Palmach – Settlement relations
From the day the Palmach was established, on May 15th 1941, the various Collective Agricultural settlements, kibbutzim and moshavim served as the main, yet not sole source for recruitment for the Palmach commandership.
Between May 14th and 15th 1941, the national Hagana HQ decided to establish the 'Striking Forces' (Plugot Machatz) – the Palmach. The Palmach was the national enlisted force of the Hagana organization, and an entire recruitment plan was required in order to enlist the right manpower for commandership and training, as well as manning nine companies, each consisting of about 120 warriors. It soon became evident that there were no sufficient resources for establishing nine companies, and therefore only six were established during the first phase. With the very inception of the Palmach, its recruiters faced great difficulties in recruiting the necessary volunteer quota.
The Palmach recruiters, who sought to fill up the required quota with the proper personnel, turned to the Collective Agricultural Settlements. From the day the Palmach was established, on May 15th 1941, the various Collective Agricultural settlements, kibbutzim and moshavim served as the main, yet not sole source for recruitment for the Palmach commandership.
The 'Training ('Hachsharont') agreement' signed in July 1944, supplied the Palmach with a permanent, organized source for manpower of quality. The agreement placed at the Palmach's disposal a reservoir of graduates from pioneering youth movements (practically all from the city) who were organized in groups and saw the Collective Agricultural Settlements as an educational ideal and a goal to implement. The implementation course included preparation in kibbutzim. Following the agreement, these settlement groups were recruited as part of the 'Hachsharot' in the Palmach.
The pioneering youth movement settlement groups that completed their Palmach service established 36 new settlements, and completed 32 existing ones during 1944-1949.
The Palmach recruiters, who sought to fill up the required quota with the proper personnel, turned to the Collective Agricultural Settlements. From the day the Palmach was established, on May 15th 1941, the various Collective Agricultural settlements, kibbutzim and moshavim served as the main, yet not sole source for recruitment for the Palmach commandership.
The 'Training ('Hachsharont') agreement' signed in July 1944, supplied the Palmach with a permanent, organized source for manpower of quality. The agreement placed at the Palmach's disposal a reservoir of graduates from pioneering youth movements (practically all from the city) who were organized in groups and saw the Collective Agricultural Settlements as an educational ideal and a goal to implement. The implementation course included preparation in kibbutzim. Following the agreement, these settlement groups were recruited as part of the 'Hachsharot' in the Palmach.
The pioneering youth movement settlement groups that completed their Palmach service established 36 new settlements, and completed 32 existing ones during 1944-1949.