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The Jewish 48'ers - in the American Civil War

The Jewish 48’ers: is the story of revolution failed and redeemed. Freedom Fighters, inspired by the social ideals of the American and French Revolutions to take on the Feudal Monarchies in uprisings across Europe in 1848. While these revolts were crushed and participants hounded, many found refuge and purpose in the United States.

It is a contemporary story of diverse immigrants who help build and redeem their new home; heroic journeys which began in the bloody European Spring of 1848.
The cohort of European Jews with military experience, though small in number had an outsized influence in the America in the Civil War which was mobilising on an unprecedented scale. Research into the contributions and sacrifice of these new American Jews now tells their story in unprecedented depth and detail in a compelling and educational documentary.
This new film reveals the stories of August Bondi an Austrian Jewish guerrilla fighter called, one of the greatest abolitionists of the era; General Frederick Knefler, the highest ranking Hungarian Jewish officer; Generals Leopold Blumenberg and Edward S. Solomon, both German Jews.

The Civil War story of journalism’s icon Joseph Pulitzer reveals the beginnings of his fight for social justice as a teen in a Cavalry Regiment. Colonel Frederick G. Utassy another Hungarian Jew, recruits and successfully leads a multinational force who speak seven different languages.

The action is not confined to the battlefield, Polish Jewish Michael Heilprin and the German Jewish rabbi David Einhorn’s role in the anti-slavery [abolitionist] movement is brought into perspective.

Some of these stories were forgotten, others never told on this scale with information and details thought lost to history.

Discover their heritage in: The Jewish 48’ers! The first documentary on the Jews and 1848, and the first colourised film on the Jews and the American Civil War.

Teasing raw cut: actual quote from Major General Oliver. O Howard as he saw the Jewish soldiers during the American Civil War: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEa82kSy0Bs

  • Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth
    Director
  • Peter B. Zachmann
    Producer
  • Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth
    Writer
  • Jordan Auslander
    Co-Writer
  • Jordan Auslander
    Narration
  • Rick Reil
    Sound Engineer
  • Dr. Gary Zola
    Historian
  • Dr. Akos Molnar
    Historian
  • Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth
    Historian
  • Peter B. Zachmann
    Editor
  • Peter B. Zachmann
    Graphic and effects
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    50 minutes
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Hungary, United Kingdom, United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • The Lift-Off Sessions

    United Kingdom
    February 16, 2020
  • First-Time Filmmaker Sessions

    United Kingdom
    February 23, 2020
  • Independent Shorts Awards
    Hollywood - Raleigh Studios
  • New York Movie Awards
    New York
    United States
Director Biography - Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth

My name is Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth and I was born in Hungary in 1991. I have just finished my first documentary (The Jewish 48'ers: in the American Civil War) and I am about to begin my next film.

My vision is to unearth the forgotten and “lost” Jewish history. History and heritage of our forefathers that have never been told before, impressive and heroic moments of the Jewish life that had a huge impact even in world history.

I am especially interested in military history, American-Jewish history, Reform Judaism, 1848, Sephardic Jewish history, Ashkenazi heritage in Europe, origin of the Jews and ancient Israel.

The mission is to keep Jewish heritage alive by producing fantastic and quality documentary films that can make a change and are able to combat Antisemitism.

Bringing the unseen history of the Jewish nation to the public with a brilliant producer has been a challenging and wonderful period of my life. The producer is Peter B Zachmann, a childhood friend who happens to be my distant relative as we both did DNA test recently.

Thank you for reading my introduction!

Peter Kovacs Rosenbluth

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I love educational documentaries. I believe unearthing the lost Jewish history can effectively combat Antisemitism.
Our film is also the first colourised American Civil War documentary that features the Jewish experience, and the first film to teach about 1848 and the Jews.