Netzach in Riga's file / תיק – נצח בריגה

📜Investigations of Surveillance Against Zionists: The Fishman–Yoffe File

These sources document criminal investigations and political persecution of Jews in the Soviet Union after World War II, focusing on attempts at illegal escape to the Land of Israel. The Russian documents reveal the case of Samuel Yoffe and Yaakov Yankelovich, who were arrested in 1946 and accused of Zionist activity and the use of forged documents in order to cross into Poland and from there to Palestine. The Hebrew sources present a moving personal testimony by a woman describing her desperate efforts to free her brother, Mulya, from a Soviet labor camp because of his severe medical condition. She describes the governmental corruption, bureaucratic difficulties, and the inhuman conditions experienced by the prisoners, including forced transfers in extreme cold. The combination of official protocols and personal memories presents a broad picture of the suppression of Jewish nationalism under the Stalinist regime. Ultimately, the sources emphasize the determination and sacrifice of individuals in the face of the security apparatuses of the MGB and the MVD.

Below is a comprehensive and detailed historical overview of the youth movements, wartime experiences, and the “Bricha” enterprise after the Holocaust.

Background and Youth Movements Before the War

The Jewish community in the Baltic region, particularly in Latvia and Estonia, was characterized by extensive Zionist activity before World War II (O17-12f). Youth movements such as "Hashomer Hatzair", "Netzach" (Pioneering Scout Youth), and "Betar" formed a central part of young people’s lives (O17-15f, O17-16f, O17-6f). The "Netzach" movement in Latvia was considered to have a deep moral foundation, in which every member felt a fateful responsibility toward the collective as a whole (O17-9f). During the presidency of Ulmanis in Latvia, there was a certain easing of movement tensions because of the lack of prospects for immigration, yet the hard core of activists, such as the members of the "Herzliya" unit, continued to operate with fervor (O17-4f, O17-9f). With the entry of the Soviets in 1940, the Zionist organizations were officially dismantled and underground activity began (O17-6f, O17-9f). In cities such as Kovno and Ponevezh, secret cells of 5–6 members were organized to study Zionism and socialism (O17-6f).

World War II: Fighting and Destruction

With the outbreak of war between the Soviet Union and Germany, many Jews from the Baltic region fled deep into Russia and Central Asia, to cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, and Namangan (O17-16f, O17-6f, O17-8f). Many young people were drafted into the 16th Lithuanian Division or the 201st Latvian Division of the Red Army and fought in difficult battles, including the battle of Orla (O17-6f, O17-1f, O17-2f). Letters from the front describe the widespread destruction of Jews in towns and cities such as Livani, Dagda, and Laudona, where the "Aizsargi" (local collaborators) assisted the Germans in the murders (O17-2f). In the Riga Ghetto, Mordechai Gleizer (Ma Glor), one of the organizers of the self-defense, was murdered following a denunciation by a Jew (O17-1f). Many members of the movement fell in battle as distinguished officers, among them Motke Shmotschkin, Ilana Zlikon, and Domia Shmulovitz (O17-1f).

The “Bricha” Enterprise (1945–1946)

After the war, the remnants of the movement began organizing to leave the Soviet Union (O17-5f, O17-7-3f). The central figure in this effort was Shmuel (Mulke) Yaffe (Samuil Iofe), who during the war stayed in Tashkent and Moscow as a student (O17-16f, O17-1f). In July 1945, Mulke managed to cross into Poland and from there to Italy (O17-1f, O17-17f). In Milan, he met emissaries from the Land of Israel and decided to return to the Soviet Union in order to save his friends (O17-15f, O17-5f).

Mulke established an underground network in Vilna and organized groups of Jews, mainly from Latvia and Lithuania, who left for Poland under false identities as Polish repatriates (O17-16f, O17-19-5f, O17-5f). The activity was coordinated with the "Bricha" organization in Poland under the command of "Alexander" (Zvi Netzer) (O17-17f, O17-5f). Additional activists involved in the operation included Yaakov Yanai (Yeka), Yekutiel Shor (Sasha), and Shimon Bakin (Babka) (O17-19-5f, O17-5f, O17-6f). The underground used forged documents, bribery, and connections with Soviet officers to transfer people and funds (O17-16f, O17-5f). According to estimates, about 450 Jews were taken out of the Soviet Union through this activity (O17-19-1f, O17-7-3f).

Central Figures and Their Activities

• Shmuel (Mulke) Yaffe: The driving force behind the “Bricha” from Latvia. After returning to the Soviet Union he was arrested in September 1946 at the railway station in Baranovichi together with Yaakov Yankelovich (O17-16f). He was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment, went on a hunger strike in the camps, and died in October 1955 in the Khabarovsk camp (O17-126f, O17-4f).
• Yaakov Yanai (Yeka): Mulke’s close partner. He operated in Vilna and Riga organizing the groups. He was arrested on 22 September 1946 (O17-19-5f). After his release he immigrated to Israel in 1961 and worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (O17-19-1f). In 1988 he published the book "Mulke" in memory of his friend (O17-19-5f).
• Yekutiel Shor (Sasha): Coordinated “Bricha” activity in Poland after the arrest of Mulke and Yeka (O17-5f). He organized the transfer of funds, about 300,000 rubles hidden inside a gramophone, to Vilna and attempted to send emissaries to determine the fate of the prisoners (O17-5f).
• Kopel Skop: A veteran movement member who arrived from Asia and immediately volunteered for a rescue operation in Western Ukraine (O17-15f). He was arrested in Lviv in 1946 (O17-17f).

The Arrests and Investigations

The Soviet authorities (MGB) monitored the activity and conducted investigations against those involved on charges of “treason against the homeland” and anti-Soviet Zionist activity (O17-16f). The legal files mention affiliation with organizations such as "Brit Trumpeldor" and "Hashomer Hatzair" (O17-16f). The accused, including Ilya Zeidin, Greinum Gurevitz, and Grigory Herzenberg, were sentenced to long periods of imprisonment in labor camps (ITL) (O17-16f, O17-126f). Mulke’s sister, Ruth Lazarevna Yakovson, submitted many petitions for clemency for her brother due to his severe medical condition (a stomach ulcer), but her requests were rejected by Colonel Romanov and other commanders in Chita (O17-4f, O17-280).

List of Sources

• O17-1f : Letter from Mulke Yaffe to Lyuba Golani (September 1945) detailing his arrival in Milan and the names of movement members who fell in battle [1, 2].
• O17-2f : Letter from the front in Russian (July 1944) describing the destruction of Latvian Jewry and the battles alongside the Red Army [3, 4].
• O17-3f : Typed copy of a letter from Mulke Yaffe (November 1945) to the Netzach leadership regarding the situation of the movement’s remnants in Russia and Poland [5, 6].
• O17-4f : Detailed testimony of Ruth Yakovson (Mulke’s sister) about his final days in detention camps and the hunger strike [7, 8].
• O17-5f : Interview protocol with Yekutiel Shor (Sasha) on organizing the “Bricha” from Poland, financial transfers, and the activities of Alexander (Zvi Netzer) [9, 10].
• O17-6f : Interview with Shimon Bakin (Babka) about the underground in Lithuania, his service in the Lithuanian division, and operational journeys to the north and Asia [11, 12].
• O17-7-3f : Article about the book "The Escape from Latvia" describing the efforts of Mulke Yaffe and Yaakov Yanai in rescuing 450 Jews [13].
• O17-8f : Chronological notes and details of activists in "Netzach" and the “Bricha” enterprise including dates and places of service [14, 15].
• O17-9f : Interview with Yaakov Yanai (Yeka) about the moral basis of the Netzach movement and Mulke’s decision to return to the Soviet Union to rescue his friends [16, 17].
• O17-10-1f : Original handwritten letter from Mulke Yaffe in Milan to Elka (September 1945) announcing his arrival and decision to return [18].
• O17-10f : Typed copy of a letter from Mulke Yaffe detailing the fate of various movement members (alive, wounded, and fallen) [19, 20].
• O17-11f : Handwritten document containing memories of Zionist underground activity and meetings with “Bricha” emissaries [21].
• O17-12f : Questionnaires reconstructing movement activity, leadership roles, and book lists used by activists [22, 23].
• O17-13f : Printed document in Yiddish listing movement activists in Latvia and key dates in their activity [24].
• O17-14f : Documents and name lists of activists in the Association of Latvian and Estonian Jews in Israel [25].
• O17-15-1f : Original letter from Mulke Yaffe (November 1945) to the leadership of "Hashomer Hatzair" regarding the need for ideological and financial support [26].
• O17-15f : Printed copy of the letter to the leadership of "Hashomer Hatzair" detailing planned rescue operations for Lithuania and Latvia [27, 28].
• O17-16f : Comprehensive Soviet investigation file (MGB) against Samuil Yoffe (Mulke) and the activists of the “Bricha” accused of treason [29, 30].
• O17-17f : Archival information about the arrest file of Yosef Meler and the activities of the “Ichud” and “Bricha” group in Lvov [31, 32].
• O17-19-1f : Article on the death of Yaakov Yanai (December 1988) during an event marking the publication of his book "Mulke" [33].
• O17-19-2f : Newspaper clipping detailing the life story of Yaakov (Yeka) Yanai as Mulke’s deputy in the “Bricha” enterprise [34].
• O17-19-3f : Article in memory of Yaakov Yanai emphasizing the rescue of 450 Jews from Latvia and Lithuania [35].
• O17-19-4f : Obituary notice and invitation to a study evening in memory of Yaakov Yanai at "Beit Hatfutsot" on the subject of the “Bricha” [36].
• O17-19-5f : Extensive Russian article in the journal "Panorama" about the moral character of Yaakov Yanai and his struggle in the Soviet Union [37, 38].

O17-1f

O17-2f

O17-3f

O17-4f

O17-4f

O17-5f

O17-6f

O17-7-3f

O17-8f

O17-9f

O17-10f

O17-10-1f

O17-11f

O17-12f

O17-13f

O17-14f

O17-15f

O17-15-1f

O17-16f

O17-17f

O17-18f

O17-19-1f

O17-19-2f

O17-19-3f

O17-19-4f

O17-19-5f

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