Additional information
by Shlomo Shamir (Author), Yael Driver (Editor), Foreword by the President of the State o (Foreword by)
A critical first-hand appraisal of the activities, achievements, and importance of the Jewish Brigade by IDF Major-General Shlomo Shamir (Rabinowicz), its Covert Internal Commander on behalf of the Haganah and the Jewish national institutions in Palestine. Some myths surrounding the Brigade's activities are also dealt with in this appraisal. The Jewish Brigade, a unit of the British Army during WW2, played a crucial role on behalf of world Jewry in the fight against Nazi Germany. Comprised mainly of Jewish volunteers from Palestine, the Brigade was formed in 1944 after four years of struggle for deployment as a fighting force. The Brigade participated in the Italian campaign, distinguishing itself in the battles along the Senio River and proving that Jewish soldiers could fight as a unified force against a well-trained enemy and prevail. Beyond combat and under Shamir's guidance, the Brigade was the first to search for, meet, and care for survivors of the Holocaust. Despite British disapproval, its members worked at numerous Displaced Persons camps in Germany, particularly at Bergen-Belsen, and facilitated the illegal journeys of many survivors to Palestine. The story of the Brigade therefore, exemplified a dedicated pursuit of both military goals and Jewish national aspirations. With many Brigade members subsequently becoming leading figures in the fledgling Israel Defence Forces (IDF), the book shines a light on how the experience of these Jewish volunteers in the British Army was irreplaceable in shaping both the military and political landscape of the nascent State of Israel.
Author Biography
Major-General Shlomo Shamir (1915-2009) emigrated to Palestine in 1925 and joined the Haganah in 1929. By 1939, he was Commander of the Jerusalem Field Corps. In 1940, he volunteered for the British Army, later covertly leading the Jewish Brigade. After the Second World War, he aided Holocaust survivors. In 1948, he helped form the IDF, commanding the 7th Brigade in Latrun. He later led the Central Front, Navy, and Air Force before leaving the IDF in 1951.
