Reuniting the Lost: Richard K. Lowy on Preserving Holocaust History, Resilience, and the Power of Friendship
Richard K. Lowy is featured on Global Television, the CANDLES Holocaust Museum, the Jerusalem Post, and over 413 other media outlets across the United States. Both the book Kalman & Leopold: Surviving Mengele’s Auschwitz and the documentary Leo’s Journey: The Story of the Mengele Twins tell an extraordinary story of survival amidst the horrors of the Auschwitz death camp. This harrowing account sheds light on the unspeakable cruelty of Josef Mengele’s experiments, while celebrating strength, friendship, and the human spirit. Through the firsthand accounts of two survivors, Kalman and Leopold, readers are witness to the depths of one of humanity’s darkest chapters.
Authored by Richard K. Lowy, who is the son of Leopold, one of the survivors, the book is both a meticulously crafted historical narrative and a deeply personal tribute. With over five years of dedication to preserving his father’s testimony, Lowy takes readers on an emotional journey from the horrors of Auschwitz to an extraordinary reunion with Kalman over fifty years later. As the world commemorates the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, Kalman & Leopold stands as a timeless call to remember the past and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated.
How did it feel when Kalman and Leopold reunited after you released your documentary?
When Kalman and Leopold reunited following the release of our documentary, Leo’s Journey: The Story of the Mengele Twins, it was an emotional and profound moment that left a lasting impact on me. Watching them reconnect after over five decades of separation, each having endured unthinkable tragedies, felt like the culmination of a journey that began in Auschwitz. In a world where few could truly understand what they experience, the only person who could was the other. Their reunion was not just an emotional healing experience for them, but a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
What makes their story so unique is that only a handful of survivors had such intimate contact with Dr. Josef Mengele, the notorious “Angel of Death.” Kalman and Leopold were among the very few who directly endured his cruel experiments and survived, making their testimony an important contribution to history. Their shared account, corroborating each other’s experiences, offers a powerful perspective. This combined eyewitness testimony is critical in deepening the world’s understanding of the atrocities that took place behind the closed doors of Mengele’s Auschwitz.
In addition to their direct encounters with Mengele, Kalman and Leopold’s story includes their rare experience of working in the SS guard shack of the hospital camp, witnessing the inner workings of the machine. This insight into the operations of Auschwitz, from a vantage point no others had (with the exception of the guards themselves), adds a vital layer to the historical record. Together, these elements make their testimony an essential part of Holocaust history. Helping to reunite them and bring their story to life is now an integral part of my legacy, one I hope will continue to educate and resonate for generations to come.
What challenges did you face when creating a chronological order and timeline for the firsthand information you collected from your father and Kalman?
It was an incredibly challenging process. The events they lived through were harrowing and fragmented, and their memories often didn’t follow a linear path. Survivors of traumatic events like the Holocaust sometimes experience disjointed memories and emotions that can cloud the clarity of specific details. There was also the language barrier, English was not their first language. This meant that piecing together the timeline required not only a deep understanding of their experiences but also a sensitivity to the psychological impact those experiences had on them.
One of the biggest challenges was organizing the vast amount of information in a way that was coherent and meaningful for the readers. I wanted to ensure the narrative flowed logically while still preserving the emotional depth of their stories. a painstaking process over five years that involved a lot of patience, empathy, and dedication. The goal was to create a historical baseline that provided the proof of the crimes committed while honouring their memories and experiences, bringing their stories to life in a way that would resonate deeply with the readers.
How do you think preserving firsthand survivor stories like this one can shape the way future generations understand history?
Preserving firsthand survivor stories like Kalman and Leopold’s is crucial for future generations to understand history. These stories humanize historical events, making them more immediate and personal, and help foster empathy. They show the resilience and courage of individuals who endured incredible suffering, offering lessons in survival and exposing the dangers of hatred, intolerance, and discrimination.
As Holocaust survivors pass away, their testimonies ensure that the lessons from the greatest crime against humanity are not forgotten, testimonies that help guard against misinformation and denial. These stories are vital to remembering the atrocities and teaching future generations the importance of standing up against injustice, ensuring such evil genocides are never repeated.
Writing about such profound suffering must have been emotionally challenging. How did you approach balancing the pain of the story with its message of resilience?
Writing about such profound suffering was emotionally challenging, but the truth is, I wasn’t “writing” their story or “balancing” anything—this is Kalman and Leopold’s testimony, shared in their own words. My role was to edit, ensuring their message was clear while preserving the essence of their experiences. The balance between the pain and resilience in their story was never something I consciously imposed, it was woven naturally through their personal accounts of surviving unbelievable horrors.
Leopold’s determination to protect Kalman and his hope of reuniting with his sister became his anchor in the face of suffering. Meanwhile, Kalman clung to their fragile bond as a lifeline, refusing to succumb to despair. At the heart of their testimony lie these deeply personal experiences, striking a poignant balance between the abyss of hopelessness and the will to live. My role was to ensure that the power of their message was clear and uncompromised.
What was it like working with Tellwell to self-publish such a unique and important piece of literature?
Working with Tellwell to self-publish Kalman & Leopold was a rewarding experience, though I’m sure the team had their hands full with me. I don’t think I was their typical client, and when they first took on this project, I don’t believe they fully grasped the weight of what I was trying to bring to light.
That said, they were incredibly supportive throughout the entire journey, even as I remained highly involved in every aspect of the book’s creation. I had to ensure my fingerprint was on everything—from the design of the cover to the layout of the interior. At one point, I’m fairly certain they gave up on counting the revisions I made! But, at every step, the Tellwell team not only embraced my input but made the concerted effort to ensure I was getting exactly what I envisioned. Their unwavering patience and dedication were vital in bringing this important story to life.
The process took five years from start to finish, and during that time Tellwell never pressured me. They understood the significance of this work and fully supported my efforts, offering guidance without stifling my creative control. Their expertise helped me ensure that the final product was a true reflection of the story’s importance.
While all the staff at Tellwell played an essential role in bringing Kalman & Leopold to life, I must make special mention of Simon Ogden. His patience and unwavering support were invaluable in helping me navigate the complexities of editing and self-publishing. His thoughtful guidance ensured that this important piece of historic non-fiction literature was presented in the most impactful way, honouring the legacies of Kalman and my father, Leopold.
As this book launches on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, what message do you hope resonates most with readers and audiences worldwide?
My hope is that it resonates deeply with young readers, offering a powerful lesson about resilience, humanity, and the importance of remembrance. Their words reveal the incredible suffering they endured, their hopes, their fears, and, ultimately, their story of their survival. Through their story, young people can learn that even when everything seems lost, we must hold on to our self-worth and dignity. These cannot be taken away from us.
Kalman and Leopold survived cruel sadistic brutality beyond imagination, yet they found the strength to rebuild their lives. Their resilience and ability to maintain their humanity in the darkest moments are vital lessons for the next generation. Kalman’s unwavering determination to find Leopold after fifty-six years and reunite with his boyhood friend to share this extraordinary testimony is a testament to the power of connection and the importance of remembering history.
Kalman & Leopold isn’t simply just a book, it is a powerful message to future generations about the strength of the human spirit, the need to preserve our humanity, and the responsibility we all share to ensure that such crimes of humanity are never allowed to happen again.
For more information including upcoming events and appearances visit KalmanandLeopold.com or connect on social media.
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