Belarusian resistance during World War II: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{Short description|Belarusian combatant organisations opposed to Nazi Germany}}

~~{{See also|Occupation of Belarus by Nazi Germany}}~~

~~{{Infobox War Faction~~

{{Battle

~~|name = Belarusian resistance~~

| conflict = Belarusian resistance

~~|war = the [[Second World War]]~~

| place = German occupied [[Belarus]]

~~|image = [[File:Soviet guerilla-colored.jpg|250px|border]]~~

| image = Soviet guerilla-colored.jpg

~~|caption = Soviet partisans in Belarus, 1943.~~

| caption = Soviet partisans in Belarus, 1943

~~|active = 1941–1945~~

| image_size = 250px

~~|ideology = ''Various:'' [[Anti-fascism]] Primary:~~

| partof = [[Eastern Front (World War II)]]

* [[Marxism-Leninism]]

| date = [[1941]]—[[1944]]

* [[Stalinism]]

| result = Soviet victory

~~Secondary:~~

* Germans retreated from Belarus

*[[Labour Zionism]]

| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Soviet Union]] ([[Soviet partisans|partisans]])

*[[Bundism]]

-----------------

*[[Belarusian nationalism]]

'''Nationalist underground in [[Western Belarus]]''' {{small|(mostly before 1943)}}: {{flagicon image|Flaga_PPP.svg}} [[Polish Underground State]] {{*}} [[Union of Armed Struggle|UAS]] {{small|(1941—1942)}} {{*}} [[Home Army|Armia Krajowa]] {{small|(1942—1944)}} {{*}} [[National Armed Forces|NAF]] {{small|(1942—1944)}} {{*}} {{flagicon image|Banner of the Farmer Battalions (Stronnictwo Ludowe Roch).svg}} [[Peasant Battalions|Bataliony Chłopskie]]

*[[Polish nationalism]]

---------------------------------------

~~|leaders =~~

{{flagicon image|OUN-M-04.svg}} [[Ukrainian People's Revolutionary Army|Polessye Sich]] {{small|(1942—1943)}} {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg}} [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army|UPA]] {{small|1942—1943)}}

~~[[Soviet partisans]]:~~

--------------------------------------------

* [[Panteleimon Ponomarenko]]

{{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Belarusian nationalism|Belarusian nationalists]] {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Belarusian SD|ru|Белорусская самооборона}} {{small|(1941)}} {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|BPPM|ru|Белорусское народное партизанское движение}} {{small|1941—1944}}}

* [[Kirill Mazurov]]

--------------------------------------------

* [[Vasily Korzh]]

* [[~~Pyotr~~Jewish ~~Masherov~~partisans]]

~~[[Bielski partisans]]:~~

{{*}}[[Bielski partisans]] {{small|(1942-1944)}} {{*}}[[Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye]] {{small|(1942-1944)}}

* [[Tuvia Bielski]]

| combatant2 = {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Nazi Germany]] '''[[Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy|Collaborationist organisations and formations]]:''' {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Byelorussian collaboration with Nazi Germany|Belarusian]] {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Belarusian Council of confidences|ru|Белорусская рада доверия}} {{small|(1943)}} {{*}} [[File:Seal of Belarusian Central Council.svg|13px]] [[Belarusian Central Council]] {{small|(1943—1944)}} {{*}} [[Byelorussian collaboration with Nazi Germany|Belarusian Polizei]] {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Belarusian People's self-help|ru|Белорусская народная самопомощь}} {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Belarusian corps of self-defence|ru|Белорусский корпус самообороны}} {{small|(1942—1943)}} {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Novogrudsk escadron|ru|Новогрудский эскадрон}} {{small|(1943—1944)}} {{*}}[[File:Dirlewanger_Crossed_Grenades_symbol.svg|13px]] [[Dirlewanger Brigade]] {{*}} [[Belarusian Home Defence]] {{small|(1944)}} {{flagdeco|Poland|1928}} [[Collaboration in German-occupied Poland|Polish]] {{*}} [[Blue Police|Polish Polizei]] {{flagdeco|Ukraine}} [[Ukrainian collaboration with Nazi Germany|Ukrainian]] {{*}} [[Ukrainian Auxiliary Police|Ukrainian Polizei]] {{flagdeco|Lithuania}}{{flagdeco|Latvia}}{{flagdeco|Estonia}} {{Interlanguage link|Baltic Collaborations|ru|Прибалтийский коллаборационизм во Второй мировой войне}} {{*}} [[Lithuanian Auxiliary Police|Lithuanian Polizei]] {{*}} [[Latvian Auxiliary Police|Latvian Polizei]] {{*}} [[File:Латиський добровольчий легіон СС.svg|13px]] [[15th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Latvian)]] {{*}} [[Estonian Auxiliary Police|Estonian Polizei]] {{*}} [[File:20th SS Division Logo.svg|13px]] [[3rd Estonian SS Volunteer Brigade]] {{small|(1943—1944)}} {{flagdeco|Russia}} {{Interlanguage link|Russian Collaborants|ru|Русский коллаборационизм во Второй мировой войне}} {{*}} [[Zuyev Republic]] {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|1st Russian National Brigade SS "Druzhina"|ru|1-я русская национальная бригада СС "Дружина"}} {{small|(1941—1943)}} {{*}} [[File:RNNA_emblem.png|13px]] [[Russian National People's Army|RNNA]] {{small|(1942—1943)}} {{*}} [[File:RONA 2 versions.svg|13px]] [[Kaminski Brigade]] {{small|(1943—1944)}} {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Cossack Stan|ru|Казачий стан}} {{small|(1943—1944)}} {{*}} {{Interlanguage link|Muravyov's Battalion|ru|Батальон Муравьёва}} {{small|(1943—1944)}}

* [[Asael Bielski]]

----------------------------

~~[[Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye]]:~~

'''Nationalist underground in [[Western Belarus]]''' {{small|(mostly from 1943):}} {{flagicon image|Flaga_PPP.svg}} [[Polish Underground State]] {{*}} [[Home Army|Armia Krajowa]] {{small|(after 1943)}} {{*}} [[National Armed Forces|NAF]] {{small|(after 1943)}}

* [[Abba Kovner]]

--------------

~~|clans =~~

{{flagicon image|OUN-M-04.svg}} [[Ukrainian People's Revolutionary Army|Polessye Sich]] {{small|(1941—1942, 1943)}} {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg}} [[Ukrainian Insurgent Army|UPA]] {{small|1943—1944)}}

~~|headquarters =~~

---------------

~~|area =~~

~~|size =~~

| commander1 = {{plainlist|

~~|partof =~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Kiril Mazurov]]

~~|predecessor =~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Vasily Kozlov (politician)]]

~~|successor =~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Roman Machulsky|ru|Мачульский, Роман Наумович}}

~~|allies =~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Joseph Belsky|ru|Бельский, Иосиф Александрович}}

~~[[Allies of World War II|Allies]]~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Kirill Orlovsky]]

* [[Soviet Union]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Vladimir Lobanok|ru|Лобанок, Владимир Елисеевич}}

~~|opponents =~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Konstantin Zaslonov]]{{KIA}}

~~[[Nazi Germany]]~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Stanislovas Vaupšas|ru|Ваупшасов, Станислав Алексеевич}}

* [[Reichskommissariat Ostland]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Minay Shmyryov]]

* [[Belarusian Central Rada]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Alexander Dalidovich|ru|Далидович, Александр Иванович}}

~~|battles =~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Fyodor Pavlovsky|ru|Павловский, Фёдор Иллиарионович}}

~~|status=~~

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Vasily Korzh]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Aleksey Kleshchev]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Pyotr Masherov]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Andreii Volynets|ru|Волынец, Андрей Иванович}}

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Boris Bulat|ru|Булат, Борис Адамович}}

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} {{Interlanguage link|Ilya Kozhar|ru|Кожар, Илья Павлович}}

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Sydir Kovpak]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Pyotr Vershigora]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Alexander Saburov]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Oleksiy Fedorov]]

* {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}} [[Vladimir Gil]]{{KIA}} {{small|(from 1943)}}}}

| commander2 = {{plainlist|

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Wilhelm Kube]]{{KIA}}

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Curt von Gottberg]]

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Walter Schimana]]

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Erich Ehrlinger]]

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Erich Koch]]

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Erich von dem Bach-Zelewski]]

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Hans-Adolf Prützmann]]

* {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Oskar Dirlewanger]]

* {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Vacłaŭ Ivanoŭski]]{{KIA}}

* {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Radasłaŭ Astroŭski]]

* {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} {{Interlanguage link|Jury Sobołeŭski|ru|Соболевский, Юрий Александрович}}

* {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Ivan Yermachenka]]

* {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Francišak Kušal]]

* {{flagdeco|Belarus|1991}} [[Barys Rahula]]

* {{flagicon image|OUN-M-04.svg}} [[Yevhen Pobihushchyi-Ren]]

* {{flagicon image|Flag of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.svg}} [[Roman Shukhevych]]

* {{flagdeco|Russia}} [[Vladimir Gil]] {{small|(before 1943)}}

* {{flagdeco|Russia}} [[Vladimir Boyarsky]]

* {{flagdeco|Poland|1928}}{{flagdeco|Russia}} [[Bronislav Kaminski]]

* {{flagdeco|Russia}} {{Interlanguage link|Sergey Pavlov (general)|ru|Павлов, Сергей Васильевич}}{{KIA}}

* {{flagdeco|Russia}} {{Interlanguage link|Timofeii Domanov|ru|Доманов, Тимофей Николаевич}}}}

| strength1 = {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}}: 12,000 {{small|(end of 1941)}} 374,000 {{small|(1944)}}

| strength2 = ''unknown''

| casualties1 = {{flagdeco|USSR|1936}}: 45,000

| casualties2 = {{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}}: 125,000 servicemen of the occupation troops, collaborators,officials of the occupation administration, armed colonists and collaborators have ben killed <ref name="автоссылка1">{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.mil.by/51partizany.html|title=Министерство обороны РБ - Партизанское движение в Белоруссии}}</ref>

}}

[[Image:Belorussian SSR in 1940 after annexation of eastern Poland.jpg|300px|thumb|Soviet map of the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic|Byelorussian SSR]] made in 1940 after the 1939 [[Soviet invasion of Poland]] (marked in yellow). The size of the map nearly doubled. Soviet historiography states that this map constitutes Belarus during World War II, not [[Kresy|eastern Poland]]. ]]

The '''Belarusian resistance''' during World War II opposed [[Nazi Germany]] from 1941 until 1944. Belarus was one of the Soviet republics occupied during [[Operation Barbarossa]]. The term '''Belarusian partisans''' may refer to Soviet-formed [[irregular military]] groups fighting Germany, but has also been used to refer to the disparate independent groups who also fought as guerrillas at the time, including Jewish groups (such as the [[Bielski partisans]] and [[Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye|Fareynikte Partizaner Organisatsye]]), Polish groups (such as the [[Home Army]]), and nationalist Belarusian forces opposed to Germany.

Line 62 ⟶ 98:

As a controlling body, a network of underground Communist structures was actively developed on German-occupied territories, and it received an influx of specially picked Communist activists. By the end of 1941, more than two thousand partisan detachments (with more than 90,000 personnel) operated in German-occupied territories.<ref name=Litvinowski>Літвіноўскі І. А. (Litvinowski) Партызанскі рух у Вялікую Айчынную вайну 1941—1945 // Беларуская энцыклапедыя: У 18 т. Т. 12. – Мінск: БелЭн, 2001. – 560 с. p. 134. {{ISBN|985-11-0198-2}} (т.12).</ref> However, the activities of the partisan forces weren't centrally coordinated or logistically provided for until spring of 1942. In order to coordinate partisan operations, the [[Central Headquarters of the Partisan Movement]], headed by [[Panteleimon Ponomarenko]], the Russian-born former head of the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic]], was organised on May 30, 1942. The Staff had its [[Liaison officer|liaison]]s in the Military Councils of the fronts and armies. The territorial Staffs were subsequently created, dealing with the partisan movement in the respective Soviet Republics and in the occupied provinces of the Soviet Russia.

Later, the [[NKVD]], [[SMERSH]] and [[GRU (Soviet Union)|GRU]] began to train special groups of future partisans (effectively [[special forces]] units) in the rear and dropping them in the occupied territories. The candidates for these groups were chosen among volunteers from regular Red Army, the NKVD's [[Internal Troops]], and Soviet sportsmen. When dropped behind German lines, the groups were to organize and guide the local self-established partisan units. Radio operators and intelligence gathering officers were the essential members of each group since amateur fighters could not be trusted with these tasks. Some commanders of these special units (like [[Dmitry Medvedev (partisan)|Dmitry Medvedev]]) later became well-known partisan leaders.

===Logistics difficulties===

The Soviet authorities considered Belarus to be of the utmost importance to the development of the Soviet partisan war from the very beginning. The main factors were its geography, with many dense forests and swamps, and its strategic position on the communications going from West to Moscow. In fact, Belorussian Communist bodies in the Eastern provinces of Belarus began to organize and facilitate organization of the partisan units on the day after the first directive issuing (directives No.1 of 1941-07-30 and No.2 of 1941-07-01). By the Soviet estimates, in August 1941 about 231 [[Soviet partisan detachment 1941-1944|detachments]] were operating already. The "seed" units, formed and inserted into Belarus, totalled 437 by the end of the 1941, comprising more than 7.2 thousand personnel.<ref name="auto">(All-people struggle in Belarus against the German-fascist invaders) Всенародная борьба в Белоруссии против немецко-фашистских захватчиков. Т. 1. С. 84, 112., as cited in (HistB5) Гісторыя Беларусі: У 6 т. Т. 5. Беларусь у 1917—1945. – Мн.: Экаперспектыва, 2006. – 613 с.; іл. {{ISBN|985-469-149-7}}. p.491.</ref> However, as the frontline moved further away, the logistical conditions steadily worsened for the partisan units, as the resources ran out, and there was no wide-scale support from over the frontline until March 1942.

One outstanding difficulty was the lack of radio communication, which wasn't addressed until April 1942. The support of the local people was also insufficient.<ref name="Turonek, P.76">Turonek, P.76.</ref> So, for several months, partisan units in Belarus were virtually left to themselves. Especially difficult for the partisans was the winter of 1941–1942, with severe shortages in ammunition, medicine and supplies. The actions of partisans were generally uncoordinated. In the circumstances, the German pacification operations in Summer and Fall 1941 were able to curb the partisan activity significantly. Many units went underground, and generally, in the late Fall 1941—early 1942, the partisan units weren't undertaking the significant military operations, limiting themselves to sorting out the organizational problems, building up the logistics support and gaining influence with the local people.<ref name="Turonek, P.76"/> By the incomplete data, in the end of the 1941, 99 partisan detachments and about 100 partisan groups operated in Belarus.<ref name="auto1">(All-people struggle...) V.1. p.107., as cited in (HistB5) p.493.</ref> In Winter ~~1941—1942~~1941–1942, 50 partisan detachments and about 50 underground organization and groups operated in Belarus.<ref name="auto2">(HistB5) p.493.</ref><ref>To the end of 1941 only in [[Minsk]] area there were at least 50 partisan groups having more than 2,000 fighters.</ref> By the incomplete Russian data, in the end of the 1941, 99 partisan detachments and about 100 partisan groups operated in Soviet Belarus.<ref name="auto1"/> In Winter 1941–1942, 50 partisan detachments and about 50 underground organisations and groups operated there.<ref name="auto2"/><ref>To the end of 1941 only in the [[Minsk]] area there were at least 50 partisan groups having more than 2,000 fighters. {{citation needed|date=February 2015}}</ref> In the period (1941-12-01), the German guard forces in the Army Group "Centre" rear comprised 4 security divisions, 2 SS brigades, 260 companies of different branches of service.<ref name="auto3">Turonek, P.78.</ref> In August 1941, about 231 partisan detachments were operating in the [[Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic]]. The units totalled 437 by the end of the 1941, comprising more than 7,200 personnel.<ref name="auto"/>

In the period of December 1941, the German guard forces in the Army Group "Centre" rear comprised 4 security divisions, 2 SS brigades, 260 companies of different branches of service.<ref name="auto3"/>

Line 76 ⟶ 112:

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S73495, Oskar Dirlewanger.jpg|thumb|[[Oskar Dirlewanger]] as an SS-[[Oberführer]], 1944. In Belarus, the [[SS-Sturmbrigade Dirlewanger|SS-Sonderbataillon "Dirlewanger"]] came under the command of [[Central Russia HSSPF|Central Russia]]'s ''Höherer SS- und Polizeiführer'', [[Erich von dem Bach Zelewski]]. The "Dirlewanger" resumed anti-partisan duties in this area, working in cooperation with the [[Kaminski Brigade]] for the first time. Its conduct in the [[Soviet Union]], rather than improving, worsened and atrocities were a daily occurrence. It is estimated that 200 villages were burned and 120,000 civilians were killed during the actions involving the ''Dirlewanger'' in Belarus 1942–1944.]]

The Germans treated the local population abysmally (with the notable exception of the fraction of the civil administration headed by [[Wilhelm Kube]]), maintained [[kolkhoz]]es in East and restored land possessions in West, collecting heavy food taxes, rounded up and sent young people to work in Germany.<ref>Belarus was the [[Republics of the Soviet Union|republic]] hardest hit by the war that took from 25 to 40% of the republic's population. {{Cite web |url=http://www.open.by/belarus-now/cont/1998/0630/politics/bg2-pol.html ~~|title=Archived copy~~ |access-date=July 7, 2007 |title=www.open.by |archive-date=June 28, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628171544/http://www.open.by/belarus-now/cont/1998/0630/politics/bg2-pol.html |~~archive~~url-~~date~~status=~~June 28, 2009~~dead }} According to the [[Himmler]]'s plan, 3/4 of the Belarusian population was to be eradicated and the remainder was to be used as a [[slave labour]] force. By Summer 1942 all the illusions some [[Belarusians]] might have had about the Nazi rule, even compared to the brutal [[Stalinism|Stalinist]] regime, were lost and the anti-fascist resistance rose dramatically.</ref> Overwhelmingly, Jews and even small-scale Soviet activists would feel more secure in the partisan ranks. The direct boost to the partisan numbers were the Red Army POWs of the local origin, who were let out "to the homes" in Fall 1941, but ordered by Germans to return to the concentration camps in March 1942.<ref name="Turonek, p.78">Turonek, p.78.</ref>

In the Spring 1942, the aggregation of the [[Soviet partisan detachment 1941-1944|smaller partisan units]] into [[Soviet partisan brigade 1941-1944|brigades]] began, prompted by the experience of the first year of war. The coordination, numerical buildup, structural rework and now established logistical feed all translated to the greatly increased partisan units military capability, which showed, e.g., in the increased number of diversions on the railroads, reaching hundreds of engines and thousands of cars destroyed by the end of the year.<ref name="auto4">By the German sources. Turonek, p.79. Also noted is that this result, while in itself spectacular, was of lesser relevance than expected, as the German offensive in 1942 came out in South.</ref>

Line 114 ⟶ 150:

The partisan movement was so strong that by 1943–44 there were entire regions in occupied Belarus, where Soviet authority was re-established deep inside the German held territories. There were even partisan [[kolkhoz]]es that were raising crops and livestock to produce food for the partisans.<ref name="belarusguide.com"/> During the battles for liberation of Belarus, partisans were considered the fourth [[Soviet Fronts in World War II|Belarusian front]]. As early as the spring of 1942 the Soviet partisans were able to effectively harass German troops and significantly hamper their operations in the region.

[[File:Партизаны отряда им. Фрунзе слушают по радио сводку Совинформбюро.jpg|thumb|Partisans of the Frunze detachment listening to [[Sovinformburo]] reports on the radio]]

The build-up of the Soviet partisan force in the West Belarus was ordered and implemented during 1943, with nine brigades, 10 detachments and 15 operational groups transferred from the Eastern to Western lands, effectively tripling the Partisan force there (to 36,000 in December 1943). It is estimated that ''c.'' 10,000–12,000 personnel were transferred, and about same number came from the local volunteers. The build-up of the military force was complemented by the ensuing reconstruction of underground Communist Party structures and propaganda activity.<ref name="auto6"/>

The Soviet victory in the [[Battle of Stalingrad]], certain curbing of the terror campaign (actually since December 1942, formally in February 1943) and [[amnesty]] promised to repenting collaborators were a significant factors in the 1943 growth of the Soviet partisan forces. Desertions from the ranks of the German-controlled police and military formations strengthened, with sometimes whole units coming over to Soviet partisan side, including the [[Volga Tatars]] battalion (900 personnel, February 1943), and the Gil-Rodionov's 1st Russian People's brigade of the SS (2,500 personnel, August 1943). Summarily, about 7,000 people of miscellaneous anti-Soviet formations joined the Soviet partisan force, while about 1,900 specialists and commanders were inserted in the Belarusian lands in 1943. However, the local people comprised the core of the personnel influx in the Soviet partisan force.

[[Yitzhak Arad]] was active in the [[Vilna Ghetto]] underground movement from 1942 to 1944. In February 1943, he joined the Belarusian partisans in the Vilna Battalion of the Markov Brigade, a primarily non-Jewish unit in which he had to contend with [[anti-Semitism|antisemitism]].{{citation needed|date=February 2013}} Apart from a foray infiltrating the Vilna Ghetto in April 1943 to meet with underground leader [[Abba Kovner]], he stayed with the partisans until the end of the war, fighting the Germans and their collaborators near [[Lake Narach]].

In the Fall 1943, the partisan force in BSSR totalled about 153,000, and by the end 1943 about 122,000, with about 30,000 put behind the front line in the course of liberation of eastern parts of BSSR (end 1943). The partisan movement was so strong that by 1943–1944 there were entire regions in occupied Belarus, where Soviet authority was re-established deep inside the German held territories. There were even partisan kolkhozes that were raising crops and livestock to produce food for the partisans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belarusguide.com/history1/WWII_partisan_resistance_in_Belarus.htm |title=Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II |publisher=Belarusguide.com |access-date=September 3, 2012}}</ref>

The [[Bielski partisans]]' activities were aimed at the Nazis and their [[Collaborationism|collaborator]]s, such as Belarusian volunteer policemen or local inhabitants who had betrayed or killed Jews. They also conducted [[sabotage]] missions. The Nazi regime offered a [[Bounty (reward)|reward]] of 100,000 [[Reichsmark]]s for assistance in the capture of Tuvia Bielski, and in 1943, led major clearing operations against all partisan groups in the area. Some of these groups suffered major casualties, but the Bielski partisans fled safely to a more remote part of the forest, and continued to offer protection to the non-combatants among their band.

Line 129 ⟶ 161:

The 5th Wileńska Brigade of the Home Army, commanded by [[Zygmunt Szendzielarz]] (Łupaszko), fought against the German army and [[SS]] units in the area of southern [[Wilno Voivodeship (1923–1939)|Wilno Voivodeship]], but was also frequently attacked by the Soviet Partisans paradropped in the area by the [[Red Army]]. In April 1944, Zygmunt Szendzielarz was arrested by Lithuanian police and handed over to the German Gestapo. Łupaszko escaped or was released in unknown circumstances at the end of April. In reprisal actions his brigade captured several dozen German officials and sent several threatening letters to Gestapo but it remains unknown if and how these contributed to his release.

On June 12, 1944, General [[Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski]], Commander-in-Chief of the Home Army, issued an order to prepare a plan of liberating [[Vilnius]] from German hands. The Home Army districts of Vilnius and Novogrudok planned to take control of the city before Soviet forces could reach it. The Commander of the Home Army district in Vilnius, General [[Aleksander Krzyzanowski|Aleksander Krzyżanowski "Wilk"]], decided to regroup all the partisan units in the north-eastern part of Poland for the assault, both from inside the city and from the outside.

On June 23, two squads of the 5th Wileńska Brigade, commanded by "Maks" and "Rakoczy", attacked the [[Lithuanian auxiliary police|Lithuanian policemen]] in [[Dubingiai]].

Line 157 ⟶ 189:

*Raid of [[Sydir Kovpak|Sydor Kowpak]], October 26 – November 29, 1942. Raid in Briańsk forests and Eastern Ukraine.

*[[Battle of Briańsk forests]], May–June 1943. Partisan battle in the Briańsk forests with German punitive expeditions.

*[[Operation Rails War]], August 3 – September 15, 1943. A major operation of partisan formations against the railroad transportation and communications intended to disrupt the German reinforcements and supplies for the [[Battle of Kursk]] and later the [[Battle of Smolensk (1943)|Battle of Smolensk]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Аллея Славы |trans-title=Operation Concert |url=https://glory.rin.ru/cgi-bin/event.pl?act=more&id=32&place=&name=&word=&ids=&start=1&page=3 |~~title~~url-status=~~Аллея~~live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207182212/https://glory.rin.ru/cgi-bin/event.pl?act=more&id=32&place=&name=&word=&ids=&start=1&page=3 |archive-date=2023-12-07 ~~Славы~~|website=glory.rin.ru |language=ru}}</ref><ref>http://slonimtown.nm.ru/rels.htm{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}<nowiki/>{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}</ref> It involved concentrated actions by more than 100,000 partisan fighters from Belarus, the [[Leningrad Oblast]], the [[Tver Oblast|Kalinin Oblast]], the [[Smolensk Oblast]], the [[Oryol Oblast]] and Ukraine within an area 1000 km along the front and 750 km wide. Reportedly, more than 230,000 rails were destroyed, along with many bridges, trains and other railroad infrastructure. The operation seriously incapacitated German logistics and was instrumental in the Soviet victory in Kursk battle.

*[[Soviet Operation Concert|Operation Concert]], September 19 – November 1, 1943. "Concerto"<ref>{{cite web |title=Аллея Славы |trans-title=Operation Concert |url=https://glory.rin.ru/cgi-bin/event.pl?act=more&id=33&place=&name=&word=&ids=&start=1&page=3 |~~title~~url-status=~~Аллея~~live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207191047/https://glory.rin.ru/cgi-bin/event.pl?act=more&id=33&place=&name=&word=&ids=&start=1&page=3 |archive-date=2023-12-07 ~~Славы~~|website=glory.rin.ru |language=ru}}</ref><ref>http://slonimtown.nm.ru/konc.htm{{Dead link|date=June 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}<nowiki/>{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |fix-attempted=yes |url=}}</ref> was a major operation of partisan formations against the railroad communications intended to disrupt the German reinforcements and supplies for the [[Battle of the Dnieper]] and on the direction of the Soviet offensive in the Smolensk and [[Homel]] directions. Partisans from Belarus, Karelia, the [[Tver Oblast|Kalinin Oblast]], Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the [[Crimean Peninsula|Crimea]] participated in the operations. The area of the operation was 900 km along the front (excluding Karelia and Crimea) and 400 km wide. Despite bad weather that only permitted the airlift of less than a half of the planned supplies, the operation lead to a 35–40% decrease in the railroad capacity in the area of operations. This was critical for the success of Soviet military operations in the autumn of 1943. In Belarus alone the partisans claimed the destruction of more than 90,000 rails along with 1,061 trains, 72 railroad bridges and 58 Axis garrisons. According to the [[Soviet historiography]], Axis losses totaled more than 53,000 soldiers.

*[[Battle of Połock-Lepel]], April 1944. Major battle between Belarusian partisans and German punitive expeditions.

*[[Battle of Borysów-Begoml]], April 22 – May 15, 1944. Major battle between Belarusian partisans and German punitive expeditions.

Line 168 ⟶ 200:

In 1941, a significant part of the Belarusian pro-independence movement chose to collaborate with the Nazis following mass [[Soviet repressions in Belarus]] and discrimination of Belarusians in the [[Second Polish Republic]] throughout the preceding decades. However, as the war progressed, parts of the collaboration movement became less loyal to the Germans.

By 1942, the [[Belarusian Independence Party]] emerged as an underground group uniting members of the Belarusian independence movement aiming to overthrow the Nazi rule. The group started preparing an anti-German uprising in Minsk.<ref>[http://www.slounik.org/32036.html Напрыканцы чэрвеня 1944 г.] ЦК БНП рыхтаваў у Менску антынямецкае паўстаньне з мэтай абвяшчэньня Беларускай Народнай Рэспублікі, якое было адменена з прычыны імклівага наступу Чырвонай Арміі.</ref>

[[Mikoła Abramčyk]], president of the [[Belarusian Democratic Republic]] in exile, visited Belarus during the war and established contacts with the Belarusian Independence Party but was then by force expelled to Paris by the Nazis where he lived under surveillance by the [[Gestapo]].<ref>{{cite web

~~| url =http://www.svaboda.org/a/773033.html~~

~~| title =Імёны Свабоды: Мікола Абрамчык~~

~~| trans-title=Names of Liberty: Mikoła Abramčyk~~

~~| last =Arlou~~

~~| first =Uladzimier~~

~~| date =August 21, 2006~~

~~| website =Radio Svaboda~~

~~| access-date =October 22, 2016~~

| quote = Шматгадовы сябар і паплечнік Абрамчыка Лявон Рыдлеўскі ў сваіх успамінах піша, што Мікола мусіў пакінуць Францыю, трапіўшы на вока гестапаўцам. Жывучы нейкі час у Бэрліне, ён арганізаваў Беларускі камітэт самапомачы і ўступіў у кантакты зь Беларускай незалежніцкай партыяй, але быў прымусова вывезены назад у Парыж і жыў пад наглядам гестапа.

~~| language =be }}</ref>~~

Germans reacted with repressions. The Catholic priest [[Vincent Hadleŭski]], who was the leader of the Belarusian Independence Party, was arrested by the German police on December 24, 1942 and executed in the [[Maly Trostenets extermination camp]]. In 1943, [[Ivan Yermachenka]], an influential politician, was arrested amid his growing influence and under suspicion of organizing the assassination of Wilhelm Kube, tortured and expelled from Belarus.

== Jewish forces ==

During the same period, Jewish residents of Belarus also took part in partisan activities. The units, based on family camps, was devised by [[Bielski partisans|Tuvia Bielski]] with his brothers in Western Belarus. Based from the forests near the [[Neman River]], the family units was home to mostly women, children and elderly. The men who were able to carry weapons either guarded the camps or took part in partisan activities. While the main purpose of the camps was to shelter Belarusian Jews and create villages to survive, there were some camps that were set up to militarily combat the occupation government. One group, from 1941 until 1944, attacked or destroyed bridges, factories, railroad tracks and killed police and Nazi officials. The family camps also prevented the deportation of residents to either labour or [[concentration camp]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holocaust in Belorussia [Page 119] |url=https://www.jewishgen.org/yizkor/belarus/bel119.html |~~title~~url-status=~~Holocaust~~live in|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110110042/https://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/belarus/bel119.html ~~Belorussia~~|archive-date=2023-11-10 ~~[Page 119]~~|website=www.jewishgen.org}}</ref>

== Polish forces ==

The [[Polish resistance in World War II|Polish underground]] operated over the whole pre-war territory of Poland, including the [[Polish territories annexed by the Soviet Union]]. As non-communist Poles tended to consider the Soviets as occupiers even after the German invasion of the Soviet Union there was some conflict between Polish and Soviet partisans.{{citation needed|date=December 2012}}

June 22, 1943, Central Committee of the Belarusian Communist Party received orders in Moscow to destroy the Home Army in Belarus. From then, the number of conflicts between Soviet and non-communist Polish partisans intensified. One Polish unit was arrested December 1, 1943, some Polish officers were executed, the commander major Wacław Pełka transported to Moscow.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zgrupowanie Stołpecko — Nalibockie AK |trans-title=Stołpecko-Nalibockie Home Army Group |url=http://www.iwieniec.~~plewako.pl~~eu/AK/Iwieniecka%20AK.pdf ~~{{Bare~~|url-status=live ~~URL~~|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328205946/http://www.iwieniec.eu/AK/Iwieniecka%20AK.pdf ~~PDF~~|archive-date=~~March~~ 2022-03-28 |website=www.iwieniec.plewako.pl |language=pl}}</ref>

== Resistance fighters ==

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*[[Bielski partisans]]

*[[Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye]]

*[[Leśni]]

*[[National Armed Forces]]

*[[Polish 30th Infantry Division]]

Line 244 ⟶ 262:

==In popular culture==

[[File:Парад в Минске 2019 04.jpg|thumb|Soldiers depicting Belarusian partisans during a parade in [[Minsk]] on the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of Belarus in 2019.]]

The Belarusian partisans had a large impact on the [[culture of Belarus]]. Many partisans, such as [[Ales Adamovich]] and [[Vasil Bykaŭ]], later went on to become prolific writers as well as active members of the pro-independence [[Belarusian Popular Front]]. Pyotr Masherov, in his position as First Secretary of the [[Communist Party of Byelorussia]], also sought to increase public awareness of Belarusian partisan activities across the Soviet Union.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ioffe|first=Emmanuel|title=From Myasnikov to Malofeyev: the Rulers of the BSSR|year=2008|location=Minsk|pages=140–141}}</ref> ~~Perhaps most famously, the~~

The Belarusian partisan movement was depicted in the film ''[[Come and See]]'', which was written by Adamovich alongside [[Elem Klimov]], and got through Soviet censors with the assistance of Masherov.

In the post-Soviet period, the partisan movement has been evoked both by the government of [[Alexander Lukashenko]] and the [[Belarusian opposition]]. Lukashenko has drawn comparisons between the opposition and Byelorussian collaborators, who also used pro-independence symbolism.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fletcher-Sandersjöö|first=Christopher|date=17 December 2021|title=How the Belarusian identity became subservient to Lukashenko|url=https://www.theperspective.se/how-the-belarusian-identity-became-subservient-to-lukashenko/|access-date=23 January 2022|website=The Perspective}}</ref> Likewise, the opposition has sought to compare themselves to the partisan movement while comparing pro-government forces to collaborators and German military forces. Most significantly has been the hacktivist group [[Cyber Partisans]], who took their name from the wartime partisans.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ciobanu|first=Claudia|date=26 October 2021|title=Belarusians in Poland reflect on ebb of anti-Lukashenko revolution|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2021/10/26/belarusians-in-poland-reflect-on-ebb-of-anti-lukashenko-revolution/|access-date=23 January 2022|website=[[Balkan Insight]]}}</ref>

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== External links ==

*[http://www.belarusguide.com/history1/WWII_partisan_resistance_in_Belarus.htm Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II]

*[http://www.jewishpartisans.net ''Interviews from the Underground:'' Eyewitness accounts of Russia's Jewish resistance during World War II'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206061728/http://www.jewishpartisans.net/ |date=February 6, 2012 }} documentary film and website