Prisoners of Zion. 1943.

Born in the town of Pinsk on 3.3.1915. In his youth joined “Beitar” and was a division commander in Kaznavrodik. After a denunciation by an informant, he was arrested in 1943 and charged with anti-Soviet and Zionist activity. Sentenced to an 8 year prison term and 5 years in exile. Imprisoned in the Stalingrad and Chelyabinsk penitentiaries and in the Dolinka concentration camp (Karlag). Following this, was exiled to Borovy, a remote region of Siberia.Released in 1955. In 1956, returned to Poland and in October of the same year he went to Israel.

Born in 1918 in Alitus, Lithuania. Was a member of the “Beitar” movement in his home town until 1937 and in the town of Kovno from 1937 until 1941. Was actively involved in the repatriation movement. In 1943, attempted to cross the border with Afghanistan, but was arrested for this and for his Zionist activities, sentenced to 7 years in prison and 6 years in exile to Siberia.When released in 1956, he stubbornly continued as an organizer in the fight for the right to immigrate to Israel. He fulfilled this dream only in 1971.

Born on 23.11.1912, in Lutsk, Poland. In 1929 joined the organization “HaHalutz HaTzair”. Studied from 1933 to 1939. Arrested in 1943 with the charges of attempting to cross the border with China. Sentenced to 8 years in prison. Served his time in Novosibirsk concentration camps. Immigrated to Israel in 1959.

Born in 1920 in Vilno, Lithuania. First a student in the “Beitar” organization, he then became its active member. In 1943 he attempted to emigrate to Israel, was arrested, accused of Zionist activity and sentenced to imprisonment in Siberian concentration camps but was freed in the wake of the agreement to form Anders’s Army, and after that immigrated to Israel. He joined the Israeli Army, took part in the War of Independence and then continued to serve. In 1958 he demobilized, ranked colonel. He died in 1989.

Born in 1914 in Pviyanecz, Poland. As a youth joined the “Ha-Noar Ha-Tzioni” movement in his town, then became an instructor and a social activist. In 1935, was mobilized into the Polish Army, where he fought against the Nazis, was taken prisoner by the Germans and escaped. He crossed the border with the Soviet Union, was arrested and sent to a concentration camp in Komi ASSR (Autonomous Soviet Socialist Rep.) In 1941, he was freed from the camp and again mobilized into the Polish Army in the Soviet Union, where he continued Zionist work. In 1943, he was arrested and sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment and life-long exile. While in the concentration camp, he worked in copper and uranium mines. After release from the camp, was exiled to the Angara river where he worked in the forests. Regardless of his location, he continued working for Zionist propaganda. Released in 1954, received permission to leave for Poland in 1956, immigrated to Israel in the same year.

Born in 1900, in Warsaw. As a youth, was one of the first members of the Warsaw branches of “Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair” and “Maccaby”. In 1924, moved to Kalizs and joined the organization “Beitar”. At the beginning of the war, fled to the Soviet Union where he continued his Zionist activities. Arrested in 1943, accused of Zionist propaganda and organizing Jewish youth groups. Sentenced to 10 years in prison. In 1945, while at a camp, was sentenced to 10 years a second time for Zionist activity among Jewish prisoners. Remained in the camps until 1945, when he was released as part of the agreement to pardon Polish prisoners. Returned to Poland and succeeded in immigrating to Israel in 1957.

Born in 1923, in Rovno, Poland. Member of “Ha-Shomer Ha-Tzair” from youth. In 1943 was arrested on the charges that he was attempting to transfer Jews from Russia to Israel via Persia. Imprisoned until 1951 and in exile in 1953 and 1954. In 1960, emigrated to Israel. Died in 1981.

Born in 1914, in Vilno, Lithuania. In 1933 was a student in Israel, but was forced to return due to his father’s death, and remained in Poland because of the war. In 1943 was arrested while being in a military hospital because he had been in Israel. Sentenced by a special tribunal to 10 years of imprisonment and 5 years in exile. Served time in Turgenevo and Tishrin in the Moscow region as well as at the Vitlag and Ozerlag camps in Taishet, Irkutsk. Released in 1957, immigrated to Israel in 1958. A member of the Council of the “Prisoners of Zion” organization.

Born in 1914, in Poland. From 1938 was a member of the organization “Tiferet Bhorim” in Leningrad – an underground group that organized a way for Jews to leave the Soviet Union. In 1943 was arrested on charges of Zionist activity and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Released in 1953, but continued the fight for the right to immigrate to Israel. Was able to go to Israel only in 1969. Died in 1984.

Born in 1910, in Bessarabia. From youth was an activist in the “HaHalutz” movement. From 1928 till 1931 was studying and planning his repatriation to Israel. Was a youth instructor at the “HaHalutz” center in Kishinev. After Soviet occupation, he illegally continued his activities among Jews he knew in the Red Army. Arrested in 1943 and sentenced to 8 years in prison and 5 years in exile. Spent his sentence in the Red October concentration camp, at Ovedlag. Released in 1951, but was able to immigrate to Israel only in 1969. Died in 1994.

Born in 1902, in Pinsk. Was mobilized into the Polish Army in 1924. After demobilization in 1926, joined the revisionist organization “Beitar for Soldiers”. In 1943, tried to leave the Soviet Union for Persia inside a train car carrying wheat, but was arrested and remained in prison until 1955. Was then exiled to Siberia and released in the same year. Finally in 1956, received the permission to immigrate to Israel. Died in 1982.

Born on 14.01.1921, in Riga, Latvia. Joined the organization “Beitar” when he was 15, and continued to be an activist of the movement after Soviet occupation. Was mobilized into the Red Army in 1943. During his army service was arrested and accused of Zionist social activism among his fellow Jewish soldiers. Sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years in exile. Served his sentence in the Boguslovlag, Baikal and Taishet concentration camps. Released in 1952. Was able to immigrate to Israel only in 1971.

Born in 1920, in Ternopol, Poland. From youth and until 1941 was an activist in “Tzhir”. In 1943 was arrested by Soviet authorities in Novosibirsk on the charges of Zionist activities, and without his presence was sentenced to 8 years in prison and 5 years in exile. Served his sentence in Krasnoyarsk, Iskotim and Zaozerny. Released in 1951 and only in 1990 was able to immigrate to Israel.

Born in 1920, in Kovno, Lithuania. Beginning in 1933 and until Soviet occupation, was an activist in the Kovno organization “Beitar”, and starting in1939 was a member of the organization “Etzel”. During the war, served in a Lithuanian division of the army. In 1943, while in the service was arrested and accused of organizing Zionists in the army. Sentenced to 8 years in prison and 15 years in exile. Served his sentence in the concentration camps of Mordovia and Karaganda. Released in 1951 and remained in exile until 1958. Immigrated to Israel in 1969. Died in 1987.

Born in 1908, in Liepaia, Latvia. As a youth, joined the town branch of the “Beitar” organization, and in time became its commanding officer, member of the commissariat and chairman of the center. Founded the student revisionist organization “Tahlat Lavan”. In 1943 arrested for Zionist activity. Sentenced to 5 years in prison by a special tribunal. Served his sentence in Norilsk camps. Released in 1946 and returned to Riga in 1952. Was able to immigrate to Israel with his family only in 1971. Died in October of 1994.

Born in 1905, in Lithuania, a medical doctor by profession. Was a member of the command center in charge of gathering military personnel. Arrested in 1943, sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment in a concentration camp. During his years at the camp, he was accused of inciting a group of inmates to escape, was put on trial a second time, condemned to death and executed in April of 1946. His place of burial is unknown.

Widow of a prisoner of Zion. Born in 1911, in Lithuania. Married Dr. Hanoch Shtukarevich. Was an activist in the Zionist movement. Her husband was arrested in 1943, sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment in a concentration camp and met his end in 1946 at the camp. Zelda died in 1988.

Born in 1918 in Kolomyia, Galicia. In his youth, joined the “Dror” movement, which was mostly occupied with Zionist activities. He taught Hebrew, Jewish history and the history of Zionism. In 1943 he was arrested after being accused of organizing Jewish refugees that fled the Soviet Union with Anders’s army. He was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment and 4 years of exile in Novosibirsk. His term was spent in concentration camps. In the camps he continued to speak out with Zionist propaganda. Released in 1956, and in 1957 he succeeded in immigrating to Israel.

Born in 1923, in Bessarabia and visited Israel as a child. From 1934 to 1940 was a member of the “Gordonia” movement in Romania. In 1940, after the Soviet occupation was sent into exile in Central Asia with thousands of other Jews. Arrested in 1943 on charges of Zionist and anti-Soviet activity and sentenced to 8 years in prison and 3 years disfranchisement. Served his sentence in a Karlag concentration camp. Released in 1951. Sent his first application for a request to immigrate in 1956, but after numerous refusals, was only granted a permission to leave in 1973. Immigrated to Israel with his family.

Born in 1922, in Bessarabia. In 1935, joined the organization “HaShomer HaTzair”. In 1943 was arrested on the charges of spreading Zionist propaganda and sentenced to 8 years in prison. Served his sentence in Karlag, in Iknor and in Lahash and 3 years in exile in Chimkent. Was able to immigrate to Israel, only in 1977.