Page 137 - ראשונים להעז
P. 137
t Wingate developed for the SNS, which challenged the "book wisdom" – the שלב א
British army’s counter-insurgency doctrine at the time. The rules, guidelines, and
methods developed by Wingate, which were based on his views regarding combat, שלב ב
are examined in detail.
שלב ג
In order to demonstrate the way in which the SNS operated, three case studies
of significant operations in its history – the battle at Kawkab al-Hawa and the raids שלב ד
on Daburiyya and Khirbet Lid al-Awwadin – are presented. These three battles are
considered landmarks in the history of the SNS, because of either their outcomes
or their impact on its development. Because all three attracted the attention of
those who participated in them and of the military command immediately after
their occurrence, there is a wealth of documentation regarding them, enabling
their reconstruction. The historic account is completed by the story of the unit
after the departure of its founder and first commander, Orde Wingate, until its
dissolution.
Finally, the overall picture depicted by this research is examined. The
operational achievements of the unit are analyzed in comparison with those of the
military as a whole. The influence of the SNS on the conduct of the British army
during the Arab Revolt and in the long term, and the impact of Wingate's ideas,
are discussed.
Resources
The research for this book was based on primary sources of three types:
1. Documents of the British security forces, which enabled study of the
activity of the SNS and the developments in Palestine during its brief
period of activity. These include Wingate's memorandums about the
methods of SNS operations and summaries of activity; reports by the
military intelligence branch and the British police regarding events during
the Arab Revolt; collections of lessons learned and manuals on British
combat doctrine; correspondence between officers and officials that
mention the activity of the SNS and the gazettes of British army
regiments, in which combatants shared their experiences with their friends.
2. Archival documents of the Jewish Agency and the Haganah, organizations
that played an important active role in the story of the SNS. These include
intelligence reports about the developments in the SNS area of operation;
summaries of discussions regarding the unit; and, especially, reports on
the actions it carried out, including descriptions of the events that took
place and their outcomes.
3. Personal documentation of people who participated in the events. These
include journals and letters, but mainly interviews conducted a long time
(sometimes even many years) after the fact. In addition, some of the
combatants recorded their memories.
136
British army’s counter-insurgency doctrine at the time. The rules, guidelines, and
methods developed by Wingate, which were based on his views regarding combat, שלב ב
are examined in detail.
שלב ג
In order to demonstrate the way in which the SNS operated, three case studies
of significant operations in its history – the battle at Kawkab al-Hawa and the raids שלב ד
on Daburiyya and Khirbet Lid al-Awwadin – are presented. These three battles are
considered landmarks in the history of the SNS, because of either their outcomes
or their impact on its development. Because all three attracted the attention of
those who participated in them and of the military command immediately after
their occurrence, there is a wealth of documentation regarding them, enabling
their reconstruction. The historic account is completed by the story of the unit
after the departure of its founder and first commander, Orde Wingate, until its
dissolution.
Finally, the overall picture depicted by this research is examined. The
operational achievements of the unit are analyzed in comparison with those of the
military as a whole. The influence of the SNS on the conduct of the British army
during the Arab Revolt and in the long term, and the impact of Wingate's ideas,
are discussed.
Resources
The research for this book was based on primary sources of three types:
1. Documents of the British security forces, which enabled study of the
activity of the SNS and the developments in Palestine during its brief
period of activity. These include Wingate's memorandums about the
methods of SNS operations and summaries of activity; reports by the
military intelligence branch and the British police regarding events during
the Arab Revolt; collections of lessons learned and manuals on British
combat doctrine; correspondence between officers and officials that
mention the activity of the SNS and the gazettes of British army
regiments, in which combatants shared their experiences with their friends.
2. Archival documents of the Jewish Agency and the Haganah, organizations
that played an important active role in the story of the SNS. These include
intelligence reports about the developments in the SNS area of operation;
summaries of discussions regarding the unit; and, especially, reports on
the actions it carried out, including descriptions of the events that took
place and their outcomes.
3. Personal documentation of people who participated in the events. These
include journals and letters, but mainly interviews conducted a long time
(sometimes even many years) after the fact. In addition, some of the
combatants recorded their memories.
136
