No Time to Mourn: a True Story of a Jewish Partisan Fighter

by Leon Kahn

Kahn tells the little known story of the family groups of Jews and partisan fighters, composed of Russians from Siberia and Poles, who roamed the forests outside the towns in search of food and weapons during World War Two. As a partisan fighter, Kahn was given professional guerilla training and soon became an expert in blowing up German trains. The story of the partisan struggle is as engrossing as it is terrible, for Kahn describes in detail those uncertain times when one never knew who was friend, who was enemy. The final irony may well have come at the end of the war when both the Russian and the American forces, one after the other, detained Kahn for a time as an enemy alien. Eventually, however, his search for freedom was the memoir ends with his immigration to Canada in 1948 and his discovery in Vancouver that "this is my home now."

Genres: Holocaust, History, Nonfiction, Jewish, Historical, World War II

212 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2004

Reviews

[Denise]

I can't give this a rating for fear of offending someone. But I do recommend reading it. Everyone has different opinions

[Don LeClair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Leon Kahn, a Jewish boy from Eisiskes Poland/Lithuania, and his experience surviving the holocaust and becoming a partisan fighter against the Nazis. He is the only survivor from his family, and one of the very view from his village.

The first part of the story focuses on the creation of ghettos for the Jews and the extermination of over three thousand people from his village. The writiting seemed a little stilted and simple when it started, but his story was sorrowful and compelling. With good reason, Leon becomes focused on revenge against the Nazis, but also the many Polish and Lithuanians who help rob and murder the Jews.

After escaping his village with his father and siblings the family lived on the run for a remarkably long time before Leon is able to join up with a group of partisan fighters. They hid in the forest and ran guerilla operations against Nazi's and particulaly with disruping railroad supplies. Eventually his siblings and father are killed, and his mother and grandmother were lost to the concentration camps.

Even though the Nazis were defeated, antisemitism remained a strong force in the area he lived. So, after the war, Leon escaped Poland and evenually made his way to Vancouver where he lived out his life.

This is a very dark and true story. Given the increasing levels of antisemitism in the US, perhaps more people should read this book.

[Matty]

p17-45 Eisysky murders directed by the white gloved Lithuanian Ostrovakas

Note #3 from the story Jew Go Back to the Grave p54, from Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a different holocaust survival biography than I have read in the past. Leon Kahn tells his story of living in the shadows, hiding in forests and barns, constantly on the move to avoid the enemy. Joining a guerilla group fighting back against the Germans by blowing up trains, stealing supplies and killing whenever possible.

This book brought up the questions for me of exactly how far will an individual go to get revenge? How far would I be willing to go? I don't know that I would make the same choices and hopefully I never have to find out.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leon Kahn is a teen when the Jews of Eastern Europe are caught between the coming WW II Holocaust and the local ongoing anti-Semitism. Former friends easily become dangerous foes and there is soon, no place to hide. This is a different story of a robust young man who fights back against the evil destroying his family by becoming a partisan fighter surviving in the forests with a force that eventually gets arms and training from Russia. Sadly, no one, from local farmers to old allies, can be trusted and the evil set in motion turns all against each other. The author finally finds peace he's never known when he immigrates to Canada. This is an important story of remembrance for all Canadians.

[Nedra Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartrending

A very candid and graphic depiction of life on the run in nazi occupied Poland. A tribute to the resourcefulness and heroism of a small band of partisans.