They Fought Back

"This important volume joins a handful of recent groundbreaking studies dedicated to burying the longstanding myth of Jewish passivity during the Holocaust. David Chanoff and Paula S. Apsell wisely go beyond the well-known story of the Warsaw Ghetto to examine rebellions in death camps, resistance of thousands of Jews in the forests, and the relatively unknown work of female Jewish couriers. Chanoff and Apsell also pay deep tribute to the nonviolent resistance of Jews, Amidah, in all its various manifestations during the Holocaust. All this is presented in short, powerful, moving chapters that bring readers close to the courageous resisters themselves." - Patrick Henry, author of We Only Know Men: The Rescue of Jews in France during the Holocaust

"Based on the acclaimed documentary Resistance – They Fought Back, David Chanoff and Paula S. Apsell's They Fought Back offers a powerful and deeply human account of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Through vivid storytelling and historical insight, the book reveals the many forms of defiance across the spectrum of resistance – armed, spiritual, cultural, and moral – undertaken by Jews across Nazi-occupied Europe in the face of annihilation." - Avinoam Patt, Maurice and Corinne Greenberg Professor of Holocaust Studies and Director of the Center for the Study of Antisemitism, New York University

"As the Nazis and their collaborators attempted to dehumanize and annihilate them, the Jews of Europe found ingenious ways to preserve their dignity and their culture, while fighting to save lives and undermine their foes.  This carefully researched and well documented book eloquently tells the harrowing stories of individuals and communities who fought back with acts ranging from spiritual resistance to daring sabotage to armed conflict.  Their heroic actions remain a timeless testament to human courage and resilience." - Michael J. Bohnen, President, Adelson Family Foundation and Co-Editor and Translator of Shiva: Poems of October 7