Harry Haft: The Holocaust Survivor Who Fought for Life Inside Concentration Camps

Surviving the Holocaust Through Bare-Knuckle Boxing

In 1944, 16-year-old Harry Haft was forced into a concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. To survive, he was made to fight in bare-knuckle matches to the death, all for the entertainment of German SS officers.

From Camps to the Ring: Haft's Remarkable Journey

Haft miraculously won 76 death matches while at a camp in Jaworzno, escaped near the end of the war, and went on to have a professional boxing career, even facing off against Rocky Marciano.

The Price of Survival: Haft's Struggles with PTSD

Harry Haft's son, Alan, shared the harrowing effects of the trauma and PTSD his father endured, leading to struggles with mental health and violent outbursts throughout his life.

A Story of Love and Reunion

Haft's fight against Marciano was fueled by a hope to reconnect with his childhood sweetheart, Leah. Years later, he managed to find her in Miami, leading to a bittersweet reunion.

Haft's Legacy: From Book to the Big Screen

Alan Haft's book about his father's life found new life in a graphic novel, inspiring a screenplay that caught the attention of filmmaker Barry Levinson. The resulting movie, "The Survivor," brought Harry Haft's incredible story to the mainstream.