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1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

DEFIANCE: THE INCREDIBLE TRUE STORY OF THE BIELSKI BROTHERS (PT 1) TRAGEDY IN BELARUS

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

Jon Hagadorn

Society & Culture, History

4.41.7K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2021

⏱️ 38 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This is part one of the story of the Bielski Brothers- a tightly knit group of 4 brothers- the yoiungest 13, and the oldest 33, who formed an armed resistance group in the forests of Belarus during WWII to save Jews from certain death in the hands of the Nazis. Led by Tuvia Bielsky, the group created a working community in the forest which was capable of defending itself against Germans, formed an alliance with a local Russian partisan group from whom they were able to get their first weapons, and raided German patrols and camps for weapons, medicine, and food on a regular basis, killing hundreds of Nazis in the process. They saved 1, 246 Jews from death through their efforts, which basically went unheard of until fairly recetly when Tuvia Bielsky's journal was translated from Yiddish to English. The movie "Defiance", starring Daniel Craig, which was released in 2008 and is currently shown on Netflix, is closely based upon this story. In later parts we will cover the making of the movie. Get all of our shows at one website: https://.1001storiespodcast.com REVIEWS NEEDED . My email works as well for comments: [email protected] SUPPORT OUR SHOW BY BECOMING A PATRON! https://.patreon.com/1001storiesnetwork. Its time I started asking for support! Thank you. Its a few dollars a month OR a one time. (Any amount is appreciated). YOUR REVIEWS AND SUBSCRIPTIONS AT APPLE/ITUNES AND ALL ANDROID HOSTS ARE NEEDED AND APPRECIATED! LINKS BELOW... Open these links to enjoy our shows! APPLE USERS Catch 1001 Heroes on any Apple Device here (Free): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-heroes-legends-histories-mysteries-podcast/id956154836?mt=2 Catch 1001 CLASSIC SHORT STORIES at Apple Podcast App Now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-classic-short-stories-tales/id1078098622 Catch 1001 Stories for the Road at Apple Podcast now: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-stories-for-the-road/id1227478901 NEW Enjoy 1001 Greatest Love Stories on Apple Devices here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-greatest-love-stories/id1485751552 Catch 1001 RADIO DAYS now at Apple iTunes! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-radio-days/id1405045413?mt=2 NEW 1001 Ghost Stories & Tales of the Macabre is now playing at Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-ghost-stories-tales-of-the-macabre/id1516332327 NEW Enjoy 1001 History's Best Storytellers (Interviews) on Apple Devices here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-historys-best-storytellers/id1483649026 NEW Enjoy 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories and The Best of Arthur Conan Doyle https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1001-sherlock-holmes-stories-best-sir-arthur-conan/id1534427618 ANDROID USERS- 1001 Radio Days right here at Player.fm FREE: https://player.fm/series/1001-radio-days 1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales at Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/6rzDb5uFdOhfw5X6P5lkWn 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries: https://castbox.fm/channel/1001-Heroes%2C-Legends%2C-Histories-%26-Mysteries-Podcast-id1323418?country=us 1001 Stories for the Road on Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/1001-stories-for-the-road Enjoy 1001 Greatest Love Stories on Stitcher here: ​​https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=479022&refid=stpr. 1001 Ghost Stories & Tales of the Macabre on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5P4hV28LgpG89dRNMfSDKJ 1001 Sherlock Holmes Stories (& Tales from Arthur Conan Doyle) https://open.spotify.com/show/4dIgYvBwZVTN5ewF0JPaTK 1001 History's Best Storytellers: (interviews) on Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/1001-historys-best-storytellers Catch ALL of our shows at one place by going to https://1001storiespodcast.com- our home website with Megaphone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Imagine for a moment that you and your spouse are living in a deep forest where you have

0:06.2

been surviving for months through a bitter winter in the company of others who share the

0:09.9

same situation.

0:12.4

The world is at war, and you are considered the target of a powerful and well-armed military

0:17.4

force.

0:19.4

You, as well as the hundreds of others who are trying to survive in this constantly hunted

0:23.6

and constantly moving forest camp, have one thing in common, and that's your religion,

0:28.7

which has been singled out and marked for extinction by the country which has now seized

0:32.2

your homeland.

0:34.2

That same country and its allies have declared war against half the countries on the globe.

0:39.8

You are both wearing the same clothes you arrived in six months ago when you escaped from captivity

0:44.2

as you waited for a train, which, as it was put to you, was taken you to a work camp.

0:50.5

You're now no better.

0:52.6

You have survived on soup made from tree bark and roots now for months.

0:57.1

You have been sleeping on the ground in a wood and earth dug out that you helped dig

1:00.8

and build.

1:02.6

Your body and hands are caked with dirt and grime.

1:06.2

You are starved and emaciated, but hanging on.

1:10.9

The future looks grim, but right now, you are free.

1:15.4

You have been trained in the use of firearms and you have vowed that you will not be taken

1:18.8

alive.

1:20.6

You are not the same person you were a year ago.

...

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