Page Three

When, during the summer of 1944, reports of Nazi atrocities being committed against the Jewish populations of Europe surfaced, Winston Churchill decided he had had enough of what he termed 'the usual silly objections."

"Prime Minister to Sir Edward Bridges, 10 July 44
In your report [about the War Cabinet meeting on forming a Jewish fighting force] you say that it was decided that a brigade group would be carefully examined. I certainly understood and hold very strongly the view that a brigade group should be made. When the War Office say they will carefully examine a thing they mean they will do it in. The matter must therefore be set down for an early meeting of the War Cabinet only this week, and the Secretary of State for War should be warned of my objection. A copy of the further letter from Dr. Weizmann may also be forwarded to the War Office."

"Prime Minister to Foreign Secretary, 11 July 44
There is no doubt that this persecution of Jews in Hungary and their expulsion from enemy territory] is probably the greatest and most horrible crime ever committed in the whole history of the world, and it has been done by scientific machinery by nominally civilised men in the name of a great State and one of the leading races of Europe. It is quite clear that all concerned in this crime who may fall into our hands, including the people who only obeyed orders by carrying out the butcheries, should be put to death after their association with the murders has been proved. I cannot therefore feel that this is the kind of ordinary case which is put through the Protecting Power, as, for instance, the lack of feeding or sanitary conditions in some particular prisoners' camp. There should therefore, in my opinion, be no negotiations of any kind on this subject. Declarations should be made in public, so that everyone connected with it will be hunted down and put to death."

"Prime Minister to Secretary of Slate for War, 12 July 44
I am anxious to reply promptly to Dr. Weizmann's request for the formation of a Jewish fighting force put forward in his letter of July 4, of which you have been given a copy. I understand that you wish to have the views of Generals Wilson and Paget before submitting to the Cabinet a scheme for the formation of a Jewish brigade force. As this matter has now been under consideration for some time I should be glad if you would arrange for a report setting out your proposals to be submitted to the Cabinet early next week."

"Prime Minister to Secretary of State for War, 26 July 44
I am in general agreement with your proposals [for a Jewish fighting force], but I think the brigade should be formed and sent to Italy as soon as convenient, and worked up to a brigade group there as time goes on by the attachment of the other units.
2. I like the idea of the Jews trying to get at the murderers of their fellow-countrymen in Central Europe, and I think it would give a great deal of satisfaction in the United States.
3. The points of detail which occur to me are:
I do not think this brigade should be any more liable to be split by serious military emergencies than any other unit in the Middle East. On the contrary, only a serious emergency should affect it, considering what it represents.
I believe it is the wish of the Jews themselves to fight the Germans anywhere. It is with the Germans they have their quarrel. There is no need to put the conditions in such a form as to imply that the War Office in its infinite wisdom might wish to send the Jews to fight the Japanese and that otherwise there would be no use in having the brigade group.
Surely political as well as military considerations govern the demobilisation or disposal of any of the forces under British command. In the case of a contingent of this kind there certainly might be political reasons either for dispersing it or for maintaining it after the war.
I will consult the King about this [proposal that the force should have its own flag]. I cannot conceive why this martyred race, scattered about the world and suffering as no other race has done at this juncture, should be denied the satisfaction of having a flag. However, not only the King but the Cabinet might have views on this.
4. Should I be able to visit Italy I will discuss the details of this with General Wilson, and also very likely I shall see General Paget. Meanwhile please go ahead within the lines proposed and negotiate with the Jewish Agency. Remember the object of this is to give pleasure and an expression to rightful sentiments, and that it certainly will be welcomed widely in the United States. Let me see the form of any announcement that is made.

Deeming it advisable, the Prime Minister sent a telegram to President Roosevelt on the subject and, when five days later the President replied "I perceive no objections," events moved into high gear.

Preparing for War

Towards the end of September, the three battalions boarded a train at Alexandria westward bound for Bahig a small halt about half-way to the railhead at El Alamein, thence to the tiny village of Burg-el-Arab some mile or so to the south-west. During the ensuing five weeks, at this flat brushless stretch of desert, the Palestine Infantry Regiment was swiftly re-formed, re-armed and re-equipped. When blue shoulder patches emblazoned with the Star of David were issued, came the fulfillment of a long held dream - the independent Jewish Brigade Group was born.

As the process of outfitting proceeded, Jewish personnel serving in other units were added to the Brigade's strength, including Company Sergeant-Major Israel Carmi who had been a member of the highly unconventional Special Interrogation Group, commanded by Captain Hubert Cecil Buck MC, which had carried out an attack far behind enemy lines during June 1942.

On Tuesday 31st October 1944 the Brigade returned to Alexandria, equipment and vehicles were loaded on to freighters and personnel aboard HMT Staffordshire set sail for Italy. The first few days were stormy causing many to suffer from mal-de-mer, however, when the winds dropped and the sea calmed down it was smooth sailing to Taranto.

Following disembarkation the Brigade travelled to Fiuggi (originally called Anticoli di Campagna), some fifty miles south-east of Rome. Essentially a town in two parts, with medieval Fiuggi Città, sitting some 2,500 feet above Fiuggi Fonte where its famous spa is located and where the Brigade settled in. With Headquarters established in the plant where the "miraculous" mineral water, Acqua di Fiuggi, gushes forth from a nearby spring, and personnel billeted in the Grand Hotel Palazzo della Fonte and other buildings in town, under command of Canadian born Brigadier Ernest Frank Benjamin the Brigade commenced preparing for the serious business that lay ahead.

At long last the British were ready to teach the Jews how a modern army makes war - instruction in platoon attacks and defence, house-to-house and street fighting, crossing rivers, laying mines and the sending and decoding of messages was the order of the day. By the time the cold winter came to an end, with his brigade now fully trained and complete with support units including artillery, Brigadier Benjamin was satisfied his command was ready to go to war.

Turn to:
Page Four