Portland Public Library

The light of days, the untold story of women resistance fighters in Hitler's ghettos, Judy Batalion

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 463-536) and index

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index present

non fiction

The light of days

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1121052829

Judy Batalion

the untold story of women resistance fighters in Hitler's ghettos

"One of the most important untold stories of World War II. The light of days is a soaring landmark history that brings to light the extraordinary accomplishments of brave Jewish women who helped weaponize Poland's Jewish youth groups to resist the Nazis. Witnesses to the brutal murder of their families and the violent destruction of their communities, a cadre of Jewish women in Poland--some still in their teens--became the nerves of a wide-ranging resistance network that fought the Nazis"--, Jacket flap"Witnesses to the brutal murder of their families and neighbors and the violent destruction of their communities, a cadre of Jewish women in Poland--some still in their teens--helped transform the Jewish youth groups into resistance cells to fight the Nazis. With courage, guile, and nerves of steel, these "ghetto girls" paid off Gestapo guards, hid revolvers in loaves of bread and jars of marmalade, and helped build systems of underground bunkers. They flirted with German soldiers, bribed them with wine, whiskey, and home cooking, used their Aryan looks to seduce them, and shot and killed them. They bombed German train lines and blew up a town's water supply. They also nursed the sick and taught children. Yet the exploits of these courageous resistance fighters have remained virtually unknown. As propulsive and thrilling as Hidden Figures, In the Garden of Beasts, Band of Brothers, and A Train in Winter, The Light of Days at last tells the true story of these incredible women whose courageous yet little-known feats have been eclipsed by time. Judy Batalion--the granddaughter of Polish Holocaust survivors--takes us back to 1939 and introduces us to Renia Kukielka, a weapons smuggler and messenger who risked death traveling across occupied Poland on foot and by train. Joining Renia are other women who served as couriers, armed fighters, intelligence agents, and saboteurs, all who put their lives in mortal danger to carry out their missions. Batalion follows these women through the savage destruction of the ghettos, arrest and internment in Gestapo prisons and concentration camps, and for a lucky few--like Renia, who orchestrated her own audacious escape from a brutal Nazi jail--into the late 20th century and beyond. Powerful and inspiring, featuring twenty black-and-white photographs, The Light of Days is an unforgettable true tale of war, the fight for freedom, exceptional bravery, female friendship, and survival in the face of staggering odds"--Provided by publisher

Introduction: Battle-axes -- Prologue: Flash forward : defense or rescue? -- Ghetto Girls. Po-lin ; From the fire, to the fire ; Founding the female fight ; To see another morning-terror in the ghetto ; The Warsaw Ghetto-education and the word ; From spirit to blood-becoming the ZOB ; The days of wandering-homeless to housekeeper ; To turn to stone ; The black ravens ; Three lines in history-a Krakówian Christmas surprise ; 1943, a new year-Warsaw's minirebellion -- Devils or Goddesses. In preparation ; The courier girls ; Inside the Gestapo ; The Warsaw Ghetto uprising ; Bandits in braids ; Arms, arms, arms ; Gallows ; Freedom in the forests-the partisans ; Melinas, money, and rescue ; Zaglembie's Jerusalem is burning -- "No Border Will Stand in Their Way." The bunker and beyond ; The Gestapo net ; The cuckoo ; Sisters, revenge! ; The light of days ; The great escape ; "Zag nit keyn mol az du geyst dem letstn veg" -- The Emotional Legacy. Fear of life ; Forgotten strength ; Epilogue: A missing Jew

Untold story of women resistance fighters in Hitler's ghettos