In 1941, in Belorussia, the Jewish Bielski brothers succeed in escaping from the massacre of the German in their village where their parents were killed. They hide in the woods and sooner other runaway Jews join them. Tuvia Bielski, the eldest brother, assumes the leadership of the survivors and plans a camp with tasks for everyone in the community; however, his brother Zus Bielski wants to fight against the Germans and does not agree with Tuvia's directions. Zus decides to join the Russian resistance that believes that Jews do not fight. While Tuvia welcomes any survivor in his camp with his two younger brothers and fight for food and ammunition, Zus finds anti-Semitism among the Russian partisans.

The makers considered shooting in Poland and Romania before settling upon Lithuania.

Zus Bielski:
[after Asael exits a hide out with 2 women] Asael! You've been busy?


Asael Bielski:
Shut up

Continuity: When the German tank aims at Tuvia and Isaac, the first clip shows it turning the turret. In the following clip, the turret is in the same position it had before it started turning.

Traditional
Arranged by Dmitri Slepovitch