White Nights

The Story of a Prisoner in Russia

Nonfiction, History, Revolutionary, Biography & Memoir, Political, Historical
Cover of the book White Nights by Menachem Begin, Tolmitch E-Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Menachem Begin ISBN: 9780991175420
Publisher: Tolmitch E-Books Publication: July 14, 2014
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Menachem Begin
ISBN: 9780991175420
Publisher: Tolmitch E-Books
Publication: July 14, 2014
Imprint:
Language: English

WHITE NIGHTS, Menachem Begin’s memoir of his arrest, interrogation and imprisonment by the Soviet authorities after the outbreak of World War II, ranks with House of the Dead and Gulag Archipelago as a masterpiece of prison literature.

As the head of Betar, the Zionist youth movement founded by Vladimir Jabotinsky, Begin knew he was under constant surveillance. He watched as his associates either fled or were arrested, but continued his activities until the knock on the door came and he was taken to Lushiki fortress. There he was starved and kept sleepless for days while interrogators tried to get him acknowledge that Zionism was an anti-Soviet nationalist movement that was engaging in espionage on behalf of the British. He resisted and would only sign a document acknowledging his participation in Zionist activities. Unable to break him the Soviets sentenced him to eight years in a Siberian labor camp. In a miraculous stroke of good fortune he was a liberated along with thousands of Polish prisoners to serve in the Polish Army. Amazingly, he was sent with the Anders battalion to fight in Palestine where he was later allowed to join his compatriots in the struggle for the Jewish homeland.

Begin offers a detailed description of life in the camps, the suffering, the prisoners, the mentality of the jailers, the efforts of the totalitarian system to degrade the human spirit. When the book was published, critics and opponents accused Begin of inflating his heroic role, saying no one could have so stubbornly proclaimed his Zionist beliefs in the face of such torture and deprivation.  But with the dissolution of the Soviet Union prison files came to light containing transcriptions of his interrogations. Begin’s version of events was vindicated. His conviction and courage were confirmed.

This edition includes excerpts from the NKVD interrogation files which, for the first time, were translated from the Russian into English.

 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

WHITE NIGHTS, Menachem Begin’s memoir of his arrest, interrogation and imprisonment by the Soviet authorities after the outbreak of World War II, ranks with House of the Dead and Gulag Archipelago as a masterpiece of prison literature.

As the head of Betar, the Zionist youth movement founded by Vladimir Jabotinsky, Begin knew he was under constant surveillance. He watched as his associates either fled or were arrested, but continued his activities until the knock on the door came and he was taken to Lushiki fortress. There he was starved and kept sleepless for days while interrogators tried to get him acknowledge that Zionism was an anti-Soviet nationalist movement that was engaging in espionage on behalf of the British. He resisted and would only sign a document acknowledging his participation in Zionist activities. Unable to break him the Soviets sentenced him to eight years in a Siberian labor camp. In a miraculous stroke of good fortune he was a liberated along with thousands of Polish prisoners to serve in the Polish Army. Amazingly, he was sent with the Anders battalion to fight in Palestine where he was later allowed to join his compatriots in the struggle for the Jewish homeland.

Begin offers a detailed description of life in the camps, the suffering, the prisoners, the mentality of the jailers, the efforts of the totalitarian system to degrade the human spirit. When the book was published, critics and opponents accused Begin of inflating his heroic role, saying no one could have so stubbornly proclaimed his Zionist beliefs in the face of such torture and deprivation.  But with the dissolution of the Soviet Union prison files came to light containing transcriptions of his interrogations. Begin’s version of events was vindicated. His conviction and courage were confirmed.

This edition includes excerpts from the NKVD interrogation files which, for the first time, were translated from the Russian into English.

 

More books from Historical

Cover of the book Fat Man and Little Boy by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book The Comedy of Errors: The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [9 vols.] by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book R.F. by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book The Disenchanted Soldier by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Lost at Khe Sanh (Ghosts of War #2) by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book LETTRES À M. FÉLIX COUDROY by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book La derrota de Dios by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Radigan and North to the Rails (2-Book Bundle) by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Demons & Thieves by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Summary of The Secret Life of Bees by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Les plus grands destins qui ont changé le monde by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Paul et Virginie by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Um coração singelo by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book CORDE AU COU by Menachem Begin
Cover of the book Lorna Doone: The Wild And Wanton Edition Volume 1 by Menachem Begin
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy