The Second Battalion
The Battalion was assembled on 1945 as the second out of four battalions which grouped the Palmach’s companies. The Second Battalion consisted of three companies: Company Two, Five and Eight, in addition to the Jerusalem Reserve unit. Until the end of November 1947 its commanders were Pinchas Veinstein, Zee'v Geler and Isa'ac Rabin. On August 1947 the Negev edict transferred the responsibility for the Negev region from the Hagana to the Palmach headquarters, causing the transfer of forces from the Second Battalion to the area. Moshe Nezer was appointed commander of the Battalion which then comprised of two companies; Two and Five. Following the intensive fighting in the Negev region the battalion ascended at the beginning of August to reorganize in the north and then joined the Negev Brigade.
The battalion was assembled on 1945 as the second out of four battalions which grouped the Palmach’s companies. The Second Battalion consisted of three companies: Company Two, Five and Eight, in addition to the Jerusalem Reserve unit. Until the end of November 1947 its commanders were Pinchas Veinstein, Zee'v Glazer and Isa'ac Rabin
On August 1947 the Negev edict ordered to transfer the responsibility for the Negev region from the Hagana to the Palmach headquarters, which appointed Moshe Brechman as the region’s commander. The forces included also Company Twelve and the Reserve members that were sent to the region and engaged in securing the water line, the passing convoys and the region’s Jewish settlements. These assignments were undertaken at a time when the security of the inhabitants of the region (Jews and Arabs) was still the responsibility of the British police. Most of Company Twelve’s men were ‘recruited’ to the Hebrew settlement’s police, wore guard’s uniform, carried legal weapons and took part in the Hebrew Settlement’s Police Mobile Guards (Manim).
Alongside the appointment of Moshe Nezer as commander of the battalion in November 1947, it was decided that it be transferred to the Negev and its headquarters to Kibbutz Nir- Am. Moshe Nezer was put in charge of the Negev settlements as well. Moshe Brechman was appointed his deputy and David Niv (Baby) the operations officer. Since Company Eight has been left in Jerusalem, the Second Battalion consisted now only of two companies; Company Five's men under the command of Gershon Dovemboim (‘Dabembam’) were scattered along the settlements of the northern Negev region, while Company Two, under the command of Nimrod Levita, was to operate in the south. The increase of the local Arab hostility brought on the reinforcement of the battalion with the Haifa and Jezreel valley Reserve and the Hayot Hanegev units under the command of Simcha Shiloni. When the Islamic Brothers joined the conflict, the offense against the Hebrew settlements intensified. These developments, as well as the need to prepare for the Egyptian invasion, brought on the appointment of Nahum Sarig (Sergay) as commander of the Negev forces and the decision to set up three additional battalions. The assembling of the Eighth and Ninth Battalions caused a major reduction in the Second Battalion’s force and numbers; Company Two was transferred to set up the Eighth Battalion and Hayot Hanegev unit, and was annexed also to the foray unit which was the base upon which the Ninth Battalion was founded. The Second Battalion was left with thin lines and yet remained committed to its missions - securing the water line and the convoys which brought supplies and fortifying materials to the settlements, and helping these settlements carry out their daily routine. Under these circumstances the battalion was forced to operate in small military units and squads whose men set out every day and night to sabotage mine and damage the Arab transportation. The Second Battalion's scouts were those who located and cleared the ‘Infantry convoy’ rout which was used for many months as the main (two way) crossing track of the Detachment Strip. Its forces were active in the defense of the settlements which were located on the borderline facing the Egyptian regular army (Kfar Darom, Yad Mordechai, Bee'rot Isa'ac). On the eve of the Egyptian invasion the battalion’s men attacked and took control of the villages Brier, Hulika’at and kawkava. Operation Abraham, engineered and executed by the battalion’s men, was the first attempt to create a bridgehead in order to allow the maintenance of a rout from the Negev to the south of Israel.
Towards the end of August 1948, after ten months of war, some under siege, the battalion which suffered many casualties and was left only with a fragile commanding structure, was sent to rest and reorganize in Bee'r Ya’akov camp with the Negev Brigade.
A month later the Second Battalion, then known as the Northern Negev Battalion, was annexed to Yiftach Brigade. This was the end of the Palmach’s First Battalion’s link to the Negev region and its settlements. The following months saw the joining of new immigrants to its lines, but the battalion did not get the chance to fight again. After the completion of Operation Yoav, Yiftach Brigade was transferred to the northern front and the Second Battalion was posted in Monsura camp (near Yoqne’am) till it was dispersed at last, on May 1949.
On August 1947 the Negev edict ordered to transfer the responsibility for the Negev region from the Hagana to the Palmach headquarters, which appointed Moshe Brechman as the region’s commander. The forces included also Company Twelve and the Reserve members that were sent to the region and engaged in securing the water line, the passing convoys and the region’s Jewish settlements. These assignments were undertaken at a time when the security of the inhabitants of the region (Jews and Arabs) was still the responsibility of the British police. Most of Company Twelve’s men were ‘recruited’ to the Hebrew settlement’s police, wore guard’s uniform, carried legal weapons and took part in the Hebrew Settlement’s Police Mobile Guards (Manim).
Alongside the appointment of Moshe Nezer as commander of the battalion in November 1947, it was decided that it be transferred to the Negev and its headquarters to Kibbutz Nir- Am. Moshe Nezer was put in charge of the Negev settlements as well. Moshe Brechman was appointed his deputy and David Niv (Baby) the operations officer. Since Company Eight has been left in Jerusalem, the Second Battalion consisted now only of two companies; Company Five's men under the command of Gershon Dovemboim (‘Dabembam’) were scattered along the settlements of the northern Negev region, while Company Two, under the command of Nimrod Levita, was to operate in the south. The increase of the local Arab hostility brought on the reinforcement of the battalion with the Haifa and Jezreel valley Reserve and the Hayot Hanegev units under the command of Simcha Shiloni. When the Islamic Brothers joined the conflict, the offense against the Hebrew settlements intensified. These developments, as well as the need to prepare for the Egyptian invasion, brought on the appointment of Nahum Sarig (Sergay) as commander of the Negev forces and the decision to set up three additional battalions. The assembling of the Eighth and Ninth Battalions caused a major reduction in the Second Battalion’s force and numbers; Company Two was transferred to set up the Eighth Battalion and Hayot Hanegev unit, and was annexed also to the foray unit which was the base upon which the Ninth Battalion was founded. The Second Battalion was left with thin lines and yet remained committed to its missions - securing the water line and the convoys which brought supplies and fortifying materials to the settlements, and helping these settlements carry out their daily routine. Under these circumstances the battalion was forced to operate in small military units and squads whose men set out every day and night to sabotage mine and damage the Arab transportation. The Second Battalion's scouts were those who located and cleared the ‘Infantry convoy’ rout which was used for many months as the main (two way) crossing track of the Detachment Strip. Its forces were active in the defense of the settlements which were located on the borderline facing the Egyptian regular army (Kfar Darom, Yad Mordechai, Bee'rot Isa'ac). On the eve of the Egyptian invasion the battalion’s men attacked and took control of the villages Brier, Hulika’at and kawkava. Operation Abraham, engineered and executed by the battalion’s men, was the first attempt to create a bridgehead in order to allow the maintenance of a rout from the Negev to the south of Israel.
Towards the end of August 1948, after ten months of war, some under siege, the battalion which suffered many casualties and was left only with a fragile commanding structure, was sent to rest and reorganize in Bee'r Ya’akov camp with the Negev Brigade.
A month later the Second Battalion, then known as the Northern Negev Battalion, was annexed to Yiftach Brigade. This was the end of the Palmach’s First Battalion’s link to the Negev region and its settlements. The following months saw the joining of new immigrants to its lines, but the battalion did not get the chance to fight again. After the completion of Operation Yoav, Yiftach Brigade was transferred to the northern front and the Second Battalion was posted in Monsura camp (near Yoqne’am) till it was dispersed at last, on May 1949.