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.
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 ViewMasha 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. Minsk, Soviet Union, date uncertain.
Item ViewTsila Botvinnik, a Jewish partisan active in the Minsk ghetto underground against the Germans. Minsk, Soviet Union, between 1941 and 1944.
Item ViewMikhael Guebelev, organizer of the underground group in the Minsk ghetto. Soviet Union, date unknown.
Item ViewJewish 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 ViewWe would like to thank Crown Family Philanthropies and the Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation for supporting the ongoing work to create content and resources for the Holocaust Encyclopedia. View the list of all donors.