What was the basic make up of the Russian Partizan forces in the later years in WW II, say 1943 (post Kursk) and on (and some of their bigger battles)?

I'm looking for what they were composed of, both in men and equipment, from small arms and explosives to vehicles and other assets they may have used against the Germans. Most would be «raid» type misions, right? But were'nt there also some bigger battles sometimes against the German anti-partizan units, and maybe some of the regular German front line troops that just happened to be ambushed, besides the Rail roads and other objectives like supply lines and bridges that were cut.....

Cheers, looking for anything to go on here, a site that may have some info and maybe a book or two as well and any helpfull comments to as to your thoughts on the subject?

Thanks in advance for any future posts here!!

Tom

By the time of Kursk most partisan forces were quite well organised, particularly on the central axis where the frontline had been relatively static. They were in regular communication with Moscow and were supplied with specialist munitions and personel. Large-scale German action against the partisans tended to occur when there was a lull in frontline activity. For example in the late winter of 42/43 after Reinhardt had restored some semblance of order to the German lines in the Velikie Luki area, he set about redeploying his combat divisions to subdue the considerable partisan forces, particularly those to the northeast of Vitebsk, which had been operating with virtual impunity against German rear services. The Kursk offensive was accompanied by a well-planned partisan offensive that was expected to starve Army Group Centre of supplies and inhibit its ability to manoeuvre, yet, though very destructive, the partisan efforts were less effective than STAVKA had hoped.
I don't know of any books that deal specifically with the partisan movement but over the period you are interested in John Erikson's «The Road to Berlin» deals with the organisation and combat operations of the partisans in in some detail.

Thanks Keith, I am looking for info on what kinds of vehicles they might have used, captured German ones for sure I bet but what kinds? And I heard of scavanged Russian armour sometimes, they seemed to have gotten some vehicles back in running order at times....

Cheers, and some partizans actually worked hand in hand, being tank riders later on in the war, any of this sound familiar from your past readings by chance?

Tom:)

Sorry Tom, I don't have any hard info on any of that. The larger partisan groups were eventually organised into brigade sized entities that could be supplied from Moscow with a lot of stuff by air, but vehicles were clearly not an option. I'm sure German vehicles must have procured on occasions, and abandoned Soviet vehicles scavenged, but this could only have been done on an organised basis in the semi-autonomous areas, the 'no-go' areas for German troops. Operating and maintaining a vehicle pool behind enemy lines could not have been easy.

Soviet casualties in the second half of 1943 were more than 5 million. The Red Army was a recruit hungry organisation. Most men of conscription age in the liberated areas were swept up into the army. The partisans were no exception. They may have operated for a short while in conjuction with the regular forces after liberation but they would soon have been absorbed into the army structure. I imagine that in that process they would have been dispersed among regular army units; its unlikely the majority of them would have been allowed to remain together in a sort of 'pals brigade'.

I did'nt think of that part Kieth, nice call!! Once they ran into the regular Russian Army, many maybe were absorbed into it. I would guess that once the actual partisans were behind the front lines. Say as they were civilians until after their area was captured the first time by the Germans (then recaptured by the Russians), then became active against the Germans until they hooked up with «their» Army. Sorry this is a bit «wordy» here my friend!!

Cheers, good post and bringing new ideas to me, very niceB).

Tom:)

A lot of partisans were ex-army — men who found themselves stuck behind enemy lines during the rapid German advances of 1941 and who subsequently managed to avoid capture. A lot of men in the Soviet Fifth Army for example found themselves in this position, engaging in a protracted guerrilla war in the Pripet Marshes.

Got it Keith, I thought the core unit/leaders might have had something to do with the Russian Army at some point before, or during the time they eneded up behind enemy lines.

Cheers, any clue on a ratio of «vets» to «average» Russian citizens by chance that made up the Partisans?

Tom

Sorry Tom, I don't have any info on that. I imagine the ratio must have varied greatly with geography. For example in the eastern Ukraine (under German occupation throughout 1942) relatively few Red Army personnel were cut off during the German advance and so any partisan activity in this area would probably have come predominantly from the local population. Farther west the situation may have been very different due to the presence of soldiers who evaded capture after the Kiev battle.

No problem Kieth, I figure once the Feldgendarmerie's, including the Sickerungs (Rear Area Security Forces) and the Walkure (Field Police) came onto the captured territory, and started doing what they did.... The Partisans got a good boost in their numbers as time went on, and more civs and soldiers caught behind the lines to recriut from.

Cheers, thanks again for the replies and interest Kieth.

Tom