Alia Bhatt’s Great-Grandfather Bravely Opposed Hitler, Imprisoned in Nazi Camp for Saving Jews
Alia Bhatt’s great-grandfather fought Hitler’s regime, was jailed in a concentration camp, and bravely helped save Jews during Nazi rule.
Alia Bhatt’s Great-Grandfather Opposed Hitler’s Tyranny, Was Thrown into Concentration Camp While Saving Jews During Nazi Germany
Alia Bhatt’s maternal lineage carries a profound story of courage, resistance, and historical significance. Her mother, actress and filmmaker Soni Razdan, recently shared a powerful and emotional post on Instagram about her German grandfather — Alia Bhatt’s great-grandfather — who stood up to Adolf Hitler’s regime and suffered immense personal loss as a result. This brave man was not only a vocal opponent of Nazi ideology but also risked his life to save Jews during one of the darkest chapters in human history.
In her post, Soni Razdan reflected on the current atrocities in Palestine, drawing a deeply emotional parallel with her family’s history. She expressed how disturbed she was by recent events and said that she was relieved her grandfather wasn’t alive to witness such tragic irony — the very people he fought so hard to save are now associated with oppression. Her post was inspired by a reel featuring Jewish-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes, who shockingly stated, “Hitler won. Because he made the Jews like him.” This chilling statement moved Soni deeply and compelled her to recount her grandfather’s journey.
Soni revealed that her grandfather, a German national, courageously published and distributed an underground newspaper that denounced Hitler and Nazi propaganda. It was a bold move at a time when dissent was met with deadly consequences. Eventually, his resistance efforts were discovered. He was arrested and thrown into prison and later transferred to a Nazi concentration camp. There, he endured unimaginable suffering and witnessed horrific crimes committed by the regime.
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Despite the torment, her grandfather survived. He was released eventually, but only because he was German by birth — and even then, he was permanently exiled from Germany. His sacrifice, bravery, and unwavering fight against fascism left a legacy that the family still honors and reveres. Soni proudly shared that he was on “the right side of history” during World War II, reminding readers that many gave their lives to fight injustice — but many were also saved through the heroism of people like her grandfather.
The post also touched on the current conflict in Palestine. Soni Razdan made it clear that she felt deeply connected to the humanitarian crisis, especially given her family’s historical role in fighting for the oppressed. “When I see what is happening in Palestine today, I am so glad he is no longer alive. It would have broken him,” she wrote. “The very people he fought so hard to save have turned into those that oppressed them.”
However, she was careful to clarify that many Jewish individuals today are speaking out against the violence — just as many Germans opposed Hitler — but few had the courage her grandfather had to stand against tyranny, even from within. The post struck an emotional chord, resonating with thousands online. Alia Bhatt herself ‘liked’ the post, showing support for her mother’s heartfelt message.
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Soni’s tribute was not only a memorial to her grandfather’s bravery but also a call to humanity. She encouraged people to find strength in those who dare to speak out today and reminded readers that history has seen brave hearts who stood against genocidal regimes. The world, she suggested, needs that same courage today — especially in times when justice is under threat once again.
This story adds a remarkable and poignant dimension to Alia Bhatt’s family history — revealing that her roots trace back to a man who defied Hitler, endured a concentration camp, and became a silent warrior in history’s fight against fascism.
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