Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
I'm looking for examples of partisan, militia, or resistance groups that, for whatever reason, found themselves opposing forces from both the Axis and Allied camps over the course of the war. For example, some groups of Polish and Lithuanian partisans resisted both Nazi and Soviet forces in their regions, some of them well beyond 1945. The Chinese Communist guerillas could count, since they seem to have been on-and-off fighting the KMT in addition to the Japanese. Maybe also the Chetniks? I heard some groups were known to act hostile toward both Axis armies and anti-Axis partisans at varying times.
Any other examples that people can think of?
I'm not counting national armies whose government changed sides in the middle of the war (looking at you, Italy). This question is about groups outside the regular armed forces.
Any other examples that people can think of?
I'm not counting national armies whose government changed sides in the middle of the war (looking at you, Italy). This question is about groups outside the regular armed forces.
Re: Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
The Ukrainian OUN/UPA attacked both the Polish AK and the Soviets and there was also occasional fighting between OUN/UPA and the Germans.
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Re: Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
Situation with OUN/UPA was complicated. First of all, there were several fractions of OUN and several UPAs with different political background and aims. Melnik's OUN fraction even tried to create Ukrainian legion in the French army in 1939-40. Ukrainian nationalists really expected help from Nazi Germany in establishing independent Ukrainian state - but Germans quickly cured them of those illusions. After that, their relationship went downhill till the open armed conflict had begun in 1943. Of course, that doesn't mean that UPAs liked Soviet occupation.
Also among fighting both Germans and USSR was Polish guerrillas from NSZ: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Cros ... ns_Brigade
Re: Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
Thanks. The situation in eastern europe was definitely more complicated than I sometimes understand.
Re: Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
A good example is Jewish groups in Mandatory Palestine. They fought against the British (killing among others Walter Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne) but some joined the Jewish Brigade later.
Re: Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
That's a subject I know zero about, thanks for bringing it to my attention. Might have to do some research on that...
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Re: Partisan/resistance/militia groups that worked against both Axis and Allied forces?
The Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine wasn't part of the Second World War, with the exception of when Lehi (Stern Gang) briefly received aid from Vichy France forces from Lebanon (See: A Line in the Sand, by James Barr).