Rethinking Jewish Resisters’ Attacks on German Targets in Kraków
Keywords:
Holocaust, Jews, Jews in Kraków, HeChalutz HaLochem, guerrilla, Kraków, Poland, Germany, PPRAbstract
This paper offers a broader look at the 22 December 1942 attacks against German targets in Kraków that was carried out by two Jewish underground groups, HeChalutz HaLochem (Combat Pioneer) and Iskra (Spark). The 22 December attacks were a unique operation both in terms of their timing and modus operandi. They took place while other Jewish groups were yet to be established or were even debating whether to focus on rescue or resistance. The attacks were the most significant assault against the Germans in Kraków, which otherwise was mostly quiet during the occupation years. This study addresses those attacks as an urban guerrilla operation which required special efforts to gain mobility and probably could not have happened without logistic support by Polish supporters. By attacking the Germans from the rear, the Jewish guerrilla commanders in Kraków displayed creative thinking, flexibility, surprise, and initiative.
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