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Rather Die Fighting: A Memoir of World War II
Frank Blaichman was sixteen years old when the war broke out. In 1942, the killings began in Poland. With his family and friends decimated by the roundups, Blaichman decided that he would rather die fighting; he set off for the forest to find the underground bunkers of Jews who had already escaped. Together they formed a partisan force dedicated to fighting the Germans. This is a harrowing, utterly moving memoir of a young Polish Jew who chose not to go quietly and defied the mighty German war machine during World War II.
169 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 2, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 7, 2018
This was an important biography of a young Jewish man that survived World War II in Poland by becoming part of the resistance. Since he looked Polish, he was able to travel without any problems. His story is amazing and unforgettable.
August 11, 2023
The Holocaust was on such a vast scale that no amount of published recollections by survivors could ever tell the complete story. Each memoir adds an important element: an aspect of the narrative, an account of survival, a testimony to human suffering and endurance. In this memoir, we learn a great deal about one of the neglected aspects of the Jewish experience during the Second World War: the acts of resistance carried out by those who found the means, and the will, to challenge the mighty German war machine and apparatus of destruction.
This 👆 is why I read so many Holocaust memoirs. Every time I learn something new, I gain new, better, more nuanced understanding of the events that took place and how such atrocities could occur. I have read other true accounts of resistance but this is the first account I read by an actual participant. Rather Die Fighting offers very personal and profound insight to the mindset of not only the Jews that participated in the resistance but of those Jews that complied with German directives. It also offers painful, horrifying, tragic insight to the antisemitic sentiments of the Polish population before, during and after the war and shines light on how countless Poles were actively complicit in the acts of atrocity, not just through indifference and/or fear, but also through malice. At the same time, Blaichman shares numerous acts of generosity, kindness and humanity by non-Jewish Poles who aided the resistance fighters with food, shelter, warnings, weapons and more.
In a much broader sense, I read these memoirs because the danger and effects of propaganda and bigotry are ever present and to ignore, dismiss or minimize its impact is not only foolish, it results in similar outcomes even if on a smaller scale. Still, is there any scale of hate or bigotry that we should accept complacently?
This memoir was riveting and well written. I borrowed it from the library but it would have been worth it if I’d have had to buy it outright.
5 stars
This 👆 is why I read so many Holocaust memoirs. Every time I learn something new, I gain new, better, more nuanced understanding of the events that took place and how such atrocities could occur. I have read other true accounts of resistance but this is the first account I read by an actual participant. Rather Die Fighting offers very personal and profound insight to the mindset of not only the Jews that participated in the resistance but of those Jews that complied with German directives. It also offers painful, horrifying, tragic insight to the antisemitic sentiments of the Polish population before, during and after the war and shines light on how countless Poles were actively complicit in the acts of atrocity, not just through indifference and/or fear, but also through malice. At the same time, Blaichman shares numerous acts of generosity, kindness and humanity by non-Jewish Poles who aided the resistance fighters with food, shelter, warnings, weapons and more.
In a much broader sense, I read these memoirs because the danger and effects of propaganda and bigotry are ever present and to ignore, dismiss or minimize its impact is not only foolish, it results in similar outcomes even if on a smaller scale. Still, is there any scale of hate or bigotry that we should accept complacently?
This memoir was riveting and well written. I borrowed it from the library but it would have been worth it if I’d have had to buy it outright.
5 stars
February 23, 2019
Do not read until you know the history of WW2 and its direct afterward on Polish territories, not only from Jewish but also gentile side
Lies, fabrications and stalinist propaganda.
I'm afraid I have to break the mood and admiration comrade Blaichman unjustly earned in his last years of life. Polish historians unanimously claim that Blaichman mistakes dates and names, makes up adventures having no confirmation in Polish and German sources and usurps to himself battles fought by other partizan units, Jewish and Polish alike (including those against which he claims he fought).
Polish sources qualify him as his band as common robbers who got associated with soviet partizans in Poland, and he himself recognises only the communists as "Polish partizans". Those were utterly under Soviet command, often consisted of remnants and marauders of Soviet army which invaded Poland in 1939 alongside Germans, and from 1943 onwards under the orders from Moscow were tasked primarily with destroying Polish (anti-nazi!) resistance to prepare Poland for Soviet takeover. Claiming their opponents to be "fascists, nazis and antisemites" was typical tool of communist propaganda, despite the fact that they were the main force in Poland fighting against Germans, while communists were insignificant minority that could only rely on support from USSR, being despised by local population. Many of Poland's greatest wartime heroes, such as general Fieldorf who organised many succesfull actions against nazis were executed as "hitlerite collaborators" to remove potential threats to Soviet domination over Poland.
Comrade Franciszek Blaichman took part in such actions during his postwar years in UB (stalinist secret police), being in charge of secret police prisons and thus personally responsible for tortures and murders of Polish independence fighters there. Had he not kept his UB service secred, he would have never been admitted to USA.
He was under longtime investigation by Polish authorities for murders of Polish independence fighters since the fall of communism. Such a hero...
If he was captured by real polish partizans during or after the war, he would be shot on the spot: not at all for being a Jew, but for being a soviet traitor and common bandit, just the same as any gentile Pole would be.
Blaichman is the embodiment and "confirmation" of Polish antisemitic stereotype of "Jewish communist", and the Jewish community should know better than celebrate such an individual if it wants to ever dispell such stereotypes. Even if moral asessment of his stance is to be disputed, the author's personal circumstances (communist affiliation, ranking membership in stalinist secret police, where only the most faithful of faithful communist were admitted) and vast number of either unproven, confirmably false or conveniently unmentioned "facts" contained in his memories should raise alarm against his wholesome credibility.
Lies, fabrications and stalinist propaganda.
I'm afraid I have to break the mood and admiration comrade Blaichman unjustly earned in his last years of life. Polish historians unanimously claim that Blaichman mistakes dates and names, makes up adventures having no confirmation in Polish and German sources and usurps to himself battles fought by other partizan units, Jewish and Polish alike (including those against which he claims he fought).
Polish sources qualify him as his band as common robbers who got associated with soviet partizans in Poland, and he himself recognises only the communists as "Polish partizans". Those were utterly under Soviet command, often consisted of remnants and marauders of Soviet army which invaded Poland in 1939 alongside Germans, and from 1943 onwards under the orders from Moscow were tasked primarily with destroying Polish (anti-nazi!) resistance to prepare Poland for Soviet takeover. Claiming their opponents to be "fascists, nazis and antisemites" was typical tool of communist propaganda, despite the fact that they were the main force in Poland fighting against Germans, while communists were insignificant minority that could only rely on support from USSR, being despised by local population. Many of Poland's greatest wartime heroes, such as general Fieldorf who organised many succesfull actions against nazis were executed as "hitlerite collaborators" to remove potential threats to Soviet domination over Poland.
Comrade Franciszek Blaichman took part in such actions during his postwar years in UB (stalinist secret police), being in charge of secret police prisons and thus personally responsible for tortures and murders of Polish independence fighters there. Had he not kept his UB service secred, he would have never been admitted to USA.
He was under longtime investigation by Polish authorities for murders of Polish independence fighters since the fall of communism. Such a hero...
If he was captured by real polish partizans during or after the war, he would be shot on the spot: not at all for being a Jew, but for being a soviet traitor and common bandit, just the same as any gentile Pole would be.
Blaichman is the embodiment and "confirmation" of Polish antisemitic stereotype of "Jewish communist", and the Jewish community should know better than celebrate such an individual if it wants to ever dispell such stereotypes. Even if moral asessment of his stance is to be disputed, the author's personal circumstances (communist affiliation, ranking membership in stalinist secret police, where only the most faithful of faithful communist were admitted) and vast number of either unproven, confirmably false or conveniently unmentioned "facts" contained in his memories should raise alarm against his wholesome credibility.
July 14, 2020
Rather Die Fighting is a WWII memoir by Frank Blaichman, a Jewish partisan from Poland. It is both his story and the story of many of his fellow Jewish compatriots who fought in the resistance. The story begins when he is a teen and the Nazis invade Poland. He is from central Poland, so they have some warning ahead of time prior to their actual occupation. Unfortunately for Frank and other Jews, many Poles were quite anti-Semitic. That attitude became very evident as the Nazis took over, and it made it difficult for all the Jews.
Most of the Jews over 30 were compliant with the Nazis, but Frank rebelled. As the title of the book states, he would rather die fighting and take revenge than just go along with the older folk. His family goes off to be relocated, but he flees to a farmhouse of friendly Poles and then on into the forest. He is young, has little except the clothes on his back, and has no experience in surviving, but he is a quick learner.
Over time he meets other like-minded Jews and they acquire arms and allies. They link up with other resistance groups, some Jewish and some Polish. His group becomes affiliated with one of the Polish Army groups, and he eventually achieves some rank. The Russians begin to aid them as well and later send some paratroopers to fight alongside them. They ferret out collaborators, do some sabotage missions, and pretty much do hit and run style activities.
After the Germans are defeated, he works for Polish security but is determined to leave Poland because of the strong anti-Jewish sentiment of many. He is careful in the book to explain that many Poles were not against the Jews, but he just felt safer getting out of Poland. He marries a girl from the resistance, and they eventually make their way into Berlin and the American sector and finally to America where he settles. He and some others worked to establish a memorial in Israel to commemorate Jewish partisans; he claims a million and half Jewish soldiers and partisans fought against the Nazis. His goal was to let others know not all Jews went to the slaughter like sheep. His group raised some money and managed with the help of Yad Vashem to erect and dedicate a monument in Jerusalem in 1985. The book gives a piece of WWII history that is not generally written about; I found it quite interesting and readable.
Most of the Jews over 30 were compliant with the Nazis, but Frank rebelled. As the title of the book states, he would rather die fighting and take revenge than just go along with the older folk. His family goes off to be relocated, but he flees to a farmhouse of friendly Poles and then on into the forest. He is young, has little except the clothes on his back, and has no experience in surviving, but he is a quick learner.
Over time he meets other like-minded Jews and they acquire arms and allies. They link up with other resistance groups, some Jewish and some Polish. His group becomes affiliated with one of the Polish Army groups, and he eventually achieves some rank. The Russians begin to aid them as well and later send some paratroopers to fight alongside them. They ferret out collaborators, do some sabotage missions, and pretty much do hit and run style activities.
After the Germans are defeated, he works for Polish security but is determined to leave Poland because of the strong anti-Jewish sentiment of many. He is careful in the book to explain that many Poles were not against the Jews, but he just felt safer getting out of Poland. He marries a girl from the resistance, and they eventually make their way into Berlin and the American sector and finally to America where he settles. He and some others worked to establish a memorial in Israel to commemorate Jewish partisans; he claims a million and half Jewish soldiers and partisans fought against the Nazis. His goal was to let others know not all Jews went to the slaughter like sheep. His group raised some money and managed with the help of Yad Vashem to erect and dedicate a monument in Jerusalem in 1985. The book gives a piece of WWII history that is not generally written about; I found it quite interesting and readable.
June 3, 2023
This was an interesting book because it doesn’t feel like a traditional memoir, it feels more like a recount of events. I don't think that's a bad thing, I think recalling your feelings and emotions and trying to put them on the paper for something like experiencing the Holocaust would be incredibly difficult and I think that just reading the recounts is the first step to educating ourselves.
I have read several Holocaust memoirs in the past, and I think what this most reminded me of is the stories of the Bielski brothers who were also Jewish partisans living in a similar area to the author.
I know there's been a lot of criticism of this book, that the author’s claims that members of the Polish armed forces and Polish civilians were antisemitic were false. I think these criticisms are self serving. Considering what were now know about antisemitism in Eastern Europe during the early 20th century, I think these observations were probably factual. Do I believe that all Poles were antisemitic? Of course not, and this is not a claim that the author makes. In fact, the author highlights some of the actions of Poles that risked their lives to help and hide Jewish people during the holocaust.
I remember thinking when I finish this book of my grandparents. My grandparents would be about 15 years younger than the author of this book, they never went to war, and they grew up in rural Victoria, Australia. For me, that just brought home how recent these events were. My grandparents are both in their 80s but they're still alive and my grandparents were alive when these things were happening. I then thick about the differences in the lives of the people the author described and the lives of my grandparents. My grandfather had a motorbike to ride, he had electricity, he had horses, he had food, he was comfortable. The author writes that almost no one in his village had electricity, some didn't have running water, some still had dirt floors; it's astounding how different these two places were and how into people living in the same generation had completely different lives.
I think more than anything that's why I connected so much with this book I've never really had that connection before where I had that personal association and I have no family from Europe I have no family that's ever been to war it open very lucky about that but I just had this personal connection to this book which made it all the more real for me.
It was very simply written, it was well told, very short and sharp. If you were interested in the holocaust or Jewish partisans I definitely recommend giving this want to go
I have read several Holocaust memoirs in the past, and I think what this most reminded me of is the stories of the Bielski brothers who were also Jewish partisans living in a similar area to the author.
I know there's been a lot of criticism of this book, that the author’s claims that members of the Polish armed forces and Polish civilians were antisemitic were false. I think these criticisms are self serving. Considering what were now know about antisemitism in Eastern Europe during the early 20th century, I think these observations were probably factual. Do I believe that all Poles were antisemitic? Of course not, and this is not a claim that the author makes. In fact, the author highlights some of the actions of Poles that risked their lives to help and hide Jewish people during the holocaust.
I remember thinking when I finish this book of my grandparents. My grandparents would be about 15 years younger than the author of this book, they never went to war, and they grew up in rural Victoria, Australia. For me, that just brought home how recent these events were. My grandparents are both in their 80s but they're still alive and my grandparents were alive when these things were happening. I then thick about the differences in the lives of the people the author described and the lives of my grandparents. My grandfather had a motorbike to ride, he had electricity, he had horses, he had food, he was comfortable. The author writes that almost no one in his village had electricity, some didn't have running water, some still had dirt floors; it's astounding how different these two places were and how into people living in the same generation had completely different lives.
I think more than anything that's why I connected so much with this book I've never really had that connection before where I had that personal association and I have no family from Europe I have no family that's ever been to war it open very lucky about that but I just had this personal connection to this book which made it all the more real for me.
It was very simply written, it was well told, very short and sharp. If you were interested in the holocaust or Jewish partisans I definitely recommend giving this want to go
March 6, 2019
What's a typical narrative of the Holocaust? That 6 million marched docilely to their fate.
Not Frank. Oh no. This is a narrative of a bright young man who decided to fight. And fight he did, and lived to tell about it.
Told with a sense of modesty, and lacking just about any sense of bravado, Blaichman offers one man's perspective of how a Polish Jew kept himself alive by using his wits and being constantly vigilant. He survives some close calls, gets himself out of some tight spots, and gets recognized as a leader. By the end of the war, he is a partisan of some importance and held in high regard.
His account also sheds light on post-war Poland. Many histories end with "...and the Allies liberated the camps, and forced the Germans to walk past the emaciated corpses." Blaichman extends the tale of the Polish Jews who now find themselves marginalized (and still persecuted) by the Poles and Soviets.
I would whole-heartedly recommend this memoir to any student of the Holocaust.
Not Frank. Oh no. This is a narrative of a bright young man who decided to fight. And fight he did, and lived to tell about it.
Told with a sense of modesty, and lacking just about any sense of bravado, Blaichman offers one man's perspective of how a Polish Jew kept himself alive by using his wits and being constantly vigilant. He survives some close calls, gets himself out of some tight spots, and gets recognized as a leader. By the end of the war, he is a partisan of some importance and held in high regard.
His account also sheds light on post-war Poland. Many histories end with "...and the Allies liberated the camps, and forced the Germans to walk past the emaciated corpses." Blaichman extends the tale of the Polish Jews who now find themselves marginalized (and still persecuted) by the Poles and Soviets.
I would whole-heartedly recommend this memoir to any student of the Holocaust.
February 4, 2019
Imagine you're sixteen. Now imagine that everything you knew and trusted disappeared over the course of a few months. What would you do? How would you survive? Frank Blaichman's story is horrifying and inspiring, but the takeaway for me was that a million and a half jews didn't flee or hide or let the nazis roll over them - they fought back. Such courage!
November 21, 2017
This was an excellent read and a real eye opener. What it was like to be there, to be so involved and struggling. The sheer determination and sacrifice, and hard going just to survive and help others to as well. I was struck by the fact that those who should have been helping and on your side, were so duplicitous. What a heroic group, and how sad that they did not all survive. Heroic, all of them
May 3, 2022
Another untold story that needed to be told
An excellent read that shines light into a little known corner of history.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history.
An excellent read that shines light into a little known corner of history.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history.
September 20, 2021
This is the story of a 16 year old Jewish boy in Poland at the beginning of World War 2. Rather than going with his family, neighbors, and a bunch of other jews to the ghetto and death camps, he chose to run away and fight.
He gets some assistance from some Poles -- others being scared to hide him, and risk of turning him in. Lives in the countryside with other refugee Jews, and eventually arms them and says he goes on the offensive against the Germans. A lot of his stories have moments of unbelievable luck, but a good explanation is "survivor bias" -- i.e. if he hadn't gotten that lucky, he would have been one of the many others who died during the war.
Toward the end of the war, he gets more and more involved with actual Polish partisans. Many of these groups were to some degree anti-Jewish -- since Poland was fucked by both Communists and Fascists, it was a very complex place with many groups -- and he ended up basically working with the Communist affiliated groups. After the war, he ends up in charge of some retribution/secret police organizations which tracked down and killed Poles who had collaborated with the Germans. Due to his perception of ongoing anti-semitism among Poles, he fled to the United States, where he lived the rest of his life.
The Polish government has raised concerns with the book. Some of the dates and details don't make sense, but maybe that is immaterial after a very long delay. More concerning are allegations that the author was basically part of a Communist-affiliated criminal gang, attacking Poles rather than resisting the Germans. To some extent, this is a matter of motivation -- a lot of his stories are about using threats of or actual violence against poles to acquire food, weapons, etc., so the question is really why and for whom did he do these things. But also, the Polish government would have an incentive to try to challenge the author as he makes broad allegations of antisemitism against Polish people generally.
It's hard to know the truth of what happened historically, but at the very least, this is a very interesting book and a good counterexample to the mainstream weak and defenseless holocaust story.
He gets some assistance from some Poles -- others being scared to hide him, and risk of turning him in. Lives in the countryside with other refugee Jews, and eventually arms them and says he goes on the offensive against the Germans. A lot of his stories have moments of unbelievable luck, but a good explanation is "survivor bias" -- i.e. if he hadn't gotten that lucky, he would have been one of the many others who died during the war.
Toward the end of the war, he gets more and more involved with actual Polish partisans. Many of these groups were to some degree anti-Jewish -- since Poland was fucked by both Communists and Fascists, it was a very complex place with many groups -- and he ended up basically working with the Communist affiliated groups. After the war, he ends up in charge of some retribution/secret police organizations which tracked down and killed Poles who had collaborated with the Germans. Due to his perception of ongoing anti-semitism among Poles, he fled to the United States, where he lived the rest of his life.
The Polish government has raised concerns with the book. Some of the dates and details don't make sense, but maybe that is immaterial after a very long delay. More concerning are allegations that the author was basically part of a Communist-affiliated criminal gang, attacking Poles rather than resisting the Germans. To some extent, this is a matter of motivation -- a lot of his stories are about using threats of or actual violence against poles to acquire food, weapons, etc., so the question is really why and for whom did he do these things. But also, the Polish government would have an incentive to try to challenge the author as he makes broad allegations of antisemitism against Polish people generally.
It's hard to know the truth of what happened historically, but at the very least, this is a very interesting book and a good counterexample to the mainstream weak and defenseless holocaust story.
July 11, 2020
The Evil of Mankind and The Heroes who won!!!
How can a person respond to such a book? The emotions wrought within from the first to the last page were contentious and sorrowful! The evil of man crushes the soul. The destruction of humankind indescribable. A gamut of emotions played within soul as pages were turned!
God created us all! We are all his people! Another time in history but a time we should never forget.
Pride! Heroic action by those determined to end the death. Heroes that fell to save their fellow man. Heroes that from free deep within themselves would find the words to tell us all the hell they lived through to stop the evil.
I can never imagine the years, months, days, hours, minutes of sorrow, anger, hate, lived through,and battled through to win against the most of evil of forces.
Thank you Mr. Bachman and others for making us see and, yet, hardly feel an minute sense of the horrors! We should all turn to history to realize what could someday repeat itself.
To partisans...their children....their granchildren...and to those who follow, you have the hearts of fighters within you. You are our heroes and the lifeblood of fighters!
Patricia
How can a person respond to such a book? The emotions wrought within from the first to the last page were contentious and sorrowful! The evil of man crushes the soul. The destruction of humankind indescribable. A gamut of emotions played within soul as pages were turned!
God created us all! We are all his people! Another time in history but a time we should never forget.
Pride! Heroic action by those determined to end the death. Heroes that fell to save their fellow man. Heroes that from free deep within themselves would find the words to tell us all the hell they lived through to stop the evil.
I can never imagine the years, months, days, hours, minutes of sorrow, anger, hate, lived through,and battled through to win against the most of evil of forces.
Thank you Mr. Bachman and others for making us see and, yet, hardly feel an minute sense of the horrors! We should all turn to history to realize what could someday repeat itself.
To partisans...their children....their granchildren...and to those who follow, you have the hearts of fighters within you. You are our heroes and the lifeblood of fighters!
Patricia
February 5, 2019
The author's story is a fascinating and painful look into the details of those lives , Jewish and gentile, who chose to fight rather than flee governments who wanted to eliminate Jews from the earth during WWII. The book is a must for those of us who are still learning the truth about that time in our history .. the truth that was ignored during our school years. Mr. Blaichman's writing style isn't going to win any awards, but that misses the point. It's written in a style that sounds like someone who didn't learn English until later in life and that style adds to the authenticity of this book.
I'm left with one overarching truth from this book .... that the instigators of the Holocaust included many more people than the Germans and that, within those anti semitic societies there were lots of average people willing to risk their own lives to do the right thing.
I'm left with one overarching truth from this book .... that the instigators of the Holocaust included many more people than the Germans and that, within those anti semitic societies there were lots of average people willing to risk their own lives to do the right thing.
October 26, 2024
Unspeakable horror versus unbreakable tenacity. I always consider books like these a very special gift and an honor to read. To be invited into one's family history and learn what it meant to be a part of the family and then for life to change so abruptly and all of a sudden your loved one's are vanishing before your eyes, never to be seen again, it is both overwhelming and surreal. Little Abie's story is abolutely unconscionable and mind blowing. I struggle with the amount of anxiety the partisan fighters were dealing with, you literally could not relax or let your guard down for one second. I can only imagine how depressing and sad it must have been to fall asleeep, have a wonderful dream, and then wake up to the complete and utter hell going on around you...for years. The strength, bravery, and compassion Franek and his compatriots had was beyond belief. I always wish books like this could be taught in US high schools, maybe our country would be different. One of the saddest themes that continually ran through my mind was that we, as human beings, seemed to have learned nothing from the way the Jews and many other groups of people have been horribly treated throughout history, for no sane reason.
It made me think, do we need to start getting ready to run into the forest?
It made me think, do we need to start getting ready to run into the forest?
September 27, 2019
Quick read. Holocaust memoir about a young Jew who chose to fight back and become part of the resistance and what that was like. There were a lot of different partisan groups which I didn't follow completely. Included stories of being hidden by farmers and how he figured out who he could approach for help - shelter, to purchase food etc. But things like some died of friendly fire just because they were young and inexperienced fighters. There were over a million resistance fighters and they seemed to be very fair as far as only punishing the guilty for what they deserved. Amazing how many there were and how they survived
April 28, 2019
Excellent read!
I would ask, how does a Polish Jew look compared to a Polish non-Jew? Other than how Frank was one time identified as a Jew!
As for dates of engagement and often confused locations, I am not sure anyone can remember exactly what they were doing or where they were 50 or 60 years ago, especially in a time of chaos and confusion! You can get close, but I doubt that you can be 100% accurate..
No, this book is well worth the time to read, if for no other reason than to show the courage and spirit of these young men!
I would ask, how does a Polish Jew look compared to a Polish non-Jew? Other than how Frank was one time identified as a Jew!
As for dates of engagement and often confused locations, I am not sure anyone can remember exactly what they were doing or where they were 50 or 60 years ago, especially in a time of chaos and confusion! You can get close, but I doubt that you can be 100% accurate..
No, this book is well worth the time to read, if for no other reason than to show the courage and spirit of these young men!
February 21, 2018
Interesting read about one Jewish man's fight against the Nazis, along with others in the resistance. Written by him, evident from the prose, it starts before WWII going thru the war but focuses on the years the author was fighting as a partisan. If you are interested in the war, Jewish resistance or just one mans struggle during the conflict I'd recommend the book. If not, given the writing style and content, the books not for you.
June 17, 2018
Enjoyable reading
This is another indictment on those naysayers who say the holocaust never happened. I can’t imagine being thrust into orphan at such a tender age only to have to fight for survival. How does one trust again? This account of those who went “underground “ to become fighting partisans is illustrated with vivid detail. He left a legacy of honor and pride for his family.
This is another indictment on those naysayers who say the holocaust never happened. I can’t imagine being thrust into orphan at such a tender age only to have to fight for survival. How does one trust again? This account of those who went “underground “ to become fighting partisans is illustrated with vivid detail. He left a legacy of honor and pride for his family.
March 27, 2019
Excellent about Jewish partisan warfare in the Polish forests. Not all Jews went submissively to the death camps. Those that were able to escape to the forest fought not only the germans but also the local citizenry and even many of the other, non jewish partizaner groups. Blaichman tells of his experiences in his fight for survival. While he was one of the "lucky" few to battle and survive, it is take well worth reading
July 15, 2018
Great Reading
Excellent historical first hand account of a young orphaned teen boy surviving the Nazi advancement throughout Poland, rounding up Jewish residents only to send to "work camps". He and his friends/colleagues/comrades overwhelming is overcome against all odds. For WWII buffs!
Excellent historical first hand account of a young orphaned teen boy surviving the Nazi advancement throughout Poland, rounding up Jewish residents only to send to "work camps". He and his friends/colleagues/comrades overwhelming is overcome against all odds. For WWII buffs!
July 15, 2020
The author fled into the forest in Poland when the Germans came and started sending the Jews to camps. He gradually became armed, recruited others, and joined the reformed Polish army. There he participated in attacks on the German Army. What surprised me was that when the war ended he chose to leave Poland because of all the local fascist sentiment against Jews.
August 29, 2021
Amazing fortitude
It’s always said that we must learn from history. Here it is - 2021 and we are witnessing the subtle uprise of Fascism, Marxism and Communism. Where Frank’s story becomes important is to know that who and what we will be fighting for because if we are not careful, history will in deed repeat itself. This was an incredible story of survival.
It’s always said that we must learn from history. Here it is - 2021 and we are witnessing the subtle uprise of Fascism, Marxism and Communism. Where Frank’s story becomes important is to know that who and what we will be fighting for because if we are not careful, history will in deed repeat itself. This was an incredible story of survival.
July 11, 2022
Never forget
This is a matter-of-fact telling of a young Jewish man who escaped the German occupation of his Polish village, found fellow refugees in the nearby forest, joined a partisan resistance group and becoming a leader that went on to conduct guerilla warfare against the Germans.
This is a matter-of-fact telling of a young Jewish man who escaped the German occupation of his Polish village, found fellow refugees in the nearby forest, joined a partisan resistance group and becoming a leader that went on to conduct guerilla warfare against the Germans.
June 11, 2018
Excellent... highly informative.
This is a well-written account of a young Jewish man's fight against fascists and anti-Semites during WWII. So riveting, I read it in two sittings.
This is a well-written account of a young Jewish man's fight against fascists and anti-Semites during WWII. So riveting, I read it in two sittings.
June 14, 2019
Good history lesson of survivalist trials and tribulations. Good read with excellent details. Enjoyed it but not a 5 star read.
Learning the hatred that existed against the Jewish people was more detailed and realistic than other books I have read in the past.
JM
Learning the hatred that existed against the Jewish people was more detailed and realistic than other books I have read in the past.
JM
July 30, 2020
Memoir of a young Jewish man in Poland during WWII. Was a bit challenging listening to this book with all the names of people and places, but a great account of those who resisted the German invasion.
December 28, 2017
I would definitely read this book again, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about the people that were impacted by World War II.
December 31, 2017
This was an amazing book and very interesting to read about the different groups who were fighting the Nazis in Poland.
March 27, 2019
Incredible story of defiance and the will to fight against overwhelming odds.
February 19, 2020
An interesting and revelationary read
July 14, 2020
Very important memoir!!
I'd never before known there were organized Jewish partisan groups during WW II . This is a story that needs publicity.
I'd never before known there were organized Jewish partisan groups during WW II . This is a story that needs publicity.
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