Summing Up
Operation “Maccabi” lasted from 8.5.48 till 18.5.48. During that period only 19 trucks got through, with 66 tons of supplies. It was marked by a lack of accurate intelligence, and by hasty planning. Important outposts were abandoned shortly after having been occupied, with no thought of the long-term consequences.
In retrospect, Operation “Maccabi” (stage 2) was marred by missed opportunities: important objectives in the area were abandoned, which could have been taken without resistance. These missed opportunities had many repercussions in the subsequent fighting. The reasons for these shortcomings were faulty intelligence, incorrect evaluations by the forces in the field, and the fact that headquarters were desperately trying to shore up all fronts at once. All subsequent attempts to take Latrun ended in failure. In addition, opportunities were missed for returning trucks to the plain, in order to send up more convoys with supplies, in anticipation of the expected siege.
Most of the above is due to the fact that the operations in this sector were too numerous, and too big in scope, for the forces available. The “Harel” brigade was exhausted, and its numbers reduced, after the very heavy fighting during April. The soldiers of the brigade were worn out, both physically and mentally; both their fighting capability and their morale were low.
Operation “Maccabi” lasted from 8.5.48 till 18.5.48. During that period only 19 trucks got through, with 66 tons of supplies. It was marked by a lack of accurate intelligence, and by hasty planning. Important outposts were abandoned shortly after having been occupied, with no thought of the long-term consequences. In addition, the system of convoys never got properly organized, and the time during which the hazardous parts of the route were open, was not effectively taken advantage of.
Most of the above is due to the fact that the operations in this sector were too numerous, and too big in scope, for the forces available. The “Harel” brigade was exhausted, and its numbers reduced, after the very heavy fighting during April. The soldiers of the brigade were worn out, both physically and mentally; both their fighting capability and their morale were low.
Operation “Maccabi” lasted from 8.5.48 till 18.5.48. During that period only 19 trucks got through, with 66 tons of supplies. It was marked by a lack of accurate intelligence, and by hasty planning. Important outposts were abandoned shortly after having been occupied, with no thought of the long-term consequences. In addition, the system of convoys never got properly organized, and the time during which the hazardous parts of the route were open, was not effectively taken advantage of.