People who strongly support a person, group, or cause; also historically refers to soldiers fighting in guerrilla-style warfare against occupying forces.
From French 'partisan,' possibly from Italian 'partigiano,' derived from 'parte' (part or side). During WWII, the word became particularly associated with resistance fighters against Nazi occupation.
WWII partisans in Eastern Europe were often underestimated, but Soviet partisans behind Nazi lines killed more German soldiers than the entire German army lost on the Western Front!
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