The Bielski Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Bielski Brothers is a non-fiction book by Peter Duffy published in 2003. It tells the story of Tuvia Bielski, Alexander "Zus" Bielski
, and Asael Bielski
, three Jewish brothers who established a large partisan
camp in the forests of Belarus
during World War II
, and so saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis.
The book describes how, in 1941, three brothers witnessed their parents and two other siblings being led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would be repeated endlessly throughout the war. These brothers fought back against Germans and collaborators, waging a guerilla war against the Nazis in the forests of Belarus
.
By using their intimate knowledge of the dense forests surrounding the Belarusan 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. The Germans found them in the forest once but they were not able to get rid of them. As more and more Jews arrived each day, a robust community began to emerge, a "Jerusalem in the woods."
After two and a half years in the woods, in July 1944, the Bielskis learned that the Germans, overrun by the Red Army, were retreating back toward Berlin. More than one thousand Bielski Jews emerged--alive--on that final, triumphant exit from the woods.
At the end of the war, with Soviet control of Belarus
becoming increasingly oppressive, Tuvia Bielski and his remaining brothers fled to Romania
, traveling on to Mandatory Palestine and eventually to the United States
. One brother, Asael, had been drafted into the Soviet Red Army and was killed in action at Marlbork in 1944.
said "This is a story about heroes, and Duffy does a masterful job of telling it." The publication said, that after the war, when Tuvia Bielski was living in Brooklyn, "no one knew that the local immigrant truck driver had once commanded the feared Bielski brigade. It is time the four brothers received their due." It said that "This remarkabltitse story would make a terrific movie."
Library Journal
said that the book "relates in vivid detail the World War II saga of the Bielski partisans." It said: "Although clearly impressed with the Bielskis' accomplishments, as well as with the men themselves, Duffy does not let that detract from recounting the less noble aspects of partisan life."
Kirkus Reviews
called it "A powerful recounting of a little-known story" and that the book was "more uplifting than most" Holocaust books. It said: "The day-in, day-out account of the next four years is an often unbearably intense chronicle of horror and courage. A novel telling a similar story would almost certainly be dismissed as outlandish, but Duffy's copious endnotes convincingly document the saga’s reality."
The book was criticized in the Polish press. Some of those reviews came from extreme right-wing and/or antisemitic circles while others came from mainstream press. The critics alleged that the book repeated the myth about a supposed Bór-Komorowski order that allegedly mandated the Polish underground to kill off Jewish partisans (this allegation is probably based on Order nr. 116, which called for extermination of criminal groups and protection of local population). The hardcover edition of the book removed this error.
The book was also criticized for not making a reference to the massacre in Naliboki
, in which Bielskis' partisans allegedly participated.. Their alleged involvement has been a subject of investigation by IPN, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance
that investigates historical crimes in Poland. As of January 2009 IPN has not released its report, however several researchers of the IPN have stated in their own publications that the Bielskis were not involved in the massacre.
Polish critics also contended the book did not sufficiently concentrate on the question of securing food from local population. (Duffy, however, describes several allegations made against the Bielski brothers).
The book was also criticized for accusing Armia Krajowa
of being an ally of German occupiers.
Alexander Zeisal Bielski
Alexander Zeisal 'Zus' Bielski was a leader of the Bielski partisans that rescued approximately 1,200 Jews from Nazi execution in Belarus during World War II.-Biography:...
, and Asael Bielski
Asael Bielski
Asael Bielski was the second-in-command of the Bielski partisans during World War II.-Early life:Asael was the third son of David and Beila Bielski, being about two years younger than his brother Tuvia who later commanded the Bielski Otriad...
, three Jewish brothers who established a large partisan
Partisan (military)
A partisan is a member of an irregular military force formed to oppose control of an area by a foreign power or by an army of occupation by some kind of insurgent activity...
camp in the forests of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and so saved 1,200 Jews from the Nazis.
The book describes how, in 1941, three brothers witnessed their parents and two other siblings being led away to their eventual murders. It was a grim scene that would be repeated endlessly throughout the war. These brothers fought back against Germans and collaborators, waging a guerilla war against the Nazis in the forests of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
.
By using their intimate knowledge of the dense forests surrounding the Belarusan 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. The Germans found them in the forest once but they were not able to get rid of them. As more and more Jews arrived each day, a robust community began to emerge, a "Jerusalem in the woods."
After two and a half years in the woods, in July 1944, the Bielskis learned that the Germans, overrun by the Red Army, were retreating back toward Berlin. More than one thousand Bielski Jews emerged--alive--on that final, triumphant exit from the woods.
At the end of the war, with Soviet control of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
becoming increasingly oppressive, Tuvia Bielski and his remaining brothers fled to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, traveling on to Mandatory Palestine and eventually to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. One brother, Asael, had been drafted into the Soviet Red Army and was killed in action at Marlbork in 1944.
Critical reaction
Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
said "This is a story about heroes, and Duffy does a masterful job of telling it." The publication said, that after the war, when Tuvia Bielski was living in Brooklyn, "no one knew that the local immigrant truck driver had once commanded the feared Bielski brigade. It is time the four brothers received their due." It said that "This remarkabltitse story would make a terrific movie."
Library Journal
Library Journal
Library Journal is a trade publication for librarians. It was founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey . It reports news about the library world, emphasizing public libraries, and offers feature articles about aspects of professional practice...
said that the book "relates in vivid detail the World War II saga of the Bielski partisans." It said: "Although clearly impressed with the Bielskis' accomplishments, as well as with the men themselves, Duffy does not let that detract from recounting the less noble aspects of partisan life."
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
called it "A powerful recounting of a little-known story" and that the book was "more uplifting than most" Holocaust books. It said: "The day-in, day-out account of the next four years is an often unbearably intense chronicle of horror and courage. A novel telling a similar story would almost certainly be dismissed as outlandish, but Duffy's copious endnotes convincingly document the saga’s reality."
The book was criticized in the Polish press. Some of those reviews came from extreme right-wing and/or antisemitic circles while others came from mainstream press. The critics alleged that the book repeated the myth about a supposed Bór-Komorowski order that allegedly mandated the Polish underground to kill off Jewish partisans (this allegation is probably based on Order nr. 116, which called for extermination of criminal groups and protection of local population). The hardcover edition of the book removed this error.
The book was also criticized for not making a reference to the massacre in Naliboki
Naliboki massacre
The Naliboki massacre was the mass killing of about 128 Poles by Soviet partisans at the village of Naliboki in Nazi-occupied Poland on May 8, 1943....
, in which Bielskis' partisans allegedly participated.. Their alleged involvement has been a subject of investigation by IPN, the Polish Institute of National Remembrance
Institute of National Remembrance
Institute of National Remembrance — Commission for the Prosecution of Crimes against the Polish Nation is a Polish government-affiliated research institute with lustration prerogatives and prosecution powers founded by specific legislation. It specialises in the legal and historical sciences and...
that investigates historical crimes in Poland. As of January 2009 IPN has not released its report, however several researchers of the IPN have stated in their own publications that the Bielskis were not involved in the massacre.
Polish critics also contended the book did not sufficiently concentrate on the question of securing food from local population. (Duffy, however, describes several allegations made against the Bielski brothers).
The book was also criticized for accusing Armia Krajowa
Armia Krajowa
The Armia Krajowa , or Home Army, was the dominant Polish resistance movement in World War II German-occupied Poland. It was formed in February 1942 from the Związek Walki Zbrojnej . Over the next two years, it absorbed most other Polish underground forces...
of being an ally of German occupiers.
Further reading
- Nechama TecNechama TecNechama Tec is a Professor Emerita of Sociology at the University of Connecticut. She received her Ph.D. in sociology at Columbia University, where she studied and worked with the highly-regarded sociologist Daniel Bell, and is a noted Holocaust scholar...
, Defiance: The Bielski Partisans, Oxford University Press, 1994, ISBN 0-19-509390-9 - The Stories of Those Rescued by the Bielski Brothers from Lida Lida Memorial Society Homepage First and Second Hand Accounts