Soviet Partisans and the Jews in Yad Vashem Studies, Volume 38:2

Soviet Partisans and the Jews: Bogdan Musial, Sowjetische Partisanen – Mythos und Wirklichkeit

Bogdan Musial’s book about Soviet partisans is a most important contribution to the history of World War II generally. Dealing mainly with Belorussia (Belarus), Musial deconstructs the legends about Soviet partisans, showing who they were, how their units developed, how they exaggerated their exploits, how they suffered from internal strife and alcoholism, and how the Soviet authorities failed to supply them with the tools and arms necessary to conduct anti-German operations. Of special interest to the readers of this journal are extensive chapters on Jewish and Polish partisans in Belorussia.