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.
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The author writes about the Pacific WW2 experiences of an 18-19 year old Coast Guard seaman from middle Texas (the author) as the USA conquers Japanese forces island by island. I never knew the significant part the Coast Guard played in the campaign away from our immediate coast. Instead of an academic dry history we have a frank and honest autobiography of the maturation of a teenage boy.
This is a fantastic WWII true adventure that shows the grit and determination of people trapped in occupiedareas of Europe. The risk these people were forced to take to survive.As a Vietnam Nam veteran I kept asking myself whether I could have survived. This shows these people’s determination to be free.
Excellent Book. Gave me a real insight to the horror of war. Everyone should read this book to appreciate the freedoms we enjoy.
I find first person memoirs to be one of the best ways to portray events. Much better than just reciting facts. This book explains the persecution of the Jews during WW2 from the perspective of a Jew who escaped, and fought back.
Illustrates the complicated plight of Polish Jews in resisting the Nazis when their own countrymen fought them, too. Although the book is dense and detailed, it’s worth sticking with it to try to understand how awful the time was and how totalitarianism and its predecessor, authoritarianism, can never take hold again.
This book shows how swiftly a country can be subverted by outside forces. I was surprised near the end.
Great insight into an aspect of World War II that has been hidden and not historically documented. Very hard to hear about how some of the locals betrayed their neighbors. A story that must be told and remembered. Glad I bought it.
A story of courage and survival skills which throws light on how some Jews fought back against the Nazi’s in Poland.
great read
A different view of Jews in WW11 than the stereotypical Jews who died without resisting. These were children in Poland who became fighters known as Partisans. Little known(at least to me and others), courageous children who successfully fought for their lives rather than lay down and be shot by the Nazis!
I had no idea that Jewish resistance was a factor in WW 2, nor that many ordinary Polish farmers were so sympathetic to the resistance effort. I did get lost trying to remember all the Polish names in the book, but the story itself was fascinating. If you like historical biography or action and adventure, you will definitely enjoy this book.
Easy read about a seldom covered historical topic.