f. Zionist Youth Movements Change Direction

At the start of 1942, a few months after the mass killings began in Russia (but shortly before the Jews began to be killed in the death camps), the aims and tactics of the underground Youth Movements began to change. They realised, as many of their elders did not, that the Nazis were committed to mass murder and that there was therefore no value in not resisting – and plans were drawn up for armed resistance.

Broadly speaking, three separate groups developed: the Socialist-Labour Zionist Youth Movements, Betar and the Bund. Deep ideological differences prevented mutual cooperation until as late as 1943. At this point in spring 1942, however, the task was to buy, steal and smuggle weapons into the Ghetto. Little was achieved: the Polish Underground, which did have weapons, was itself fairly antisemitic and handed over very few. Betar had some useful contacts amongst Gentile Poles, so they at least had some measure of success.