In World War II's period (1939-1944), Nazi ruler, Adolf Hitler steamrolled his way through Eastern Europe. His German armies unleashed a blitzkrieg style of warfare that devestated the opposition. Countries like Poland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechslovakia and Bulgaria suffered from Nazi occupation. Their Jewish population especially suffered with tens of thousands being kidnapped and taken to labor camps and death camps. Not all of them were shipped to these hell holes. Others were shot by firing squads and hung in public squares to intimidate the defeated citizenry. However, there was resistance to the German brutality.

Nazi-occupied territories erupted with Jewish resistance. German armies had trains carrying their troops to the Front bombed. In Eastern European cities, cinemas and theatres were also attacked. Army patrols were ambushed. Railroads suffered tremendous damage. Supply depots were blown up. Rampant sabotage and hit and run assaults pinned down tens of thousands of German and elite SS troops. Guerrilla units such as the Polish Home Guards, Yugoslaw Partisans, Soviet Partisans and French Maquis declared "open war" against occupying Nazi forces and the collaborators they enlisted. In Yugoslavia, Nazi and the Croatian allies brutally repressed the Jewish population in their country. Marshal Tito and his partisans repaid their enemies with savagery. In Poland, German forces struggled to suppress the Home Guard insurgents. In 1944, an epic battle took place in Warsaw's ghetto between 30,000 Polish guerrillas against 250,000 Germans. Outnumbered about 10 to 1, they used small-arms, grenades, Molotov cocktails and ferocity to inflict heavy casualties on Hitler's troops. In fierce house to house fighting, Germany used its Luftwaffe Air force and artillery to shell Polish positions. Also Panzer tanks ran over barricades and men. With Russian tanks sitting on a key bridge outside town, the Nazi flag was raised. In France, Italy and Norway, German soldiers endured harrassing campaigns by guerrilla groups. The constant pressure and brutal retaliations wore them down psychologically and emotionally.

Jewish resistance also extended to Nazi-run concentration camps. In August, 1943, the extermination camp at Treblinka suffered an uprising. Only 20 Jewish inmates escaped while 1,500 were killed. In October that year, the Sobibor camp had an bloody uprising. This upheaval was much more successful. 11 German SS officers and dozens of soldiers were killed. Over 300 of the 700 inmates escaped. Because of that, Hitler had the death camp closed. A television movie about the incident appeared during the late 1990s.

Not all resistance groups fought the Germans effectively. In the Netherlands, a left-wing organization under Sally (Samuel) Dormits attempted to bomb German trains and attack soldiers in occupied cities. Two units, the Hague and Amsterdam planned a series of guerrilla and sabotage attacks. Unfortunately, either the plans were leaked or the groups were infiltrated, few people knew. But, resistance fighters were arrested. Dutch police assisted Nazi and SS troops in torturing, alleged suspects. In a military court, 20 people were executed by gunfire. Dozens of others were sent to extermination camps or to the gas chambers of Auschwitz.

During the Holocaust, some of the Jewish nation died, but they took their killers with them.

Source: Wilkipedia

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