History of Europe

What did Jews use a weapons during the Warsaw siege?

During the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Jewish resistance fighters relied primarily on limited and mostly improvised weapons to defend themselves against overwhelming German forces. Here are the main types of weapons that were used by the Jewish fighters:

1. Pistols and Revolvers: These were crucial for close-quarter combat and self-defense. Some of the notable pistols used by the Jewish fighters included the Polish Vis wz. 35 and the Belgian FN Model 1910/22 pistols.

2. Rifles: While the Jewish resistance was poorly equipped with standard military rifles, they managed to obtain some rifles, such as the Polish wz. 29 rifle and the Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifle.

3. Submachine Guns: Submachine guns were essential for short-range combat, and the Jewish fighters employed various types, including the Polish Sten Mk II, the British Sten Mk V, and the Israeli-made Sten machines guns.

4. Homemade Grenades: The lack of resources forced the resistance to improvise grenades by filling bottles or cans with explosives, often gunpowder or gasoline, and attaching fuses made from gunpowder or other flammable materials.

5. Molotov Cocktails: These improvised incendiary devices were effectively used against German armored vehicles. They consisted of glass bottles filled with flammable liquid, such as kerosene or gasoline, with a rag or cloth serving as a wick.

6. Knives and Axes: In close-quarters combat, Jewish fighters would also resort to knives and axes as weapons of last resort.

It is important to note that the Jewish fighters were severely outmatched in terms of weaponry compared to the well-equipped German forces. Their weapons were often outdated, salvaged, or improvised, making their resistance an even more remarkable and heroic act of defiance.