The “Immigrant Battalions” in the “Harel” Brigade
By the end of April the men of the brigade were showing signs of imminent physical and mental collapse, as a result of the very heavy burdens that had been laid on them. One of the company commanders from the “Portzim” (“Smashers”) battalion was sent to raise reinforcements from the coastal plain. He returned with 150 men of the “Immigrants’ Battalions”. These received ten days’ training at the Palmach’s induction center, after which they reported for duty, most of them after a night’s march on foot.
The “Harel” brigade had been through very heavy fighting on the road to Jerusalem. By April 15, 1948, it had lost 221 men killed. At the end of April, the survivors were showing signs of imminent physical and mental collapse, as a result of the very heavy burdens that had been laid on them. One of the company commanders from the “Portzim” (“Smashers”) battalion was sent to raise reinforcements from the coastal plain. He returned with 150 men of the “Immigrants’ Battalions”. These received ten days’ training at the Palmach’s induction center, after which they reported for duty, most of them after a night’s march on foot.
The new recruits presented a serious challenge to the officers of the brigade. Some of the latter thought that the newcomers would be unwilling to put their lives at risk anew, after all they had already been through in Europe, and even expressed unwillingness to lead them into battle “…..for they are stubborn men, and fearful”. It was difficult to teach them discipline --- frequent punishment, and interminable explanations, were called for. The NCO’s were very tough on the new recruits, and these had trouble getting used to their new surroundings. Language was a particularly difficult problem. Interpreters were needed between officers and men. Benny Marshak, the brigade’s education officer, made great efforts to bring them closer to the native Israelis. He organized Hebrew classes, and spoke to them of the history of their country.
The first action in which the immigrants took part was a part of the “Ten-Day Battles” between July 9 and 18, 1948: the operation in the Arab village of Tsuba, which ended with the capture of the village. As they charged, the soldiers burst into battle-yells in Red Army style: “Za Rudina, za Stalina, za Benguriona!!!”, simultaneously showering colorful curses upon the enemy. By the time of Operation “Mountain” in October 1948, a number of the immigrants had already been made non-commissioned officers.
By the time of Operation “Horeb” (late December 1948), men from the “Immigrants’ Battalions” made up more than half the personnel of the brigade: 1293 out of a total of 2321. By this time, they had already proved themselves no less capable in action than their native-born comrades. In the battle for the Rafah crossroads, the regiment commanded by “Dado” (David Elazar) was ordered to block the road to el-Arish. At daybreak, the Egyptians attacked the company outposts. The assault was driven back. At a certain moment, Russian-speaking anti-tank crews took up positions on the top of a hill, and guided by hand-signals from “Dado” and from Mordechai Ben-Porat, destroyed eight Egyptian tanks.
At the commanders’ summing-up after the operation, the performance of the immigrants, and their contribution in battle, were highly praised.
The new recruits presented a serious challenge to the officers of the brigade. Some of the latter thought that the newcomers would be unwilling to put their lives at risk anew, after all they had already been through in Europe, and even expressed unwillingness to lead them into battle “…..for they are stubborn men, and fearful”. It was difficult to teach them discipline --- frequent punishment, and interminable explanations, were called for. The NCO’s were very tough on the new recruits, and these had trouble getting used to their new surroundings. Language was a particularly difficult problem. Interpreters were needed between officers and men. Benny Marshak, the brigade’s education officer, made great efforts to bring them closer to the native Israelis. He organized Hebrew classes, and spoke to them of the history of their country.
The first action in which the immigrants took part was a part of the “Ten-Day Battles” between July 9 and 18, 1948: the operation in the Arab village of Tsuba, which ended with the capture of the village. As they charged, the soldiers burst into battle-yells in Red Army style: “Za Rudina, za Stalina, za Benguriona!!!”, simultaneously showering colorful curses upon the enemy. By the time of Operation “Mountain” in October 1948, a number of the immigrants had already been made non-commissioned officers.
By the time of Operation “Horeb” (late December 1948), men from the “Immigrants’ Battalions” made up more than half the personnel of the brigade: 1293 out of a total of 2321. By this time, they had already proved themselves no less capable in action than their native-born comrades. In the battle for the Rafah crossroads, the regiment commanded by “Dado” (David Elazar) was ordered to block the road to el-Arish. At daybreak, the Egyptians attacked the company outposts. The assault was driven back. At a certain moment, Russian-speaking anti-tank crews took up positions on the top of a hill, and guided by hand-signals from “Dado” and from Mordechai Ben-Porat, destroyed eight Egyptian tanks.
At the commanders’ summing-up after the operation, the performance of the immigrants, and their contribution in battle, were highly praised.