Bielski brothers biography of donald

Want to read. Rate this book. Peter Duffy. The inspiring and harrowing true story of three brothers who established a hidden base camp in the Belorussian forest eluding the Nazi's extensive efforts to capture them. In Julyafter two and a half years in the woods, more than one thousand Jewish men, women and children, emerged from the woods triumphant and alive.

It is one of the most remarkable dramas of World War II -- untold until now. Inthree young men -- brothers, sons of a miller -- witnessed their parents and two other siblings being led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would, of course, be repeated endlessly throughout the war. What makes this particular story of interest is how the survivors responded.

Instead of running or capitulating or giving in to despair, these brothers -- Tuvia, Zus, and Asael Bielski -- did something else entirely. They fought back, waging a guerrilla war of wits and cunning against both the Nazis and the pro-Nazi sympathizers. Along the way they saved well over a thousand Jewish lives. Using their intimate knowledge of the dense forests surrounding the Belorussian towns of Novogrudek and Lida, the Bielskis evaded the Nazis and established a hidden base camp, then set about convincing other Jews to join their ranks.

When the Nazis began systematically eliminating the local Jewish populations -- more than ten bielski brother biography of donald were killed in the first year of the Nazi occupation alone -- the Bielskis intensified their efforts, often sending fighting men into the ghettos to escort Jews to safety. As more and more Jews arrived each day, a robust community began to emerge, a "Jerusalem in the woods.

Lovers met, were married, and conceived children. The community boasted a synagogue, a bathhouse, a theater, and cobblers so skilled that Russian officers would wait in line to have their boots reshod. But as its notoriety grew, so too did the Nazi efforts to capture the rugged brothers; and on several occasions they came so near to succeeding that the Bielskis had to abandon the camp and lead their massive entourage to newer, safer locations.

And while some argued in favor of a smaller, more mobile unit, focused strictly on waging battle against the Germans, Tuvia Bielski was firm in his commitment to all Jews. More than one thousand Bielski Jews emerged -- alive -- on that final, triumphant exit from the woods. The Bielski Brothers is a dramatic and heartfelt retelling of a story of the truest heroism, a historic testament to courage in the face of unspeakable adversity.

Loading interface About the author. Peter Duffy 23 books 19 followers. Peter Duffy is an author and journalist based in New York City. Write a Review. Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book! Community Reviews. Search review text. Displaying 1 - 30 of reviews. Teresa Mayfield-Meyer. There is no doubt that this is a compelling story, but perhaps not for the reasons you might expect.

These brothers were indeed heroes to some, but what of the several Jews summarily executed by them for not following them unquestionably? To those people and their families, these men were perhaps no better than the Nazis. This book did nothing but make me sad. Sad to see those who would aspire to saving their own so quickly turn to the tactics of their enemies in order to keep the order they desire.

Bielski brothers biography of donald

There was no room for dissent, no sharing of power; for the Bielskis, it was their way or the highway. This is an important story, but not because Jews were saved. It demonstrates clearly how power is corrupting and how even those we would hold up as heroes are people with faults. Not everyone will find the Bielski story inspiring bielski brother biography of donald if it is captivating, fascinating, extraordinary, and engrossing.

In my opinion, the best single-word review of the book printed on the back cover is haunting. Joe Wisniewski. I have to say that I am quite embarrassed as to not fully appreciating the breadth and scope of the Holocaust atrocities. I wasn't aware of the scope of brutality as it related to extended efforts the Nazi regime took to attempt Jewish extermination in the relative far reaches of Nazi-occupied USSR.

This occurred all the way intoonly ceasing as the Nazi' were routed by the Red Army in their retreat back to Germany from the eastern front. I especially appreciated Duffy's apparently slavish service to historical accuracy, as the Bielski brothers were NOT depicted as simply rough and tumble Robin Hood's of 20th century Eastern Europe.

They fell victim, one might claim, to the sins of vengeance and acts of overreactive aggression resulting in the death's of others; even a fellow Jew near the end of the saga. Definite 5 star read. Susan Bennett. I'm a big fan of narrative history and this book reminded me of why I love that genre so much. The subtitle explains what the book is about and it always amazes me to discover the number of WWII heroes previously unknown to me.

The narrative is coherent and fast paced. It is more important to save Jews than to kill Germans. After their parents and other relatives were murdered in a massacre of around 5, Jews on December 8,the Bielski brothers fled to the Belarusian forest and set up a partisan unit with Tuvia Bielski as the commander. However, unlike other partisan groups, fighting the enemy was not their highest goal.

Their primary objective was to rescue Jews and to offer them shelter and protection in the forest. The brothers did not only admit those who were able to fight, but every Jewish woman or man, no matter whether the person was young or old, healthy or sick, a fighter or a noncombatant. At Yad Vashem, we strive to make the world a better place by combating antisemitism through teacher training, international lectures and workshops and online courses.

We need you to partner with us in this vital mission to EducateAgainstHate. Skip to main content. Wikidata item. Retrieved 28 January Hidden categories: Wikipedia extended-confirmed-protected pages All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January Toggle the table of contents. The Bielski Brothers. Add languages Add topic.

Inthree brothers witnessed their parents and two other siblings being led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would, of course, be repeated endlessly throughout the war.