WASHINGTON – In a powerful meeting of history and gratitude, KISS frontman Gene Simmons met 100-year-old Harold “Hal” Urban on Memorial Day in Washington — the World War II veteran who helped liberate the Mauthausen concentration camp in May 1945, where Simmons’ mother, Flora Klein, was imprisoned as a teen.
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“If it weren’t for brave people like you,” Simmons told Urban, “I wouldn’t be here, and neither would my mother.”
The emotional exchange took place during the Memorial Day parade, where Urban, donning his original military jacket, was honored for his service. Simmons, visibly moved, thanked Urban for his role in ending the Holocaust and saving lives — including that of his mother.
Proud 100 year old WWII (!!!) veteran, Sgt Urban, was actually one of our troops who liberated my, then 14 yr old Mother from Mathousen Concentration Camp in Nazi Germany. God Bless Our Vets! pic.twitter.com/YVaU7o5CR7
— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) May 26, 2025
Urban recalled the horrors of liberation day — the unbearable stench, the emaciated prisoners, and the 500 bodies his unit buried within 24 hours. Though he doesn’t remember Klein specifically, both were at Mauthausen when American forces arrived.
After the war, Urban returned to Illinois, raised nine children, and lived with the emotional scars of what he witnessed. “When you raise a family, the nightmares subside,” he said. “But when your children leave home, they return.”
Gene Simmons who is Jewish was born Chaim Witz in Haifa, Israel, he emigrated to the United States with his family at age 8. His parents were both of Jewish background, with his mother born in Hungary. He adopted the stage name Gene Simmons later in life.
Simmons said his mother rarely spoke of her Holocaust survival. “She was in the camp at 14,” he said. “Now I know how close I came to losing everything.”
Their meeting brought closure to a story eight decades in the making — a rock legend offering heartfelt thanks to the man who helped save his family.
Gene Simmons is a proud Jew and a great musician.
Sgt Urban was in the 11th. Armored division , my father was in the same division 41st tank battalion company A when the camp was captured the orders came out that all Jews were to report to the camp to help out. My father entered the camp and was pointing at himself saying ien yiden ien yiden and started crying because of what he saw.
Look up Balfour Goldman .
I don’t know if my dad knew sgt Urban but .. I wish him well.
How can we be mekarev him?
A real lowlife, but a proud Jew.
He most probably has family in the frum community.
Witz… Veitzen ?
A Torah Vodaas alum .