The Bielski Otriad's First Year: Summer 1942 - July 1943
The devestating assaults on Jews in May and June 1942 made it increasingly evident that the Germans intended on elimating all Jews in Western Belarus. The Bielskis decided to move into the forests with surviving relatives and form a partisan unit. Tuvia was chosen as commander; Asael was chosen second in command and directed daily activities of the unit and Zus was placed in charge of reconnaissance. Lazar Malbin, an educated former member of the Polish army, became chief of staff.
From the outset, the top priority of the Bielski partisans was to save Jews and unlike other partisans, fighting the Nazs was not their primary purpose. Tuvia was particularly insistent that his unit would accept all Jews: armed, unarmed, women, children and the elderly. No one was turned away. At times, Tuvia's broad acceptance policy led to tension with his brothers and other armed young men. Once the unit was formed, there was a concerted effort to send scouts to the ghettos to encourage remaining Jews to join the Bielskis.
After an attack led to the murder of members of their group, including Tuvia's wife, Sonia, the Bielskis were always prepared to move and attack when necessary. In April, the unit, which numbered over 400 people, settled in the area of Stara-Huta for a few months. After escaping more Nazi raids, the group then settled in the Naliboki forest, home to many other partisan groups.
In July, the Germans set out to purge the area of the partisans, whose sabitage efforts were slowing down German military objectives. German armored units, planes, tanks, and special forces advanced into the forest, causing partisan groups to retreat. The Bielski unit, now numbering 700, was forced to retreat through the swamps of the Nalibocki forest to the island of Krasnaya Gorka.
They stayed hidden in the tall grasses of the swamps, which prevented heavy German military equipment from advancing after them. Young and strong men carried those who were unable to wade through the water, sometimes as high as waist-level. Days of marching in cold and damp conditions led to little food left and the group remained in constant fear, hearing the continuous sounds of German gunfire. They were safe once they reached the island, but nearly starved. After a week, the otriad began the long journey back to Naliboki, a safe place now that the Germans had retreated.