Palmach

Palmach
Symbol of the Palmach
Active1941–1948
Country Mandatory Palestine (before 14 May 1948)
 Israel (after 14 May 1948)
TypeCombined strike forces
RoleAerial reconnaissance
Aerial warfare
Amphibious warfare
Anti-tank warfare
Artillery observer
Bomb disposal
Clandestine operation
Close air support
Close-quarters combat
Combined arms
Counterintelligence
Covert operation
Desert warfare
Direct action
Fire support
Force protection
HUMINT
Indirect fire
Internal security
Irregular warfare
Long-range penetration
Maneuver warfare
Military engineering
Military intelligence
Mountain warfare
Naval boarding
Parachuting
Patrolling
Raiding
Reconnaissance
SIGINT
Special operations
Special reconnaissance
Tracking
Underwater demolition
Urban warfare
Part of Haganah
Motto(s)"Always at your command"
"לפקודה תמיד אנחנו"
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Yitzhak Sadeh,
Yigal Allon, Yitzhak Rabin, Moshe Dayan

The Palmach (Hebrew: פלמ"ח‎, acronym for פלוגות מחץ‎, Plugot Maḥatz, "Strike Companies") was the elite combined strike forces and sayeret unit of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv (Jewish community) during the period of the British Mandate for Palestine. The Palmach was established in May 1941. By the outbreak of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, it consisted of over 2,000 men and women in three fighting brigades and auxiliary aerial, naval and intelligence units. With the creation of Israel's army, the three Palmach Brigades were disbanded. This and political reasons compelled many of the senior Palmach officers to resign in 1950.[1]

The Palmach contributed significantly to Israeli culture and ethos, well beyond its military contribution. Its members formed the backbone of the Israel Defense Forces high command for many years, and were prominent in Israeli politics, literature and culture.

  1. ^ Peri, Yoram (1983). Between battles and ballots – Israeli military in politics. CUP. ISBN 0-521-24414-5.