LIDA PARTISAN FORMATION

ˈLida ˈPartisan Forˈmation

It was formed in April 1943 by the Decision of the Baranavichy Underground Voblasc Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Belarus. It formed part of the voblasc Baranavichy Partisan Formation.

It operated in the invaded territory of Voranava, Iwje, Lida, Liubcha, Navagrudak, and Juracishki rajons of Baranavichy Voblasc.

It consisted of 6 partisan brigades, i.e. the Aleksandr Nevskij, F. E. Dzerzhinskij, S. M. Kirov, V. I. Chapaev, “Upierad” (onward), 1st Baranavichy ones; in addition, the “Niawlownyja” (the elusive ones) Brigade, “Slawny” (the glorious one) and “Navatary” (innovators) detachments, “Zakhodnija” (the western ones) and “Znishchalnik” (destroyer) Special groups operated independently in the Lida zone; the M. I. Kalinin family Detachment was located in Navagrudak Rajon.

It tied with the Red Army on July 6–11, 1944; before that, there had been 4.2 thousand partisans in the brigades and detachments.

Commander was 1st Secretary of the Lida Interrajon Party Centre and Lida Underground Town-Rajon Committee of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Belarus E. D. Gapeev. [B. A.] Skuratovich, G. T. Vorobev, I. Ja. Mukhortov, G. G. Kagan, [P. I.] Lyskov, F. I. Serebriakov, [G. P.] Dziatlava, Ju. B. Dragun, Ju. I. Tajts formed part of the formation’s headquarters.