The 1942 manifesto released by Abba Kovner in the Vilna Ghetto marked the first time a target of the Holocaust publicly identified the German plan to murder all Jews. This proclamation served as a turning point for Jewish resistance, urging inhabitants to resist the occupier through armed force rather than submission.
Partisan Leadership
Born in 1918 in Ašmiany, Kovner lived in Vilnius before the outbreak of World War II. After Nazi Germany captured the city, he organized the Fareynikte Partizaner Organizatsye, an underground group aimed at armed resistance within the ghetto. Following the dissolution of the ghetto, Kovner led a partisan unit known as the Avengers in the Rūdninkai forest. This group executed guerrilla attacks and sabotage against German forces and their local collaborators, disrupting enemy infrastructure while operating alongside Soviet-led partisan units.
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Following the war, Kovner founded the secret organization Nakam, which sought retribution for the Holocaust. He formulated two strategies: Plan A involved poisoning urban water supplies in Germany, while Plan B targeted SS prisoners in Allied camps. While securing materials for these efforts, Kovner was arrested by the British and imprisoned in Cairo. In April 1946, associates carried out an attack on a bakery supplying the Langwasser internment camp. Using arsenic, the group sickened over 2,200 prisoners, though no fatalities occurred.
Literary Career in Israel
Kovner immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1947 and later became a citizen of Israel. He pursued a significant career as a writer and poet, contributing to modern Hebrew literature. His professional achievements received formal recognition through several major distinctions, including the Brenner Prize in 1968, the Israel Prize in 1970, the Bialik Prize in 1978, and the Abraham Shlonsky Literary Award in 1960. He died in 1987 at Ein HaHoresh, where he is also buried.
Fast facts
- Born: 1918, Ašmiany
- Died: 1987, Ein HaHoresh
- Citizenship: Israel
- Occupations: Writer, poet, soldier
- Education: Vilnius University
- Israel Prize: 1970
- Languages: English, Yiddish, Hebrew
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the Nakam organization?
Nakam was established by Kovner to seek revenge for the Holocaust by targeting German citizens and SS prisoners.
Which awards did Kovner receive for his writing?
Kovner was recognized with the Abraham Shlonsky Literary Award, the Bialik Prize, the Israel Prize, and the Brenner Prize.
Achievements
- Worked as writer, poet and soldier
