Palestine Regiment facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Palestine Regiment |
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|---|---|
| Active | 1942–1944 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | 2,800 volunteers |
The Palestine Regiment was a special group of soldiers in the British Army. It was created in 1942 during World War II. These soldiers were mostly infantry, meaning they fought on foot.
The regiment served in places like Egypt and Cyrenaica (which is in modern-day Libya). Their main job was to guard important places. Some members of the Palestine Regiment even fought in tough battles against German forces in Benghazi.
The regiment was made up of both Jewish and Arab volunteers. They came from a place called Mandatory Palestine, which was controlled by Britain at the time. In 1944, the regiment was changed. The Jewish soldiers from the Palestine Regiment then helped form a bigger group called the Jewish Brigade. This new brigade played a role in the Allied efforts in Europe during World War II.
How the Palestine Regiment Started
Before the Palestine Regiment was officially formed, Jewish and Arab people in Mandatory Palestine were allowed to join the British Army. This started around 1940. They formed separate groups called Palestine Infantry Companies. These companies were part of a larger British unit known as the "Buffs."
The first Jewish Infantry Company was ready by September 1940. Soon, 14 more Jewish companies were created, with about 5,300 men serving. Their main tasks included keeping areas safe, guarding important buildings, and protecting convoys (groups of vehicles). Their training was limited, and they used older equipment from World War I. The British had planned to recruit an equal number of Jewish and Arab soldiers, but this did not happen.
In 1939, the British War Cabinet decided to create a new regiment called the Palestine Regiment. At that time, Britain had many soldiers in Palestine. However, as World War II continued, Britain started to run low on soldiers, weapons, and supplies. This meant they needed to find new ways to get people for duties that did not require a lot of training.
Around the same time, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, a leader of the Jewish community, offered to help recruit a whole Jewish division for the British Army. This showed the strong desire of many people in Palestine to help with the war effort.
Forming the Regiment
The Palestine Regiment was officially created in 1942. It was formed by bringing together the Palestine Infantry Companies that had been part of the Buffs. The new regiment was organized into separate groups for Jewish and Arab soldiers.
Some historians say the regiment had about 1,600 Jewish soldiers and 1,200 Arab soldiers. However, other sources suggest that Jewish soldiers greatly outnumbered Arab soldiers, possibly by more than three to one.
The Jewish companies were then organized into three larger groups called battalions. These battalions became the core of the new Palestine Regiment. Later, many of these soldiers became the first members of the Jewish Brigade. This brigade was a larger Jewish military unit that fought bravely in World War II.
