Media Essay
Minsk - Photographs
German authorities established a ghetto in Minsk in July 1941, shortly after German forces occupied the city. About 80,000 Jews were initially crowded into the ghetto, with 24,000 more people deported there later that year. In August 1941, the Germans began mass killing operations against the residents of the ghetto.
A public display in Minsk before an execution
German soldiers parade three young people through Minsk before their execution. The placard reads: "We are partisans who shot at Germans soldiers." Minsk, Soviet Union, October 26, 1941.
Item ViewJewish Soviet partisans hanged at the gallows
Masha Bruskina, a Jewish Soviet partisan hanged with two other partisans, Kiril Trus and Volodya Sherbateyvich. The sign reads: "We are partisans who shot at German soldiers." Minsk, Soviet Union, October 26, 1941.
Item ViewMikhail Ekeltchik, a member of the Minsk ghetto underground.
Mikhail Ekeltchik, a member of the Minsk ghetto underground. Minsk, Soviet Union, date uncertain.
Item ViewJewish partisan Tsila Botvinnik
Tsila Botvinnik, a Jewish partisan active in the Minsk ghetto underground against the Germans. Minsk, Soviet Union, between 1941 and 1944.
Item ViewMinsk resistance leader Mikhael Guebelev
Mikhael Guebelev, organizer of the underground group in the Minsk ghetto. Soviet Union, date unknown.
Item ViewJewish partisan leaders from Minsk
Jewish partisan leaders from Minsk soon after liberation. From left to right: (first row) B. Chaimowicz, S. Zorin, H. Smoliar; (second row), C. Feigelman, Y. Kraczynsky, and N. Feldman. 1944
Item View![German soldiers parade three young people through Minsk before their execution. [LCID: 73742]](https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/images/thumb/e648a21c-251b-4d74-9e4c-a83594bcf0b5.jpg.pagespeed.ce.fQuSWmjh3q.jpg)