After Churchill agreed to allow the formation of an all-Jewish fighting force to do battle with the Nazis, a Jewish Brigade Group was formed and allowed to fight under a Zionist flag. More than 5000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine were organized into three infantry battalions with supporting units. Under the leadership of Ernest Benjamin, the Jewish Brigade was sent to Italy and took a combat role at Alfonsine, and then against the German 4th Parachute Division at the Senio River. Subsequently they were stationed at Tarvisio, where they assisted Holocaust survivors and facilitated their immigration to Palestine. They were an essential part of the Bricha’s efforts to help refugee Jews in Europe emigrate to Mandatory Palestine. More controversial than the role they played with the Bricha and the support of the children of Selvino, were the assassination squads (Nokmim) formed with other Holocaust survivors, seeking revenge on SS and Wehrmacht officers involved in atrocities against Jews.
--Michael D. Bulmash, K1966
Browse the Bulmash Family Holocaust Collection.
-
Jewish Brigade Group Pamphlet
2012.1.395
Booklet titled, "Jewish Brigade Group" in English and Hebrew. Includes a blue and white flag with a black Star of David. Interior includes printed Hebrew text.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
After Churchill agreed to allow the formation of an all-Jewish fighting force to do battle with the Nazis, a Jewish Brigade Group was formed and allowed to fight under a Zionist flag. More than 5000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine were organized into three infantry battalions with supporting units. Under the leadership of Ernest Benjamin, the Jewish Brigade was sent to Italy and took a combat role at Alfonsine, and then against the German 4th Parachute Division at the Senio River. Subsequently they were stationed at Tarvisio, where they assisted Holocaust survivors and facilitated their immigration to Palestine. They were an essential part of the Bricha’s efforts to help refugee Jews in Europe emigrate to Mandatory Palestine. More controversial than the role they played with the Bricha and the support of the children of Selvino, were the assassination squads (Nokmim) formed with other Holocaust survivors, seeking revenge on SS and Wehrmacht officers involved in atrocities against Jews.
-
Letter from Jewish Brigade Soldier Carmi Elijah to a Child in a Sh'erit ha-Pletah Camp
2012.1.27
Typewritten letter in Hebrew with an illustrations of a group of children, as well as a soldier and a child, and flag with a yellow Star of David. Includes English title, "Jewish Brigade Group."
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: "Dear child... I know what you went through and even now you are on foreign soil wandering and in camps. However, we Hebrew soldiers have sworn in our hearts not to rest until you have all come to Israel and are settled in your homeland. Only then will we know joy in our hearts. Receive this letter and this modest gift as a token of our affection and love. From your faithful friend who will always remember you with love. Soldier: Carmi Elijah. First Legion Jewish Brigade."
-
Jewish Brigade Group Letter
2015.2.164
Front: Tan paper with logo of the Jewish Brigade in upper left corner, and blue printed text in upper right corner. Includes a message in black ink.Back: Continuation of letter in black ink with signature at the bottom.
-
Jewish Brigade Group Patch
2012.1.90
Brown patch with stitched writing in Hebrew and English reading, "Jewish Brigade Group.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: After Churchill agreed to allow the formation of an all-Jewish fighting force to do battle with the Nazis, a Jewish Brigade Group was formed and allowed to fight under a Zionist flag. More than 5000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine were organized into three infantry battalions with supporting units. Under the leadership of Ernest Benjamin, the Jewish Brigade was sent to Italy and took a combat role at Alfonsine, and then against the German 4th Parachute Division at the Senio River. Subsequently they were stationed at Tarvisio, where they assisted Holocaust survivors and facilitated their immigration to Palestine. They were an essential part of the Bricha’s efforts to help refugee Jews in Europe emigrate to Mandatory Palestine. More controversial than the role they played with the Bricha and the support of the children of Selvino, were the assassination squads (Nokmim) formed with other Holocaust survivors, seeking revenge on SS and Wehrmacht officers involved in atrocities against Jews.
-
Jewish Brigade Group Palestine Patch
2012.1.92
Blue patch with "Palestine" stitched into it in white.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: After Churchill agreed to allow the formation of an all-Jewish fighting force to do battle with the Nazis, a Jewish Brigade Group was formed and allowed to fight under a Zionist flag. More than 5000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine were organized into three infantry battalions with supporting units. Under the leadership of Ernest Benjamin, the Jewish Brigade was sent to Italy and took a combat role at Alfonsine, and then against the German 4th Parachute Division at the Senio River. Subsequently they were stationed at Tarvisio, where they assisted Holocaust survivors and facilitated their immigration to Palestine. They were an essential part of the Bricha’s efforts to help refugee Jews in Europe emigrate to Mandatory Palestine. More controversial than the role they played with the Bricha and the support of the children of Selvino, were the assassination squads (Nokmim) formed with other Holocaust survivors, seeking revenge on SS and Wehrmacht officers involved in atrocities against Jews.
-
Jewish Brigade Group Mogen David Patch
2012.1.93
A blue and white felt patch with a yellow Star of David stitched into it.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash: After Churchill agreed to allow the formation of an all-Jewish fighting force to do battle with the Nazis, a Jewish Brigade Group was formed and allowed to fight under a Zionist flag. More than 5000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine were organized into three infantry battalions with supporting units. Under the leadership of Ernest Benjamin, the Jewish Brigade was sent to Italy and took a combat role at Alfonsine, and then against the German 4th Parachute Division at the Senio River. Subsequently they were stationed at Tarvisio, where they assisted Holocaust survivors and facilitated their immigration to Palestine. They were an essential part of the Bricha’s efforts to help refugee Jews in Europe emigrate to Mandatory Palestine. More controversial than the role they played with the Bricha and the support of the children of Selvino, were the assassination squads (Nokmim) formed with other Holocaust survivors, seeking revenge on SS and Wehrmacht officers involved in atrocities against Jews.
-
Group of Jewish Brigade Letters from Corporal A. Sucherman of the 3rd Battalion, Palestine Regiment, to P. Halperin in Tel Aviv
2019.2.252a-s
Unbound collection of blue-grey paper with a purple postal stamp in the top right corner of each and a purple crest, British censor, ink stamp. All letters are addressed to “Miss. Halperin P.” Letters are marked with letters "a" through "s" on back in lower right corner. Blank pages are omitted from scans.
Information Provided by Michael D. Bulmash:
After Churchill agreed to allow the formation of an all-Jewish fighting force to do battle with the Nazis, a Jewish Brigade Group was formed and allowed to fight under a Zionist flag. More than 5,000 Jewish volunteers from the Yishuv in Palestine were organized into three infantry battalions with supporting units. Under the leadership of Ernest Benjamin, the Jewish Brigade was sent to Italy and took a combat role at Alfonsine, and then against the German 4th Parachute Division at the Senio River. Subsequently they were stationed at Tarvisio, where they assisted Holocaust survivors and facilitated their immigration to Palestine. They were an essential part of the Bricha’s efforts to help refugee Jews in Europe immigrate to Mandatory Palestine. More controversial than the role they played with the Bricha and the support of the children of Selvino, were the assassination squads (Nakam) formed with other Holocaust survivors, seeking revenge on the SS and Wehrmacht officers involved in the atrocities against the Jews.
This group of 19 handwritten letters from Cpl. A. Sucherman, Co. “D”, 3rd Bn, Palestine Regiment, were sent to a Miss P. Helperin in Tel Aviv. The letters with integral covers all date between late 1944 and the last days of the war, when the regiment took part in the Italian spring offensive in 1945. All of the letters are in Hebrew and untranslated, and all bear a British military censor’s stamp.