Bielski Brothers

<p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p>