The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 Jews

The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who Defied the Nazis, Built a Village in the Forest, and Saved 1,200 JewsIn 1941, three brothers witnessed their parents and two other siblingsbeing led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would, of course, be repeated endlessly throughout the war. Instead of running orgiving in to despair, these brothers Tuvia, Zus, and Asael Bielski foughtback, waging a guerrilla war of wits against the Nazis. By using their intimate knowledge of the dense forests surrounding theBelarusan towns of Novogrudek and

In 1941, three brothers witnessed their parents and two other siblingsbeing led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would, of course, be repeated endlessly throughout the war. Instead of running orgiving in to despair, these brothers -- Tuvia, Zus, and Asael Bielski -- foughtback, waging a guerrilla war of wits against the Nazis.

By using their intimate knowledge of the dense forests surrounding theBelarusan towns of Novogrudek and Lida, the Bielskis evaded the Nazis andestablished a hidden base camp, then set about convincing other Jews to jointheir ranks. As more and more Jews arrived each day, a robust communitybegan to emerge, a Jerusalem in the woods.

After two and a half years in the woods, in July 1944, the Bielskis learnedthat the Germans, overrun by the Red Army, were retreating back towardBerlin. More than one thousand Bielski Jews emerged -- alive -- on that final, triumphant exit from the woods.