The structure of the Jewish Combat Organization (Żydowska Organizacja Bojowa, ŻOB) during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

The structure of the Jewish Combat Organization (Żydowska Organizacja Bojowa, ŻOB) during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was based on a collective command and a strict division of labor across different sectors of the ghetto.

Command Structure (The Komenda)
The organization was led by a central command unit composed of representatives from various Zionist and socialist political factions. 

Chief Commander: Mordechaj Anielewicz (Hashomer Hatzair).
Deputy Commander: Icchak Cukierman (Dror).

Deputy Commander,  Icchak Cukierman, was also responsible for liaison with the Polish Home Army (AK) and later also with Gwardia Ludowa (GL) on the "Aryan" side.

Other Functions in Jewish Combat Organization

Johanan Morgenstern (Poale Zion-Right) – Intelligence, Finance, and supplies.
Hersz Berliński (Poale Zion-Left) – Operations planning.
Michał Rojzenfeld (PPR/Communist) – Combat communications.

Headquarters

The main headquarters was located in the bunker at 18 Miła Street, where most of the command staff perished on May 8, 1943.

Operational Organization of the Jewish Combat Organization
The basic tactical unit was the fighting group (platoon), typically numbering 10–15 members originating from the same youth movement (such as Dror, Akiba, Poale Zion-Right, PPR, Hashomer Hatzair, or the Bund). So there were five-six "politically" divided groups based on 22 small combat units (platoons/cells responsible for three different combat sectors). 

Territorial Sectors, Territorial Commanders and Fighting Units

In April 1943, ŻOB consisted of approximately 500–600 fighters, organized into 22 combat groups divided across three main areas: 

• Central Ghetto: Under the direct command of Mordechai Anielewicz, this area contained the largest concentration of units.
• Productive District (Toebbens and Schultz shops, North of the Leszno Street): Commanded by Eliezer Geller.
• Brushmakers' Shop District (in the eastern corner of the ghetto, West of the ghetto-wall at Bonifraterska Street): Commanded by Marek Edelman.

Different Territorial Sectors had various numbers of combat groups. Dror had 5 combat groups, Hashomer Hatzair 4, PPR-GL 4, and Bund, where Edelman was, a "group commander" had 4 groups. His combat groups in the area of the Brushmakers' Shop District (Szop Szczotkarzy) were responsible for the smallest fighting sector that he and his combat groups had to give up. Thereafter, he moved to the hiding place of the Command in the bunker at 18 Miła Street, which was in the middle of the Central Ghetto fighting district commanded by Anielewicz.

ŻOB participation in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising 1944

The Jewish Combat Organization (ŻOB) participated in the 1944 Warsaw Uprising 1944. The Jewish combat platoon was commanded by former ŻOB Deputy Commander, Icchak "Antek" Cukierman. The combat group was named after Mordechai Anielewicz and was formed within the People's Army - AL (Armia Ludowa).

Observe
When most of the Jews left Poland after "March 1968", Edelman stayed and became the first self-proclaimed Chief Commander of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - a legend that lives today. However, as one can see from the Command Structure, he was never nominated during wartime, and his self-nomination is likely to be related to his activities in Polish Organizations like KOR and Solidarnosc.

Aftermath of my article above.

I wrote a letter to dr Havi Dreifuss, the author of an article (scientific) entitled Komenda Żydowskiej Organizacji Bojowej podczas powstania w getcie warszawskim – nowe ujęcie

Zagłada Żydów, Dec 23, 2023 by. Of course, before writing, I read her article very carefully. In my letter, I asked one simple question about the structure of the Jewish Fighting Organization Command. I just wanted to know the structure of the Command during the Ghetto Uprising that started in April 1943. It is a question about 6-8 people. To make her answer easier, I enclosed the address to my writings above. So, it was just a question of accepting or simply changing the order of the names or functions. An easy task, as the number of names and functions was so limited. Havi Dreifuss, however, instead of making eventual shifts or renaming the positions of named persons, asked me to read the "references to well-known papers" that, however, do not provide any simple answer, vice versa.

When I pointed out again in the next letter what I wanted (names and functions), she suddenly wrote about Edelman and that my outlined structure of Command is not correct without mentioning in which way. 

Subsequent correspondence revealed only a fundamental historiographical tension regarding Marek Edelman's role. 

While historical records indicate that Edelman did not serve as Chief Commander or Deputy Commander during the April uprising, there appears to be a scholarly reticence to codify a leadership schema that explicitly defines these limitations.

I understood from the very beginning her unwillingness to correct or accept the Structure of Command in my article above. Havi Dreifuss refused to officially accept the truth about Edelman´s role and position during the Uprising and the fact that Edelman was never Chief Commander or Deputy Commander of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. He was the leader of one of three groups belonging to the Jewish Combat Organization, responsible for the Brushmakers Shop sector, not the leader of the Uprising! Therefore, I finished our letter exchange by final letter to Havi Dreifuss:

You seem to get quickly upset. I am going, ofcourse to go through additional references and if necessary add to my article or make necessary changes.

I wish there was a simple schematic demonstration of the Structure of the High Command during the uprising, but such seems not to exist.

Best,

Roman

My first letter:

Dear Havi Dreifuss,

I understand that you have been working with the Jewish Fighting Organization Command for several decades.

Therefore, I want to ask you for a simple explanation about the structure and also for the names used, like Komendant, Zastepca komendanta, Dowódza grupy, etc., within the Command.

As far as I know, the structure of the ŻOB (not of the Command) during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising was decentralized, based on 22 small combat units (platoons/cells) that were actually concentrated into smaller (5-6), "politically" divided groups. So, mr Edelman was, for example, a "Group commander" (for 4 groups) in the area of Szop Szczotkarzy.

Shabbat Shalom,

Roman