The article recounts the poignant history of Jewish composer Hermann Leopoldi and his collaborator Fritz Löhner-Beda, who were imprisoned in the Buchenwald concentration camp in December 1938. During their captivity, they composed the 'Buchenwald Song,' characterized by its hopeful lyrics such as "Nevertheless, say yes to life" and "For one day will come: then we will be free!" This song served as a beacon of hope amidst their grim circumstances. While Leopoldi was eventually released, aided by his wife Eugenie who had emigrated to the USA, Löhner-Beda tragically met a grimmer fate, being murdered in Auschwitz in 1942.

Hermann Leopoldi, born on August 15, 1888, as Hersch Kohn in Gaudenzdorf near Vienna, came from a musical background, with his father Leopold being a pianist who taught him and his brother Ferdinand the piano. Initially learning a trade in a fashion retail business, Leopoldi's true passion was music, and by the age of 16, he was already performing as a pianist across Lower Austria. He gradually adopted the name Hermann, though it was not for religious reasons, signaling his transition into a career driven by his artistic talents rather than commercial interests.

The narrative of Leopoldi reflects a broader historical context of Jewish artists during the rise of Nazism, highlighting both the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression and the personal losses suffered by many during this dark period. It also serves as a reminder of the cultural contributions made by individuals like Leopoldi, who used their artistry to offer hope and maintain a semblance of humanity, even in the most inhumane circumstances.