PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION
In the spring of 1943 odds of a Ukrainian Jew surviving World War II were less than 5%. Hitler’s final solution had reached a furious climax with no safe place left to hide; except below ground, in a cave. This is the story of how several families chose this option, and fought to survive during one of the darkest times in history.
Outside the cave genocide against Ukrainian Jews intensified, and as spring turned to summer the risk that the Jews would be discovered increased dangerously.
Faced with isolation, sensory deprivation and the constant threat of starvation, each of them adapted quickly to their hostile new environment. They built lanterns from old bottles, gathered water from the cave’s lakes and defended their entrance against the Nazi’s with their lives. In the end they never, never relented in defense of their underground fortress.
Upon liberating themselves from the cave, nearly one year later, they could barely recognize one another once outside. But the daylight was no longer their enemy, and they were free.
Of the 14,000 Jews living in the area before the war, fewer than 300 had survived.
Decades, later local cavers discovered several old shoes, stonewalls, and a hand made millstone. By that point no one could remember what had actually happened there.
Now, following a decade of research by American caver Chris Nicola, their story can be told; A Story of Triumph, Not Defeat! A story first presented to the public in the June/July 2004 issue of National Geographic's Adventure Magazine, the NBC Today Show and National Public Radio, and currently featured in Kar Ben Publishing's "The Secret of Priest Grotto", and the documentary, "No Place On Earth".
Outside the cave genocide against Ukrainian Jews intensified, and as spring turned to summer the risk that the Jews would be discovered increased dangerously.
Faced with isolation, sensory deprivation and the constant threat of starvation, each of them adapted quickly to their hostile new environment. They built lanterns from old bottles, gathered water from the cave’s lakes and defended their entrance against the Nazi’s with their lives. In the end they never, never relented in defense of their underground fortress.
Upon liberating themselves from the cave, nearly one year later, they could barely recognize one another once outside. But the daylight was no longer their enemy, and they were free.
Of the 14,000 Jews living in the area before the war, fewer than 300 had survived.
Decades, later local cavers discovered several old shoes, stonewalls, and a hand made millstone. By that point no one could remember what had actually happened there.
Now, following a decade of research by American caver Chris Nicola, their story can be told; A Story of Triumph, Not Defeat! A story first presented to the public in the June/July 2004 issue of National Geographic's Adventure Magazine, the NBC Today Show and National Public Radio, and currently featured in Kar Ben Publishing's "The Secret of Priest Grotto", and the documentary, "No Place On Earth".
