplifting.
The Jewish Nazi? screened at the 2024 Seattle Film Festival.