Palmach "Politruk" (Political commissioner)
The origin of the term "Politruk" is in the Soviet Red army. The 'Politruks' were political commissioners who were stationed in every unit and responsible for the ideological education and indoctrination. Their status was higher than the military commanders and they could arrest any soldier or officer for "anti-revolution" or any other ideological heresy.
The origin of the term "Politruk" is in the Soviet Red army. The 'Politruks' were political commissioners who were stationed in every unit and responsible for the ideological education and indoctrination. Their status was higher than the military commanders and they could arrest any soldier or officer for "anti-revolution" or any other ideological heresy. The Palmach, who held the resilience of the Soviet Union and the Red army during WWII as a military example as well as an educational one, adopted the term Politruk as a nickname for cultural officer of the brigade. This is where the emulation ended – far from the Soviet Politruk model. The Palmach's cultural officer was subordinated to the military commander and had narrower area of responsibility, aside from the fact that the ideological Palmach education was not characterized by totalitarian Red-army style.
Benny Marshak, information officer of the Third and Fourth battalions, was a charismatic, invigorating speaker and a sociable guy. Benny can not be pigeon-holed into any the existing models, but since his activity spread through all Palmach units, he won the title of "Palmach Politruk." Some say he was named after the Russian political commissioner character in the book 'Panpilov's Men,' which he used to give as a present for all recruits.
Benny, member of Kibbutz Givat-Ha'shelosha and a native of Poland, was older than most of the warriors and commanders. In 1942, under threat of the German invasion, all labor settlement movements were obliged by a mobilization order from the Yishuv institutions, to allocate a certain quota for out of their members for service. In line with the orientation of his movement, 'Ha'kibbutz Ha'meuchad,' Benny worked in recruiting members for the Palmach, and very quickly set a personal example in joining himself. He began his cultural activity on his own initiative, concentrating on passing on information, giving pep talks and managing artists. Benny was a regular in the Tel-Aviv bohemian scene, and his wide connections with the Yishuv leadership and Defense were well known. He would travel to Tel-Aviv to handle a million tasks and return with some famous artist or professor; no one refused him when he asked them to appear in front of Palmach soldiers.
The Palmach was known for its recognition of the simplest soldier's right to knowledge and his commander's duty to see to that and consult with his people. Benny Marshak represented this educational principle – the right to knowledge, the obligation to know. By 'passing on information,' which won the acclaim in and out of the Palmach, he managed to give people a sense of being "in the center of things," and partners in decisions and actions. He had the talent to turn information into "news" even when it was known to all, which is why they would announce his arrival by saying: "Guys, the news are coming." Benny traveled from unit to unit and spoke excitedly in front of a group sitting around a bonfire or in one of the kibbutz mess halls. His words entered the heart of even the most cynical, mischievous ones. In his speeches he would incorporate the events of the day, things he heard from one of the "head honchos" (Ben-Gurion, Galili, Sadeh, and Alon) and dwell upon some ideological polemic as well as report one of the Palmach's operations.
Most of his speech was encouragement: Marshak promised those who envied the British army recruits who were in the "line of action" that very soon they would be fighting the British. If he found out that a soldier was thinking of dropping out, he convinced him to stay. Harel Brigade members remember his contribution in igniting the fire in their hearts and encouraging their fallen spirit during the tough period of fighting on the Jerusalem front, even if his over-enthusiasm sometimes annoyed them.
Marshak's image is an example of the voluntary and democratic foundation of service in the Palmach and the power of enthusiasm and blazing faith.
Benny Marshak, information officer of the Third and Fourth battalions, was a charismatic, invigorating speaker and a sociable guy. Benny can not be pigeon-holed into any the existing models, but since his activity spread through all Palmach units, he won the title of "Palmach Politruk." Some say he was named after the Russian political commissioner character in the book 'Panpilov's Men,' which he used to give as a present for all recruits.
Benny, member of Kibbutz Givat-Ha'shelosha and a native of Poland, was older than most of the warriors and commanders. In 1942, under threat of the German invasion, all labor settlement movements were obliged by a mobilization order from the Yishuv institutions, to allocate a certain quota for out of their members for service. In line with the orientation of his movement, 'Ha'kibbutz Ha'meuchad,' Benny worked in recruiting members for the Palmach, and very quickly set a personal example in joining himself. He began his cultural activity on his own initiative, concentrating on passing on information, giving pep talks and managing artists. Benny was a regular in the Tel-Aviv bohemian scene, and his wide connections with the Yishuv leadership and Defense were well known. He would travel to Tel-Aviv to handle a million tasks and return with some famous artist or professor; no one refused him when he asked them to appear in front of Palmach soldiers.
The Palmach was known for its recognition of the simplest soldier's right to knowledge and his commander's duty to see to that and consult with his people. Benny Marshak represented this educational principle – the right to knowledge, the obligation to know. By 'passing on information,' which won the acclaim in and out of the Palmach, he managed to give people a sense of being "in the center of things," and partners in decisions and actions. He had the talent to turn information into "news" even when it was known to all, which is why they would announce his arrival by saying: "Guys, the news are coming." Benny traveled from unit to unit and spoke excitedly in front of a group sitting around a bonfire or in one of the kibbutz mess halls. His words entered the heart of even the most cynical, mischievous ones. In his speeches he would incorporate the events of the day, things he heard from one of the "head honchos" (Ben-Gurion, Galili, Sadeh, and Alon) and dwell upon some ideological polemic as well as report one of the Palmach's operations.
Most of his speech was encouragement: Marshak promised those who envied the British army recruits who were in the "line of action" that very soon they would be fighting the British. If he found out that a soldier was thinking of dropping out, he convinced him to stay. Harel Brigade members remember his contribution in igniting the fire in their hearts and encouraging their fallen spirit during the tough period of fighting on the Jerusalem front, even if his over-enthusiasm sometimes annoyed them.
Marshak's image is an example of the voluntary and democratic foundation of service in the Palmach and the power of enthusiasm and blazing faith.