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On 1st September 1939 Nazi Germany attacked Poland commencing World War 11 in which total deaths were 50 million, soldiers and civilians, including six million Jews. This series of stamps is dedicated to all the Jewish fighters against the Nazis and their allies, who together wrote a glorious page in the long history of the Jewish people.
The Jewish Soldier in the Allied Forces
There were about one and a half million Jewish soldiers including some 550,000 in the United States Army and about 500,000 in the Soviet Army and many others served with the British Commonwealth forces. About 40,000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine served with British Army. They served in land, sea and air units and fought on all fronts and in all ranks from private soldier to the highest ranking officers. Jewish women played an important role in service with the Allied Forces. Decorations for outstanding bravery were awarded to thousands, including those of the highest degree. About a quarter of a million Jewish sevicemen and women in the Allied forces gave their lives in the struggle.
The Jewish Partisan and Underground Fighter
In the various countries occupied by Nazi Germany in World War II, groups of partisans organized themselves in order to carry out guerilla warfare against the aggressors. Tens of thousands of Jewish fighters took part in these groups including groups that were formed entirely of Jews. They attacked the German means of transport and communication and contributed greatly to Allied intelligence. The Jewish fighters were able to bring about the uprisings in the ghettoes and in the concentration camps, while knowing very well that they stood no chance of success.
Towards the end of the war many of the Jewish fighers joined the efforts for establishing a state and were among the founders of the IDF and the State of Israel.
Dr. Yitzhak Arad (Maj. Gen.Res.)
