The Jewish Legion was the name for five battalions of Jewish volunteers established as the British Army's 38th through 42nd (Service) Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers. The initial unit, known as the Zion Mule Corps, was formed in 1914-1915 during World War I, when Britain was at war against the Ottoman Turks, as Zionists around the world saw an opportunity to promote the idea of a Jewish National Homeland. Jews (Hebrew: יהודים, Yehudim) are followers of Judaism or, more generally, members of the Jewish people (also known as the Jewish nation, or the Children of Israel), an ethno-religious group descended from the ancient Israelites and converts who joined their religion. ... This group of political volunteers is working to promote voter turn-out. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a regiment in the British Army. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead: 5 million Civilian deaths: 3 million Total of dead: 8 million Military dead: 4 million Civilian deaths: 3 million Total dead: 7 million The First... The Ottoman Turks were the ethnic subdivision of the Turkish people who dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. ... Poster promoting a film about Jewish settlement in Palestine, 1930s: Toward a New Life (in Romanian),The Promised Land (in Hungarian), in small (down) text is written First Palestinian sound movie 1844 Discourse on the Restoration of the Jews by Mordecai Noah, page one. ... The Balfour Declaration was a letter of November 2, 1917 from British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour, to Lord Rothschild (Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild), a leader of the British Jewish community, for transmission to the Zionist Federation. ...

Jabotinsky (L) and Trumpeldor in uniform.

In December 1914, Zeev Jabotinsky and Joseph Trumpeldor raised the idea of the formation of a Jewish unit that would participate in the British military effort to liberate the Land of Israel from the Ottoman Empire, and by the end of March 1915, 500 Jewish volunteers from the Jews in Egypt who had been deported there by the Turks had started training. The Zion Mule Corps served on the Gallipoli front, as for political reasons the British opposed the participation of Jewish volunteers on the Palestinian front, but ultimately, in August 1917, the formation of a Jewish regiment was officially announced. The soldiers of the 38th and 39th Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers, made up almost entirely of Jews from Britain, Russia, the United States and Canada and later, the 40th Battalion, composed of Jews from the Ottoman provinces of Palestine and other areas, served in the Jordan Valley and fought the Turks some 20 miles north of Jerusalem. Old photo of Jabotinsky in uniform File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (500x729, 99 KB)Known old photo of Joseph Trumpeldor File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Zeev Jabotinsky Zeev (Vladimir) Jabotinsky (alternatively Zhabotinski) (Hebrew: , Russian: ; October 18, 1880 - August 4, 1940) was a Zionist leader, author, orator, soldier, and founder of the Jewish Legion in World War I. // Early life Born in Odessa, Ukraine, he was raised in a traditional Jewish home and learned... Joseph Trumpledor in uniform c. ... This article concerns the concept of The Land of Israel (Hebrew: ארץ ישראל Eretz Yisrael) in Jewish and Christian thought throughout the history from its Biblical sources to the present day. ... Imperial motto (Ottoman Turkish) دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power (1683) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital Söğüt (1299-1326), Bursa (1326-1365), Edirne (1365-1453), İstanbul (1453-1922) Imperial anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Sovereigns Padishah of the Osmanl... Satellite image of the Gallipoli peninsula and surrounding area Gallipoli, called Gelibolu in modern Turkish, (Greek: Καλλίπολις), is a town in northwestern Turkey. ... This article is about the Jordan River in western Asia. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meters. ...

A recruitment poster published in American Jewish magazines. Daughter of Zion (representing the Jewish people): I want your Old New Land! Join the Jewish regiment.

Image File history File links Bat_Zion_I_want_your_Old_New_Land_join_Jewish_regiment. ... Image File history File links Bat_Zion_I_want_your_Old_New_Land_join_Jewish_regiment. ... The Dormition Church, situated on the modern Mount Zion Zion, or Sion (צִיּוֹן Height, Standard Hebrew Tziyyon, Tiberian Hebrew Tsiyyôn) is an archaic term that originally referred to a specific mountain near Jerusalem (Mount Zion), on which stood a Jebusite fortress of the same name that was conquered by David. ...

Background

The British opposed the participation of Jewish volunteers on the Palestinian front and they were put to serve as a detachment for mule transport on another sector of the Turkish front. Trumpeldor formed the 650-strong Zion Mule Corps, of whom 562 were sent to the Gallipoli front. This article is about the Jewish Legion, also known as the Zion Mule Corps of the British Army that fought in World War I against the Ottoman Empire. ... Satellite image of the Gallipoli peninsula and surrounding area Gallipoli, called Gelibolu in modern Turkish, (Greek: Καλλίπολις), is a town in northwestern Turkey. ...

The Gallipoli front

On April 25, 1915, together with the first British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops, the Jewish Legion landed on Gallipoli peninsula. It was led by the Commander Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson, DSO (of Irish Protestant origin) and was met with heavy shelling and machine gun fire at the shore of Cape Helles. Trumpeldor was the deputy commander; Jabotinsky served as an officer. There, a Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to Private M. Groushkowsky, who prevented his mules from stampeding under heavy bombardment and despite being wounded in both arms, delivered the ammunition. Trumpeldor was shot through the shoulder but refused to leave the battlefield. Patterson later wrote: "Many of the Zionists whom I thought somewhat lacking in courage showed themselves fearless to a degree when under heavy fire, while Captain Trumpeldor actually revelled in it, and the hotter it became the more he liked it..."^[1] Lieutenant-Colonel John Henry Patterson, D.S.O. (1867-1947) was an Anglo-Irish soldier, hunter, and author, best known for his book The Man-Eaters of Tsavo. ... DSO may stand for: Distinguished Service Order Dallas Symphony Orchestra Darkstar Orchestra Dartford Symphony Orchestra Deep sky object Defense Science Organization Defense Spectrum Office (U.S. DoD) Designated School Official Detroit Symphony Orchestra Device Software Optimization (www. ...

Official formation of the Jewish regiment

The 38th battalion of the Jewish Legion marches in the streets of London. February 22, 1918

Finally, in August 1917, the formation of a Jewish regiment was officially announced. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1071x648, 211 KB) Summary 38th battalion, first one of the Jewish Legion, marches in the streets of London. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1071x648, 211 KB) Summary 38th battalion, first one of the Jewish Legion, marches in the streets of London. ...

The unit was designated as the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and included British volunteers, as well as members of the former Zion Mule Corps and a large number of Russian Jews. On April 1918, it was joined by the 39th Battalion, made up almost entirely of Jews who were resident in the United States and Canada.

Action in the Jordan Valley, 1918

December 1917. Jewish Legion soldiers at the Western Wall after taking part in British conquest of Jerusalem

In June 1918, the volunteers of the 38th Battalion fought for the liberation of Eretz Israel (Palestine) from Turkish rule some 20 miles north of Jerusalem. 1918. ... 1918. ... Western Wall by night Wailing Wall redirects here. ... The Land of Israel (Hebrew: Eretz Yisrael) refers to the land making up the ancient Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. ...

Besides skirmishes, the only large battle the Legion participated in was the battle of Es-Salt.

In the fighting in the Jordan Valley, more than 20 Legionnaires were killed, wounded, or captured, the rest came down with malaria, and 30 of this group later died. The Legion then came under the command of Major General E.W.C. Chaytor. This article is about the Jordan River in western Asia. ...

The Legion's mission was to cross the Jordan River. Jabotinsky led the effort. Later, he was decorated and General Chaytor told the Jewish troops: "By forcing the Jordan fords, you helped in no small measure to win the great victory gained at Damascus." This article is about the Jordan River and its valley in western Asia. ...

40th Battalion organized from local Jewish population

Thousands of Palestinian Jews applied to join the Legion and in 1918, more than 1,000 were enlisted. 92 Turkish Jews who had been captured in the fighting earlier were also permitted to enlist. This group was organized as the 40th Battalion.

Legacy

The Jewish Legion cap badge: menorah and word קדימה Kadima

Almost all the members of the Jewish regiments were discharged immediately after the end of World War I in November 1918. Some of them returned to their respective countries, others settled in Palestine to realize their Zionist aspirations. In late 1919, the Jewish Legion was reduced to one battalion titled First Judeans, and awarded a distinctive cap badge, a menorah with the Hebrew word קדימה Kadima (forward) at the base. Image File history File links Legion001. ... Image File history File links Legion001. ... Yarmulke and Menorah from the Harry S Truman collection The menorah, one of Judaisms oldest symbols, is a seven-branched candelabrum or oil lamp. ... Hebrew (עִבְרִית ‘Ivrit) is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jewish communities around the world. ...

The flag of the First Judeans.

Image File history File links First_judean_flag. ... Image File history File links First_judean_flag. ...

Post World War I Eretz Israel and the Legion

Former members of the Legion took part in defense of Jewish communities during Riots in Palestine of 1920, which resulted in the arrest of Jabotinsky. Two former members of the Legion were killed with Captain Trumpeldor at Tel Hai. One former member of the Legion was killed in Tel Aviv-Jaffa during Jaffa riots of 1921. The Land of Israel (Hebrew: Eretz Yisrael) refers to the land making up the ancient Jewish Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. ... This article describes violent events in the Old City of Jerusalem from April 4-7, 1920. ... Tel Hai is a settlement in Galilee. ... Tel-Aviv was founded on empty dunes north of the existing city of Jaffa. ... Jaffa port Jaffa (Hebrew יָפוֹ, Standard Hebrew Yafo, Tiberian Hebrew Yāp̄ô; Arabic يَافَا ; also Japho, Joppa; also, ~1350 B.C.E. Amarna Letters, Yapu), is an ancient port city located in Israel on the Mediterranean Sea. ... On May 1, 1921, a scuffle began in Tel Aviv-Jaffa between rival groups of Jewish Bolsheviks, carrying Yiddish banners demanding Soviet Palestine, and Socialists parading on May Day. ...

Notable Legion members

1918. Private David Ben-Gurion, a volunteer in the Jewish Legion

The First Judeans commemorative medal

• Gershon Agron, Mayor of Jerusalem.
• Nathan Ausubel, Jewish-American author
• Yaacov (Jacques) Behar, Zionist Activist in Brazil and Argentina
• Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, second Israeli President
• Yaakov Dori, first Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
• Sir Jacob Epstein, British sculptor.
• Levi Eshkol, third Israeli Prime Minister.
• Louis Fischer, Jewish-American journalist and author.
• Roman Freulich, Hollywood photographer and author
• Eliayahu Golomb, founding member of the Haganah.
• David Grün, later Ben-Gurion, first Israeli Prime Minister.
• Dov Hoz, Zionist activist, Haganah fighter.
• Julius Jacobs, Zionist Executive Secretary-killed in King David Hotel Bombing of 1946
• Dov Joseph. Governor of Jewish Jerusalem during the 1948 siege.
• Eliyahu Kaminetsky, Haganah and HaShomer fighter; father of Rafael Eitan
• Berl Katznelson, Zionist philosopher and activist.
• Arieh Lubin, Israeli artist.
• Abraham Melnikoff, Israeli sculptor.
• Nehemiah Rabin, father of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
• James Armand de Rothschild, D.C.M. Major, 39th Royal Fusiliers Battalion {Captain Royal Canadian Dragoons, a member of the Rothschild family}.
• Edwin Herbert Samuel, 2nd Viscount Samuel {son of Herbert Samuel}
• [Ze'ev Shefer], Knesset Deputy Speaker
• Moshe Smilansky, Israeli journalist and author; great uncle of S. Yizhar
• Eliezer Sukenik, Israeli archaelogist; father of Yigael Yadin
• David Tidhar, Israeli author.

1918. ... 1918. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... First Judeans commemorative medal The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... First Judeans commemorative medal The copyright status of this work is difficult or impossible to determine. ... Gershon Agron (born Agronsky, 1894-1959) was an Israeli press pioneer and onetime mayor of Jerusalem. ... Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerushalayim; Arabic: al-Quds; Greek Ιεροσόλυμα; Latin Aelia Capitolina) is an ancient Middle Eastern city on the watershed between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea at an elevation of 650-840 meters. ... Nathan Ausubel (1898-1986) was a Jewish-American historian, folklorist and humorist. ... A Jewish American (also commonly American Jew) is an American (a citizen of the United States) of Jewish descent or religion who maintains a connection to the Jewish community, either through actively practicing Judaism or through cultural and historical affiliation. ... Yitzhak Ben-Zvi Yitzhak Ben--Zvi (November 24, 1884, Poltava, Ukraine - April 23, 1963, Jerusalem, Israel) was a historian, Labor Zionist leader, and the second Israeli president (1952 - 1963). ... President of the State of Israel (Hebrew: נשיא המדינה, Nasi Hamedina) is the head of state of Israel, but has a largely ceremonial, figurehead role with real power lying in the hands of the Prime Minister of Israel. ... Yaakov Dori (1899-1973) was the first Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). ... Insignia of the Rav Aluf The Ramatkal (Hebrew: רמטכל, abbr. ... The Israel Defense Forces are part of the Israeli Security Forces. ... Jacob Epstein photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1934 Sir Jacob Epstein (10 November 1880 - 19 August 1959) was an American-born sculptor who worked chiefly in England, where he pioneered modern sculpture, often producing controversial works that challenged taboos concerning what public artworks appropriately depict. ... ▶(?) (Hebrew לֵוִי אֶשְׁכּוֹל ) (Born Levi Skolnick) (Hebrew לֵוִי שְׁקוֹלְנִיק) (October 25, 1895 - February 26, 1969), was the third Prime Minister of Israel from 1963 until his death of a heart attack in 1969. ... Louis Fischer was a well known American journalist of the 1950s. ... A Jewish American (also commonly American Jew) is an American (a citizen of the United States) of Jewish descent or religion who maintains a connection to the Jewish community, either through actively practicing Judaism or through cultural and historical affiliation. ... Haganah Logo (1940s) The Haganah (Hebrew: The Defense, ההגנה) was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Dov Hoz Dov Hoz (1894-1940) was a leader of the Israeli labor movement, founder of the Hagana organization and a pioneer of Israeli aviation. ... Haganah Logo (1940s) The Haganah (Hebrew: The Defense, ההגנה) was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. ... The Hotel after the Bombing King David Hotel bombing (July 22, 1946) was a bombing attack against the British government of Palestine by members of Irgun —a militant Zionist group. ... Haganah Logo (1940s) The Haganah (Hebrew: The Defense, ההגנה) was a Jewish paramilitary organization in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine from 1920 to 1948. ... Hashomer - (Hebrew) (The Guard) - Jewish defense organization in Palestine organized 1909, ceased to operate after founding of the Haganah in 1920. ... Rafael Eitan (January 11, 1929 – November 23, 2004) was an Israeli general, former chief of staff of the Israeli Defence Forces and later a politician and a Knesset member. ... Berl Katznelson (1887 - 1944) was a Labor Zionism philosopher. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... (or Yitschak Rabin) (or Yitzchak Rabin) (יצחק רבין in Hebrew), (March 1, 1922 – November 4, 1995) was an Israeli politician and general. ... James Armand Edmond de Rothschild, DL (1878–1957[1][2]) was a French-born British politician and philanthropist, from the wealthy Rothschild international banking dynasty. ... Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Distinguished Conduct Medal was (until 1993) a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army, and formerly also to personnel of the armies of other Commonwealth countries, below the rank of Warrant Officer, for conspicuous bravery in the battlefield. ... The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) is an armoured dragoon regiment of the Canadian Army. ... Rothschild (variant: Rothchild) is a German surname. ... Edwin Herbert Samuel, 2nd Viscount Samuel (1898-1978), was the son of Herbert Samuel and the father of Professor David Samuel. ... Herbert Louis Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel (1870-1963) was a British politician and diplomat. ... The modern Knesset building, Israels parliament, in Jerusalem Though similar-sounding, Beit Knesset (בית כנסת) literally means House of Assembly, and refers to a synagogue. ... Yizhar Smilansky (born 27 September 1916), better known by his pen name S. Yizhar, is an Israeli writer and a great innovator in modern Hebrew literature. ... Eleazar Lipa Sukenik (12 August 1889 Bialystok - 28 February 1953 Jerusalem) was an Israeli archeologist and professor of Hebrew University in Jerusalem. ... Yigael Yadin (March 20, 1917 - June 28, 1984) was an Israeli archeologist, politician, and the second Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). ...

References

1. ^ Martin Gilbert. The Jews in the Twentieth Century. An Illustrated History (Schocken Books, 2001) ISBN 0805241906 p.85
2. ^ According to Commonwealth War Graves Commission

iThe Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a joint governmental organisation responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of members of the Commonwealth military forces who died in the two world wars and subsequent wars, to build memorials to those with no known grave, and to keep records of the war...

External links

• The Jewish Legion at regiments.org, contains another image of the badge cap
• Jewish Role in WWI at palestinefacts.org

Further reading

• Patterson, John H. With the Judeans in the Palestine campaign. London: Hutchinson & Co., [ca. 1922]
• Jabotinsky, Valdimir. The story of the Jewish Legion. New York: Bernard Ackerman, 1945. ISBN B0007DE88U
• Freulich, Roman. Soldiers in Judea;: Stories and vignettes of the Jewish Legion. Herzl Press, 1965. ISBN B0007-EN0G-K
• Gilner, Elias. Fighting dreamers; a history of the Jewish Legion in World War One,: With a glimpse at other Jewish fighting groups of the period. 1968. ASIN B0006BT7KM
• Gilner, Elias. War and Hope. A History of the Jewish Legion. New York; Herzl Press: 1969. ISBN B0006C2O2E
• Kraines, Oscar. The soldiers of Zion: The Jewish Legion, 1915-1921. 1985. ASIN B0006YWX5U
• Marrion, R.J. "The Jewish Legion," 39th (service) battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 1918-1919. 1987. ASIN B000719GOS
• Watts, Martin. The Jewish Legion and the First World War. 2004. ISBN 1403939217