This book tells the little-known stories of three all-Jewish battalions formed in the British army as part of the Allies' Middle East campaign, recruiting soldiers from the United States, Canada, England, and Argentina. Many of the soldiers, ranging widely in education level, social class, and combat experience, were displaced immigrants or children of such immigrants. Together, they coalesced into the all-Jewish battalions: "the liberators of the Promised Land." The ranks of the Jewish Legions included some who would become prominent leaders, such as David Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, and Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Israel's second president; however, this book focuses on the experiences of ordinary soldiers who served alongside them. Drawing on diaries, memoirs, and letters, the book follows their journey at sea through unrestricted submarine warfare; by trains and trucks through Europe, Egypt, and Palestine; and their battlefield experiences. The authors show how these Yiddish-speaking young men forged a new kind of soldier identity with unique Jewish features, as well as an evolving sense of nationalism.
Les mer
Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Leaving Home Chapter 3: In Distant Lands Chapter 4: To the Front Chapter 5: On Bravery Chapter 6: Hope and Disenchantment Chapter 7: The Chaplain Chapter 8: An Aristocrat of Sorts Chapter 9: Memory and Identity Chapter 10: A Soldier Left Behind Chapter 11: Existential Zionism Notes Bibliography Index
Les mer
We Are Coming, Unafraid provides a much needed alternative insight into the period. The memoirists' comments about their own motivation for joining the Legions, their views of the contemporary politics and of the people of the time are uniquely enlightening.
Les mer

Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9780742552746
Publisert
2010-09-16
Utgiver
Vendor
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Vekt
445 gr
Høyde
239 mm
Bredde
162 mm
Dybde
18 mm
Aldersnivå
G, 01
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
200

Biographical note

Michael Keren is professor of political science and communication and culture at the University of Calgary. He is the author of many scholarly books, including The Pen and the Sword. Shlomit Keren is associate professor of history and director of Israel Studies at the University of Calgary.