During the Soviet army counter-offensive the task of the guerrillas was to cooperate fully with regular units in defeating the enemy and releasing occupied territory.

The news of the Soviet counter-offensive at Moscow quickly spread to cities and villages of the occupied territory causing great joy among the Soviet people, awakening fresh strength to fight the invaders. Every honest man tried to find his own place in the fighting.

The objectives of the occupation policy of the Nazis on the Soviet territory were scheduled in advance and clearly manifested in the early months of the war. Nazis immediately began to impose so-called new order, even more brutal than that already existed in enslaved Europe.

Actions of the Soviet patriots in the rear of the German troops which began with the first days of the enemy invasion to the USSR became integral elements of the Soviet people’s struggle against the aggressor. Its general objectives were formulated in the Directive of the USSR CPC and CC of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks on June 29, 1941.

In 1942, the German-fascist invaders continued to impose the so-called “new order” – the unprecedented in its scope and brutality regime of exploitation of violence and terror in the occupied Soviet territory.

Popular resistance to the enemy in the occupied Soviet territory in the spring of 1942, continued to grow and develop enriching by all the new methods of struggle, organization of forces, their leadership and effective use of aid for the Soviet army during defeat of the hated enemy.

In summer and autumn of 1942, guerrillas and members of the underground stepped up their actions to disrupt the enemy’s rear. Unfolded fighting of the guerrilla units and formations took place under the direct supervision of Partisan Movement Central Staff in accordance with the approved operational plan of massive impact on communications and hosts of the enemy accepted on July 27. The objectives were agreed with the military councils of fronts. Although the planned events were not fully satisfied, even a partial implementation of the plan played a major role in the abuse of the enemy’s rear.

By the end of 1942, heroic struggle of the Soviet people in the enemy’s rear acquired a mass character and become a truly nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of patriots fought the invaders in the guerrilla groups, underground organizations and groups, were actively involved in the disruption of economic, political and military activities of the occupants.

Encouraged Soviet offensive and the broad national struggle in the enemy’s rear reduced the possibility of Nazi Germany’s use of material and human resources of the occupied regions.

The Communist Party holding multi-faceted actions on organizing and implementing the winter-spring offensive of the Soviet Armed Forces, at the same time paid constant attention to the management of the national struggle in the temporarily occupied territory.

Struggle of the Soviet patriots in the rear of the German troops contributed to achievement of the USSR Armed Forces victories over the enemy. In the second half of 1944, under the influence of Soviet success it took an even more active character.