The Mishmar Ha'emek Defense Plan
The Hagana forces positioned themselves in face of the danger: the kibbutz forces, together with a 'Golani' company and the force that was concentrated in Ju'ara and the surrounding area, under the command of Yitzchak Sadeh.
The forces included:
1. Platoons from the 1st Battalion of the Palmach under the command of Dan Laner and his deputy commander, Chaim Avinoam. Two companies of infantry-men – 'double platoon' (Platoon A commanded by Yitzchak Chofi – 'Chaka'; and Platoon D commanded by Shaike Gavish).
2. An auxiliary sub-machine gun + 81 mm. mortar platoon commanded by Matti Goldman.
3. Another platoon organized by the battalion during the course of the battle, consisting mainly of new recruits and the field corps of the surrounding settlements.
4. A field corps platoon from regiment 22 of the Carmeli Division.
5. A 'Golani' company commanders course (2 platoons), that came from the 'Children's Village' near Afula.
6. A field corps platoon with a squad of MMG's (medium machine guns) from the 31st. Battalion of the Alexandroni Division, that arrived on the 10.4.48 and remained appended to the Palmach regiment for a month.
The plan formulated for our forces was as follows:
· To conquer Rubyot in order to reduce the direct threat on the kibbutz and to prevent firing inside the kibbutz living area. It was therefore necessary to conduct battles day and night.
· To make preparations for a pincer movement: the northern side on the northern ridge of the Mansi Valley and the southern side on the southern ridges of the Mansi valley.
· Holding a hidden and camouflaged force at the edge of the Mishmar Ha'emek forest in order to forestall the advance of a general attack on the kibbutz from the high ground of the forest. On the basis of this breech block, to begin encircling Kaukaji's forces and to smash his power.
After delivering a crushing blow to the enemy forces – additional villages in the direction of Lajun and Wadi Ara .are to be conquered.
1. Platoons from the 1st Battalion of the Palmach under the command of Dan Laner and his deputy commander, Chaim Avinoam. Two companies of infantry-men – 'double platoon' (Platoon A commanded by Yitzchak Chofi – 'Chaka'; and Platoon D commanded by Shaike Gavish).
2. An auxiliary sub-machine gun + 81 mm. mortar platoon commanded by Matti Goldman.
3. Another platoon organized by the battalion during the course of the battle, consisting mainly of new recruits and the field corps of the surrounding settlements.
4. A field corps platoon from regiment 22 of the Carmeli Division.
5. A 'Golani' company commanders course (2 platoons), that came from the 'Children's Village' near Afula.
6. A field corps platoon with a squad of MMG's (medium machine guns) from the 31st. Battalion of the Alexandroni Division, that arrived on the 10.4.48 and remained appended to the Palmach regiment for a month.
The plan formulated for our forces was as follows:
· To conquer Rubyot in order to reduce the direct threat on the kibbutz and to prevent firing inside the kibbutz living area. It was therefore necessary to conduct battles day and night.
· To make preparations for a pincer movement: the northern side on the northern ridge of the Mansi Valley and the southern side on the southern ridges of the Mansi valley.
· Holding a hidden and camouflaged force at the edge of the Mishmar Ha'emek forest in order to forestall the advance of a general attack on the kibbutz from the high ground of the forest. On the basis of this breech block, to begin encircling Kaukaji's forces and to smash his power.
After delivering a crushing blow to the enemy forces – additional villages in the direction of Lajun and Wadi Ara .are to be conquered.