Product Description

The prevailing image of European Jews during the Holocaust is one of helpless victims, but in fact many Jews struggled against the terrors of the Third Reich. In Defiance, Nechama Tec offers a riveting history of one such group, a forest community in western Belorussia that would number more than 1,200 Jews by 1944-the largest armed rescue operation of Jews by Jews in World War II. Tec reveals that this extraordinary community included both men and women, some with weapons, but mostly unarmed, ranging from infants to the elderly. She reconstructs for the first time the amazing details of how these partisans and their families-hungry, exposed to the harsh winter weather-managed not only to survive, but to offer protection to all Jewish fugitives who could find their way to them. Arguing that this success would have been unthinkable without the vision of one man, Tec offers penetrating insight into the group's commander, Tuvia Bielski. Tec brings to light the untold story of Bielski's struggle as a partisan who lost his parents, wife, and two brothers to the Nazis, yet never wavered in his conviction that it was more important to save one Jew than to kill twenty Germans. She shows how, under Bielski's guidance, the partisans smuggled Jews out of heavily guarded ghettos, scouted the roads for fugitives, and led retaliatory raids against Belorussian peasants who collaborated with the Nazis. Herself a Holocaust survivor, Nechama Tec here draws on wide-ranging research and never before published interviews with surviving partisans-including Tuvia Bielski himself-to reconstruct here the poignant and unforgettable story of those who chose to fight. "The saga of the Bielski partisans is one of the most elevating and inspiring stories in the chronicle of death and despair that is the Holocaust.... Defiance is an accomplished and startling work of Holocaust documentation." --Los Angeles Times "Powerful and meticulous. This story is like almost no other." --Leon Wieseltier, The New Republic

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14986 in Books
• Published on: 2008-12-11
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 374 pages

Customer Reviews

Truly inspiring, a real eye opener
If you're looking for a book that has a dramatic 'hollywood story' feel to it, then this book isn't for you. I have not yet seen the film but am eagar to see how this book has been interpretted. This book gives you a real feel of how a family refused to give in to the Germans during WWII. Not only did they save themselves but also 1,200 people too. The book tells a true story of how ressiliant human beings can be during really harrowing times. This story is truly inspiring. The main character Tuvia Bielski is a real life hero and should be recognised for the major part he played in saving 100's of lives. Brilliant

They fought back
This is a great story of resistance against Nazi occupation.

4 brothers escape the initial Nazi slaughter and seek refuge in the middle of the forest in Bielorussia ,times goes by and the group grows into a small commmunity with schools and even a sinagoge.

The book is based on real events and addressed some controversial issues such the killing of civiliand and German prisioners.

There are several books about the partisans in the Eastern front but this must be one of the best.

4 stars

Jew Saver
This is a story about the Bielski partisans who took up refuge in the Belorussian forest of Poland during the second world war. The main character being Tuvia Bielski, the leader of the Bielski Otriad partisan group. An amazing story of how a charismatic leader drew together fugitive Jews in the remote forests of Poland and set up a resistance camp that endured not only the persecution of the Germans but also to an extent of other resistance groups, especially those headed by Russian military advisors. What is truly enlightening is that Tuvia Bielski did not set out to seek revenge from the Germans but to save Jewish lives...his was a servitude to `save' not to `take' lives. His outstanding leadership qualities are only too apparent as he manages to negotiate and organise the survival of over 1200 people in this hostile environment. In doing so he built a self sufficient highly organised forest community that accepted all Jews, young or old, fit or sick...he said no to no one. The book is very descriptive covering all aspects of the main characters, Otriad life, medical services and everything else you would want to know about including an in depth account of `partisan love lives'. The book also covers Otriad executions, the armed struggle against the Germans and the inevitable horror of mass Jewish executions and much more. I saw the film first before buying the book and of course the film has been given a Hollywood licence to thrill through excessive military engagements where help has been timed to the nano second. I find this a pity as the book contains enough drama within it to please anyone. The common thread of the book is followed through the film but it does not do the book justice as the book is a gem and the film is...well okay!