After The War
On May 4th, 1945 German forces official surrendered. The War in Europe was over for many Jewish partisans this was not usually a time of extreme joy. Many had lost most of their families and loved ones to the German extermination efforts and suffered from trauma. Over 6 million Jews had been killed in battle or death camps. Despite this these brave men had fought and saved many innocent lives but in peace their hardship would not end.
Persecution and Disillusionment
After the war facing increasing Persecution in the eastern parts of Europe, most Eastern European partisans from Poland would flee due to anti-Jewish soviet policies instigated by Stalin's increasing paranoia of subversion from all sides. Inside the soviet bloc Jewish partisans were faced with arrest by soviet authorities who did not trust any partisans in general. Many renowned Partisans from Poland like the Bielski despite their heroism would become distant memories almost overnight to those who they sacrificed so much for. Many would move to Palestine, the United States or South America. Elsewhere outside the Soviet bloc like Greece Jewish partisans faced the ire of their non-Jewish brethren who considered them to be communists this led to many trials and executions under Greeks autocratic regime despite the fact they had fought to save an independent Greece. (Králová, KateÅ™ina. “‘Being Traitors’)
Many of these Eastern partisans would become disillusioned with their predicament after the war many did not fit in with generalized society and as such struggled to make a life for themselves. One the greatest Jewish partisan leaders on the eastern front Tuvia Bielski would end up disappointed after the war along with many of his comrades would try to fit in but due to their experiences did not this struggle made it hard for them to be successful and make money. (Nechama Tec. “Defiance The Bielski Partisans”)
Legacy
In conclusion Jewish partisans fought valiantly and saved many lives. Despite many hardships and adversity these individuals stood up and vowed not to give up. Their efforts impacted the outcome of the war significantly. By disrupting German war production and supply lines they were able to help hasten Germanys collapse. Not only did they hasten Germanys collapse their success prevented the Germans from exerting full control over occupied territories. This allowed them to save countless lives of those who would otherwise have been killed had there not been an active resistance to aid them.
