The Jewish Legion was a series of battalions of Jewish soldiers who served in the British Army during the First World War. Some participated in the British conquest of Palestine from the Ottomans.
The formation of the battalions had several motives: the expulsion of the Ottomans, the gaining of military experience, and the hope that their contribution would favorably influence the support for a Jewish national home in the land when a new world order was established after the war.
The idea for the battalions was proposed by Pinhas Rutenberg, Dov Ber Borochov and Ze'ev Jabotinsky and carried out by Jabotinsky and Joseph Trumpeldor, who aspired for the battalions to become the independent military force of the Yishuv in Palestine.
Their vision did not fully materialize, as the battalions were disbanded shortly after the war.
However, their activities significantly contributed to the establishment of paramilitaries such as the Haganah and the Irgun (which later became the foundation for the Israel Defense Forces).
| 1 |
 |
 |
The First Judeans 1917-1967 Jewish Legion Jubilee State Medal 1967 Bronze Diameter 59 mm |
| 2 |
 |
 |
Zeev Jabotinsky Founder of the Legion 50th Anniversary of the Jewish Legion 1917-1967 Silvered bronze Diameter 40 mm |
| 3 |
 © Igor Ostapenko |
 © Igor Ostapenko |
Eretz Israel Volunteers Medal, 1918
The Jewish legion "liberated Judea" 1918 This medal was designed in Bezalel (Jerusalem) and awarded to the fighters of the Jewish Legion Silver, diameter 25 mm There is also a copper version. Read more about this medal here. |
| Read here more about the history of the Jewish Legion. |