Last modified: 2024-04-20 by martin karner
Keywords: israel | palmach | palmakh | plugot mahatz | hagana | hahagana | idf |
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image by Kazutaka Nishiura, 22 December 2009
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The Palmach is the legendary special force which took a major
part in the Independence War. It was preceded by the "S.N.S.
Special Night Service" or "Fire Squads" that were
active in 1936–39 and were formed and commanded by the British
Major (Later General) Charles Orde Wingate (or Orde Charles Wingate).
Palmach are the initials of Plugot Mahatz (Striking
Companies) and it was founded on 15 May 1941 with British
approval, by the HaHagana under the command of Yitzhaq
Sade, in order to fight the Germans if they will invade to
Israel-land.
It took only three days to become activated and to suffer its
first causalities when 23 of its men under the command of a
British officer were lost at see in their way to a sabotage
operation in Tripoli harbor, Lebanon. On 11 December 1943, the
marine unit (Pal-Yam) was formed.
The Palmach was not only a military organization. Its basses were
in the Kibbutz's and the volunteers combined military training
with farming.
The Palmach grew up and in its peak during the Independence War
it had three regiments (Yiftah, Har'el and Negev with 10
battalions together) of the 12 IDF regiments existed in that
period.
Due to political reasons, the Palmach as such was dissolved in 7
November 1948 with its three regiments becoming regular IDF
regiments.
Palmach
website report about the emblem and the flag. Here is a
translated summery:
The flag of the Palmach and its emblem (two spikes and a sword)
were revealed on the 2nd Palmach assembly in Ein Harod on 20 July
1945.
It was described by Yig'al Alon (later to became the Palmach 2nd
commander) as follows: "The flag was spread in front of the
Palmach members. Its color is blue and in its top corner, next to
the hoist [in the canton] there is a small national flag [as seen
in a real flag, the stripes and Magen David are light blue while
the rest of the flag is dark blue] and below it, redden as flame,
there are four letters Pe Lamed Mem Het. The Palmach emblem ...
is embroidered in the center of the flag: two golden spikes
combined with silver sword."
The emblem reflect the special character of the Palmach. The
combination between its military and settling objectives. The
sword, taken from the Hagana's platoon commanders emblem, is
combined with spikes (replacing the olive branch) symbolizing
labor.
The designer was Arie El'hannani who also design the Hagana and
IDF emblems."
Palmach
website also some some flag photos:
– The 6th Battalion - It
follows the basic design as the Palmach flag. Below the canton it
is written in red HaGdud HaShishi (The 6th Battalion).
All other battalion (1 to 10) had same flags with the appropiate
inscription beside the 4th battalion which had also its nickname.
– The 4th Battalion with
its nickname HaPortzim (The breaking through)
– "Negev"
Regiment
– The 2nd Battalion Flag
and banner
– The flag of the illigal immigrants ship Exodus (Yetzi'at Eropa Tashaz)
Dov Gutterman, 25 July 2005
I visited Tel Aviv in February 2007 and I had a chance to see
the Palmach Museum. At the entrance I saw (and took a photo) Palmach's blue flag
charged with national flag in the canton and sword in two ears of
wheat on the fly with inscription in red.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 15 March 2007
.jpg)
image from Wikipedia
