During the night of 26 September the entire camp of 250 Jews escaped through a narrow 200 yard long tunnel. Seventy were killed but Jack made it through and eventually joined the Jewish Bielski partisans.
With over 1,200 men, women and children, the Bielski partisans lived and survived in the Naliboki forest, creating synagogues, bakeries, a hospital and even an airstrip.
In 1955, he married Barbara Steinfeld and together they built a Jewish home with their three children.
In the 1990’s Mr Kagan returned to Novogrudok. He established monuments to the Jews of the town, many of whom were members of his family. He also established the museum to commemorate the heroism of Jewish partisans
Mr Kagan also became a member of the Holocaust Commission that would decide the future of Holocaust education in the UK. He was also awarded the Medal of Heroism by the Belarusian government.
Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “As the only surviving member of Bielski partisans in the UK, Jack was an incredible man who inspired generations. We’ve lost a dear friend and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family.”
The UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation said on Twitter that it was “deeply sad that Jack Kagan has passed away. He led an extraordinary life & made an invaluable contribution on the PM’s Holocaust Commission”.
