Partisans

"Or the campaigns of Saw Gerrera's Partisans? Can you condone that?" "We did what had to be done."

- Ransolm Casterfo and Leia Organa, on the Partisans' so-called terrorist actions

The Partisans, also referred to as Saw Gerrera's militia, and Saw Gerrera's rebels, were a militant insurgent group and rebel cell who enacted armed campaigns against the Galactic Empire during the Age of the Empire. Led and founded by Saw Gerrera in 19 BBY, the Partisans played a part in destabilizing Gerrera's homeworld of Onderon from the Empire's occupying forces and eventually became allied with first the rebellion, and later, the Alliance to Restore the Republic. However, some, like Rebel Alliance founders Mon Mothma and Bail Organa, distanced themselves from Gerrera's faction due to their willingness to resort to extreme tactics, such as torture and attacks on civilian targets. By 0 BBY, the militia had very little communication with the mainstream Alliance, and Gerrera's militia besieged the holy moon of Jedha with the intentions of purging the Imperial occupation. However, the campaign ended with the destruction of the Holy City by the Imperial Death Star battle station's superlaser, and the death of Saw Gerrera himself.

The Partisans were also responsible for enough attacks resulting in civilian casualties that the Galactic Empire in response made a propaganda poster denouncing the Rebel Alliance as a terrorist group. The campaigns of the Partisans were later mentioned by New Republic Senator Ransolm Casterfo as an example of the Rebels' so-called terrorist tactics during the war, and also accused Leia Organa on whether she condoned it, with Leia simply saying he did what needed to be done without saying either way regarding her views on the matter.

History
Following Onderon's Civil War and the Galactic Republic's transformation into the Galactic Empire Saw Gerrera reorganized the Onderon rebels into the partisans. When the Empire sent ISB Agent Kallus and his platoon to bring peace to Onderon, Gerrera and a Lasat mercanary ambushed them. The Lasat then mercilessly executed the platoon and left Kallus alive.

In 13 BBY, Gerrera then took Jyn Erso and accepted her into the partisans. By 5 BBY, Erso was one of the best fighters among the partisans. However, Gerrera was forced to abandon her due to her father, Galen Walton Erso, being a Imperial collaborator.

Appearances

 * Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
 * Rebel Rising
 * Guardians of the Whills novel
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novel
 * Bloodline
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novel
 * Bloodline