The Jewish Partisans During the Holocaust

Resistance and Survival 

The Holocaust is often associated with the systematic persecution and genocide of six million Jews by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. However, amid the overwhelming brutality and devastation, there were also stories of defiance and resistance. One of the most remarkable forms of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust came from the Jewish partisans—individuals and groups of Jews who fought back against the Nazis using guerilla warfare, sabotage, and other forms of resistance. They played a significant role in undermining the Nazi war effort and providing hope to oppressed Jewish communities, often at great personal risk. 

Jewish partisans were not a uniform group; they came from various backgrounds, including young men and women, intellectuals, farmers, and former soldiers. While many partisans fought in traditional military units, others fought within the forests and villages, organizing resistance efforts.  

During the early years of the war, as Nazi forces invaded Poland and the Soviet Union, Jewish communities were subjected to systematic oppression. Jews were forced into ghettos, subjected to forced labor, and sent to concentration camps. As the Nazis expanded their operations, many Jews fled to the forests to escape the atrocities, with some forming resistance groups. The establishment of these groups was essential for survival, as the forests provided a refuge from the relentless roundups and deportations. 

Jewish partisans fought against the Nazis in various ways, including: 

1. Sabotage: Partisans engaged in acts of sabotage, destroying railways, bridges, and other infrastructure that the Nazis relied on for transportation and supplies. 

2. Ambushes: Partisans would launch ambushes against Nazi patrols, soldiers, and collaborators, using guerrilla tactics. 

3. Rescue: Partisans helped smuggle Jewish families out of ghettos and facilitated escape routes. 

4. Intelligence gathering: They often acted as spies, gathering crucial information on Nazi plans and movements. 

Jewish Partisan Groups and Their Impact 

The Bielski brothers were not the only Jewish partisans to resist the Nazis. Many other groups, such as the Partisans of the Vilna Ghetto, the Bielski Group's allies in Belarus, and smaller units across Eastern Europe, also engaged in resistance. Some of these groups fought directly with Nazi forces, while others provided critical assistance to those hiding in the forests.  ​Abba Kovner was a prominent Jewish partisan leader in Vilna.  In January 1942, recognizing the imminent threat to the Jewish community, he authored a manifesto declaring, "Let us not go like lambs to the slaughter," urging armed resistance against the Nazis. This call led to the formation of the Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye (FPO), or United Partisan Organization, uniting various political factions within the ghetto. Despite internal challenges and external pressures, Kovner and the FPO orchestrated acts of sabotage against German forces. When the Vilna Ghetto faced liquidation in September 1943, Kovner led many FPO members through the sewers to the surrounding forests, where they continued guerrilla warfare as partisans until the Soviet army liberated the area in 1944. 

Jewish partisan groups were instrumental in disrupting Nazi operations, gathering intelligence, and helping Jews escape certain death. Their contributions significantly weakened the Nazis’ control in occupied territories and disrupted their supply lines, making it harder for them to carry out mass killings. In the broader context, Jewish partisans played a crucial role in combating the Nazi war machine, but their legacy is not solely about military resistance. Their bravery and defiance provided hope for the Jewish people during the darkest of times, showing that even under the most brutal conditions, the human spirit could still resist and survive. 

The Bielski Brothers: A Story of Survival and Resistance 

Among these groups, one of the most well-known and celebrated was the Bielski partisans, a family-led resistance group that became a symbol of Jewish survival and defiance.  

The Bielski brothers—Tuvia, Asael, and Zus Bielski—were born into a Jewish family in the town of Stankiewicze (now in Belarus). When the Nazis invaded their homeland, the Bielski family was caught in the horrors of the Holocaust, like many others. In 1941, their parents were killed by the Nazis, and the family was forced to flee into the forests to escape certain death. The brothers established a partisan group that would later be known as the Bielski Brigade. Unlike many other partisan groups that focused solely on military resistance, the Bielski partisans had a different goal: survival. The Bielski brothers made it their mission to protect and shelter Jewish civilians, particularly women, children, the elderly, and the sick, who were often overlooked by other resistance groups. As Tuvia once said, "I would rather save one old Jewish woman than kill ten Nazis." In this way, the Bielski Brigade became one of the largest and most effective Jewish partisan groups of the war. 

The Bielski partisans initially began by attacking Nazi supply lines and sabotaging infrastructure, but they soon realized the importance of providing shelter and safety to Jewish refugees. They established a hidden base in the forests of Narewka, deep within the Belorussian wilderness. The camp was remote, and it was here that they took in Jews who had escaped from ghettos, as well as those who had been displaced by Nazi aggression. 

Tuvia Bielski, the oldest of the three brothers, became the leader of the group. He emphasized the importance of protecting every life, stating, “We didn’t start out with the idea of becoming partisans. We started out with the idea of saving lives.” Under his leadership, the Bielski partisans were able to shelter over 1,200 Jewish men, women, and children in the forest. This was a remarkable feat, considering the constant threat of discovery by Nazi forces. 

The Bielski brothers also managed to forge alliances with local non-Jewish partisans and Soviet forces, which helped them to fight back more effectively against the Nazis. They carried out numerous successful attacks against Nazi forces, including ambushes and raids that crippled the German military’s operations in the region. 

The Bielski brothers’ efforts were not without immense personal cost. They faced constant threats from Nazi forces and collaborators, as well as the harsh conditions of the forest. Many members of the Bielski Brigade died from disease, starvation, and exposure to the elements. Despite these challenges, the Bielski brothers remained committed to their mission of saving as many lives as possible. 

The Bielski Brigade became a symbol of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. Their story is unique not only because of their military actions but also because of their focus on protecting civilians. By prioritizing the survival of innocent Jews, the Bielski brothers showed that resistance was not solely about fighting the Nazis but also about preserving human dignity in the face of unimaginable terror. 

After the war, the Bielski brothers' legacy endured. They became symbols of Jewish resilience and courage, and their story was immortalized in the 2008 film, Defiance, which dramatized their efforts to resist Nazi forces and save Jewish lives. The film brought global attention to their achievements and helped to ensure that the Bielski brothers would be remembered as heroes. 

Jewish Lithuanian partisan group "The Avengers" on their return to Vilna at the time of the
liberation of the city by the Red Army.