Book Review - The Bielski Brothers

So my Dad called me up a couple of weeks ago, and said grab a pen, and write down the name of this book which he then proceeded to spell out for me. 'It's about my dermatologist's family and what happened to them during World War II," he said.

Being the dutiful son, that I am, I humored him, and actually wrote it down. I was going to the library later that week, so I thought I would humor him further and actually take it out and read it, thinking it was going to be an 'OK' book, but one that would make my father happy that I had read, as he had suggested it.

It turned out to be an absolutely incredible re-telling of the three Bielski brothers, and how they saved 1200 Jews from being annihilated by the Nazis in Belarus. Not only did they keep 1200 Jews hidden in the forests, but they built mini cities in those forests that the Nazis never found, from which they ran a partisan army that harassed the local German occupiers and collaborators. When it seemed like they were going to be found out, they would move the entire group to another location in the forests.

It turned out to be an unbelievable read. The strength of will, smarts, and ingenuity the three brothers showed to not only save all that came to them, but to actually go into the ghettos and camps to convince the prisoners to escape and join them, to then clothe, feed, house, and keep safe from all enemies (and it wasn't just the Germans), all while running a partisan war, is absolutely incredible.

Oh, and it's being made into a movie (renamed Defiance) that will be released on Dec. 31st.

As it says in the trailer: The most incredible true story you've never heard.