The Last Twins

In the midst of one of history's most horrific periods, a light of hope emerged from the shadows of Auschwitz. Amidst the inhumane atrocities and unimaginable suffering, a German Catholic social worker, Erno "Zvi" Spiegel, displayed unwavering courage and compassion. With the knowledge that hundreds of sets of twins were being targeted for the twisted medical experiments conducted by the notorious Dr. Josef Mengele, Spiegel took a bold stand. He risked everything to protect and shield the most vulnerable, determined to defy the cruel intentions of the camp's controllers. The story begins as Spiegel is appointed by Mengele, the infamous commander of the Auschwitz concentration camp, to oversee the young twins. However, Spiegel uses his position to secretly safeguard the children, providing them with comfort and support. He goes against the cold, unsympathetic attitude that the camp's brutal authorities exemplified, working tirelessly to shield the young sets of twins from the cruel medical experiments they had been subjected to. Spiegel's mission was met with numerous challenges. Not only did he have to contend with the camp's ever-present surveillance, but he also faced the psychological trauma and terror that gripped the twins, who had been snatched away from their families and left at the mercy of their captors. Each time he helped an individual child or family, Spiegel was met with Mengele's approval, yet concealed the full extent of what he was actually doing. The intricate details of Spiegel's story are intertwined with the personal testimonies of the twins he helped save. The accounts of those who managed to survive against all odds yield to vivid images of love and loss, dread, and anxiety. As one listens to their voices, a collage of memories begins to emerge: recollections of the frigid temperatures, numbing cold and endless hunger that made life at the camp unbearable. Among those interviewed for the documentary were the sets of twins who were placed in Spiegel's care. Many expressed their immense gratitude to Koppel and Erna Spiegel who took them into their respective homes once they left the concentration camp. Meticulous documentation of eyewitness accounts gives voice to the traumatic yet deeply personal stories of those who were subjected to the harsh realities of Auschwitz. Amidst the backdrop of unimaginable suffering and loss, these survivors manage to convey the magnitude of hope that Spiegel instilled within them. Erna and Koppel Spiegel, in whose home Erno found refuge after the war, become the focal point as the film delves into the latter years of Zvi Spiegel's life. Tracing the courageous social worker's perseverance amidst unimaginable adversity has an immense emotional impact upon those who listen. Even after the camps are liberated, the full extent of Mengele's heinous crimes only became apparent in the months and years that followed. Yet, amidst the widespread devastation of the Holocaust, Erno "Zvi" Spiegel's battle for the twin twins was not one of senseless bravery but rather one rooted in human heart. Since he used his human will to survive, provide aid and rescue countless young boys, rather than participating in Dr. Mengele's inhumane operation of systematic assault on Jewry in general.