1.1 The tragic journey of Jacob and Shaja Gold.

We have no details other than father and daughter - 35 and 17 respectively.

1.2 The Pale of Settlement 1791-1917
Jacob Gold was born and raised in the territory, in a town called Mokrany in Belarus. This area of Imperial Russia allowed the permanent settlement of Jews. In June 1941, the Nazis marched straight into this region.

1.3 The Nazis transported the Golds’ from Mokrany in 1942. From Mokrany to Kamieniec-Litewski ghetto, Belarus - 104 kilometres.

1.4 It is impossible to explain why they were sent to Kamieniec-Litewski ghetto. The ghetto had been reduced in numbers, leaving only professionals, which might indicate why the Gold’s were taken there.

1.5 From 12 November 1942 the SS began demolishing the Kamieniec-Litewski Ghetto. In support the 6 companies of the Luftwaffe battalion dispersed across the forest to run dragnet patrols.

1.6 The Gold’s escaped from Ghetto and fled towards Bialowieza - 52 kilometres. Like many refugees, they fled for the forest believing it was sanctuary.

1.7 They faced impossible conditions in November 1942. Pictures taken from a local environment photographer:

1.8 Golds’ intercepted on 15 November 1942, by 6th Company - district 852 (after 20 kilometres). 3D terrain modelling reveals their plight - uphill, rugged forest. They were almost certainly spotted from watchtowers. Red square marks the point of interception.

1.9 Terrain maps adds detail: left to right - looking down, indication they shifted away from swamp (yellow area). This also indicates drifting in search of food and shelter. Also reveals the deceptive form of woodland wilderness of plateau, small hills and swamps.

1.10 On 20 November 1942: public execution - hanging party.
5 bandits, 5 Communists, 2 Jews - guilty of ‘being in the primeval forest without passes or approval’ and in addition the security police ordered the Jews executed for escaping from the ghetto.

1.11 The importance of the Jewish refugees concerns how it forced responses in German soldiers. - some killed. Golds’ case is important as the Germans didn’t kill them in the field. Taken to headquarters to face trial - executed as a warning to the locals not to assist refugees.

1.12 The story of the Golds’ endurance and final tragedy is also a history lesson for today - the horrors facing refugees. Perhaps the following might be particularly interested in this thread:
@yadvashem @wienerlibrary @HolocaustMuseum @waitmanb @J_O_Holliday @JeffCRutherford