The Bielski Partisans: The Struggle Against The Nazis

When most people think of Jews rebelling against the Nazis, they probably think of some Inglourious Basterds-type violence and espionage. In fact, that image is not actually too far off. Some Jews joined partisan groups, the ‘official’ title of armed resistors of the Nazis. Partisans were the most traditional and direct form of resistance to the German onslaught. They sabotaged the Germans by disabling German trains, blowing up railroads, and destroying bridges, but also did more violent things such as engaging in shootouts with Nazis, and attacking those suspected of killing Jews (Bielski 1). Most partisan resistance focused more on rescue and aiding those in hiding, however (Armed 1). The two most well-known partisan groups were the Bielski partisans, and the Armée Juive (Jewish Army). The Bielskis were three brothers-Tuvia, Asael, and Zus, who started a partisan group after the Germans killed their parents and two other brothers while living in the Nowogrodek ghetto. The Bielski partisans eventually reached a peak of 1,230 people, 70% of which were women, elderly people, or children (Bielski 1). If the Bielski partisans directly saved 1,230 people, they could have indirectly saved many more because they were well known for destroying German trains and railways. The Armée Juive, which is French for “The Jewish Army,” was a partisan group working in …show more content…
They faced either being shot on sight, or being hanged by the Germans if they were caught. Members of partisan groups overcame challenges such as a lack of weapons and training, and the thought of leaving their families, whom many knew they might not ever see again. Even so, the successes of partisan groups should not be exaggerated. Taking the entire Nazi genocide into account, partisan groups saved very few people, and did not have a very high success rate. The Germans captured, and killed most members of partisan groups, and in some instances, the entire group was