Zvi Brenner
Zvi Brenner (1915-1999) was a Jewish Palestinian leader during World War II and the early days of the State of Israel. He trained under Orde Wingate and served alongside Moshe Dayan. He was one of the founders of the Israeli Defense Forces along with Dayan and Yigal Allon. After being wounded badly, he later served as the Secretary of the Kibbutzim Movement. He was a leader of kibbutz Afikim until his death.
Zvi Brenner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1915 Poland |
| Died | Israel |
| Nationality | Israeli |
| Known for | Zionist Leader |
Early life
Born in Poland in 1915, Zvi immigrated as a child to the United States with his mother and siblings, settling in Chicago. There he was one of the founders of the Hechalutz movement in the U.S. He was chosen in 1934 to join the new Kibbutz Afikim being established in Israel.[1]
Palestine and the Special Night Squads
Zvi joined the Hagana and participated in operations including a defense of Kibbutz Ramat HaKovesh and the establishment of Hanita in 1938. It was in Hanita that Zvi was introduced to the British Captain Charles Orde Wingate. Wingate established the Special Night Squads (SNS) which were units of Jews and British soldiers. Zvi was established as the commander of the SNS unit operating out of Afikim.[1]
World War II
When Palestinian Jews were allowed to join the British army to fight the Nazis, Zvi, newly married and a father, disobeyed Hagana orders and volunteered. Eventually, the Jewish Brigade was formed in 1944. In March, 1945, the Jewish Brigade fought the Germans on the front lines in northern Italy, where Zvi suffered a serious injury to his leg from a grenade.[1]
References
- Eshkol, Yosef (1998). "I Didn't Think Twice". In Michael, Bar-Zohar (ed.). Lionhearts: Heroes of Israel. Warner Books. ISBN 9780446523585.
- Eshkol, Yosef (1993). A common soldier: the story of Zwi Brenner. MOD Books. p. 356.
- Roman, Yadin (2005). Eretz: The Book. The Eretz Group. p. 338. ISBN 978-9659079704.
- Bierman, John; Smith, Colin (1999). Fire in the night : Wingate of Burma, Ethiopia, and Zion. Random House. pp. 448. ISBN 978-0375500619.