Looking Back
From the William Davidson Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History
accessible at thejewishnews.com
66 | SEPTEMBER 12 • 2024
J
N
The Jewish Brigade
T
his year marks the 80th anniversary of an important military benchmark in the history of
WWII and Israel. In September 1944, the famous “Jewish Brigade” was organized.
Although hundreds of thousands of Jews fought in the American, British Commonwealth
and Russian militaries, the Jewish Brigade was the first and only Jewish unit to fight under its own
flag in WWII. By the end of the war, more than 5,000 Jews from the Yishuv in British Mandate
Palestine had served with distinction in the unit.
The JN covered exploits of the Jewish Brigade, from its formation through its combat
in Italy and its disbanding after the war. Over 400 pages in the William Davidson
Digital Archive of Jewish Detroit History cite the Jewish Brigade.
The formation of the Brigade was a long time coming. Chaim Weizmann, prominent
World Zionist and, later, first president of Israel, pressured the British government for
a Jewish combat unit at the outset of WWII. Fearful of offending Arab nations, the
British delayed until Prime Minister Winston Churchill finally authorized the Jewish
Brigade in September 1944.
Churchill’s announcement was received with great joy. The Sept. 29, 1944, issue of the
JN ran a story that spoke to the moment: “World Jewry Hails British Plans for Jewish Brigade.”
It was not, however, a decision without controversary. JN editor Philip Slomovitz’s “Purely
Commentary” column for Oct. 6, 1944, discussed the pros and
cons of such a military unit. He concluded that the “Jewish
opposition is afraid of one thing: a Jewish fighting unit may lead
to a Jewish state or a Jewish Commonwealth.” Slomovitz ended his
column, “Will the fearful ones ever learn the value of courage?”
On Oct. 27, 1944, the JN reported that British-born Jew,
Brigadier General Ernest Frank Benjamin, would command
the Brigade when it joined the 10th Corps of British Eighth
Army in Italy. In the same issue, it was noted that Jewish U.S.
Army Brigadier General Edward Morris arrived in Palestine and
expressed satisfaction with the formation of the Brigade.
The Brigade fought with distinction in several pitched battles
against elite German troops during the Allied Italian Campaign (April 27, 1945).
The 10th Corps commander praised the Brigade’s performance: “The Jewish Brigade
fought well and its men were eager to make contact with the enemy by any means
available to them.”
After the fighting, the unit also contributed to the transit of concentration camp
inmates to British Mandate Palestine. This was in the face of British opposition.
The JN followed the Jewish Brigade throughout the war and after. For a good
example, see the feature story, “
A Day with the Jewish Brigade” (Sept. 14, 1945). The JN
also reported the Brigade’s demise: “Only Fighting Unit Under Jewish Flag Is Forced to
Dissolve by British Orders” (Aug. 16, 1946).
The impact of the Brigade, however, was felt long after it was disbanded. Many of
its veterans served with distinction in the IDF during Israel’s War for Independence in
1948. Many of them became high-ranking officers in the Israeli military; 35 of them
became IDF generals.
Finally, JN writer Suzanne Chessler penned “In the Hands of Heroes” (April 21, 2000).
This article was about the documentary tribute to the Brigade: In Our Hands: The Jewish
Brigade.
Indeed, the Jewish Brigade should indeed be remembered and honored.
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN archives, available for free at thejewishnews.com.
Mike Smith
Alene and
Graham Landau
Archivist Chair