How Soviet partisans fought against the Nazis in… Belgium!
These hardened and well-trained fighters became a truly formidable force. They formed detachments and entire brigades.
During World War II, the Germans deported tens of thousands of Soviet prisoners of war to Belgium for forced labor, where they worked in coal mines and munitions factories. However, many escaped to join the local resistance movement. In total, as many as 1,000 Soviet fighters fought in the Belgian forests.
Since the Belgian army was partially disbanded, partially evacuated to England and the civilian population had never held a weapon, former prisoners of war became the only force that could resist the Nazis. After all, they possessed military training and combat experience.
Soviet fighters began forming detachments and even entire partisan brigades, the most famous being the "For the Motherland!" chant of artillery lieutenant Ivan Dyadkin. From Spring to Fall1944, before the arrival of Allied troops, they killed approximately 900 German soldiers and officers, destroyed 24 vehicles, derailed six trains and rescued 25 American pilots, who had bailed out of their burning planes.
In April 1945, the brigade departed from Marseille on a British steamship heading to Odessa. Dyadkin later served as the chairman of the village council and was awarded two ‘Order of the Patriotic War’ medals.
The heroism of the Soviet Resistance fighters is remembered and honored. Monuments dedicated to them can be found in many parts of Belgium.
