Solidarity in the Forest – The Bielski Brothers by Justin DeVoe

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

2024jdevoe — 2024-01-31 18:21:44 UTC

https://www.c-span.org/video/?177513-1/the-bielski-brothers

A man visiting the Bielski Brother Partisan Camp Site

2024jdevoe — 2024-01-31 18:26:26 UTC

Area of Operation of the Bielski Family Camp

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-12 14:51:41 UTC

Zusya and Sonia Bielski

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-12 14:54:18 UTC

Quote by Tuvia Bielski

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-12 18:14:11 UTC

"Our revenge is to live. We may be hunted like animals but we will not become animals. We have all chosen this - to live free, like human beings, for as long as we can. Each day of freedom is a victory. And if we die trying to live, at least we die like human beings." Said by Tuvia Bielski.

Fate

2024-02-13 02:23:47 UTC

The Bielski brothers during their life helped thousands of people. However, over the years they started to get older and started to get sick. Tuvia, the leader, died due to lung cancer in 1987. Asael Bielski died fighting in the war during February 1945. Zus Bielski lived until 1995, until he died of a heart attack. Tuvia was honored on Long island and give a funeral with military honors in Israel.

Movie Clip from a movie based on the Bielski Brothers called Defiance where two of the brothers get into a fight.

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-14 14:49:33 UTC

Picture of the Bielski Partisans

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-14 14:55:03 UTC

The Story of The Bielski Brothers

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-16 18:04:50 UTC

On June 22, 1941, the Nazis took over Western Belorussia and killed over 10,00 Jews. Some of these Jews included the parents of Tuvia, Asel, and Zus Bielski. They retreated to the nearby Zábiedovo and Perelaz forests, where they made a partisan group with family members and friends. They were able to elude some Nazi soldiers and get guns for the camp. The brothers saved 150 people from the concentration Iwie since the Nazis were just about to liquidate it(kill everyone in the camp or send them to a concentration camp). Many people joined the group making the total population 300. The group had many jobs such as artisans, teachers, farmers, and blacksmiths, There were even buildings such as mills, bakeries, laundries, military camps, churches, a jail, and a school. However, with the Nazis trying to eradicate these groups, so the group had to move deeper into the forest. Over the two years of the camp, they were able to save 70% of people who would have died if not for the camp.

A photo of Jewish Partisan Activity in Europe during the War. There was many other partisan groups to help people to hide during the war.

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-18 01:48:07 UTC

Picture of Zuvia Bielski

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-18 01:50:50 UTC

Uprising

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-18 02:05:16 UTC

The Bielski Brothers were able to maintain their hiding area until August 1943, where the Nazis targeted partisans groups from many countries around Europe. The Nazis sent thousands of troops and even went after the Bielski Brother's partisan camp. However, in December 1943, the camp fled to deeper in the forest in a more swampy and wet area. They set up their camp on the right bank of the Niemen River. The group also used other groups that were able to alert the brothers when the Nazis were coming so they could be safe.

Post-War

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-18 20:53:10 UTC

After the brothers saved 1,300 Jews during the Nazi regime, Tuvia and Zus went to New York. It was there wheen they created a trucking business between the two. Yehuda Bielski, a cousin of the brothers, went to Israel to fight in the Ingrun. Yehuda also fought in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, then moved to America. Finnaly, the brother who lived the longest was Aron Bielski moved to California after the war and changed his name to Aron Bell.

Quote by Tuvia Bielski

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-18 21:28:07 UTC

“Don’t rush to fight and die. So few of us are left, we need to save lives. It is more important to save Jews than to kill Germans.

Tuvia Bielski

People Trying to Overthrow

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-19 16:24:26 UTC

Life around the Bielski camp was pretty quiet aside from some uprising from within the camp. However, there was a member named Israel executed who tried to band together to leave the group. He told people to send warnings to the Nazis saying that the rebellion was storing valuables in the camp. People also asked the Nazis if they could arrest and kill Tuvia and told them that he was storing and buying illegal weapons. Tuvia, however, took Israel to the camp's jury and accused him of rebellion. Tuvia later on exucuted him by shooting him three times.

Quote by Tuvia Bielski

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-19 20:22:25 UTC

"If we die trying, at least we live like human beings."

Impact

2024jdevoe — 2024-02-19 21:21:45 UTC

The three brothers' impact on helping Jews escape death in the war was massive. They were able to save 1,200+ Jews from dying from the Nazis. 70% of the people Tuvia brought in for the camp would have died not for the partisan group. They gave home, food, and a community for the Jews. The brothers provided shelter so the community could stay warm and created a jail for any people who revolted. The impact now is even greater, however. There is a movie about the brothers called Defiance and also many books written about their story. The brothers are a symbol for the strength and power the Jews had during the holocaust.