Page 138 - ראשונים להעז
P. 138
those who knew him have also contributed to the curiosity about him. Wingate's
death by accident at an early age, before he reached his peak, also add to his
appeal. It is no surprise, then, that to date no less than eight biographies have been
written about him, as well as several more books dedicated to his military ideas.
Wingate began to stand out as an original, extraordinary officer during his service
in Palestine; therefore the SNS is extensively covered in the books about him.
The organization is also honored in the literature on the Jewish defense forces,
and many of those who participated in its operations have written about them
extensively in their memoirs. However, until now, the discussion of the Special
Night Squads has been limited mainly to two perspectives. In the literature about
Wingate, the focus has been on his personal development during his service in
Palestine and the impact of the experience he gained in the SNS on his later
activities. The texts about the Jewish defense forces have highlighted the personal
stories of the Jewish fighters, from the perspective of simple soldiers.
This volume is an effort to focus on the Special Night Squads, discussing the
ways in which it operated and the consequences of its actions. It offers the first
examination of the SNS as a military organization that was established in response
to specific needs, with the aim of achieving defined objectives, and not simply
as part of Wingate's personal story or as a chapter in the history of the Jewish
defense forces.
Structure of the Book
This volume examines the structure and organization of the SNS, the military
approach that guided it, and the methods it employed. Such an investigation
cannot be carried out in a vacuum; it must be based on the broader contexts,
in this case, the British military effort to put down the Arab Revolt. In order to
examine Wingate's innovations, it is necessary to consider his military views,
compared with the accepted British counter-insurgency doctrine at the time. In
order to evaluate the extent to which the unit succeeded in attaining its objectives,
we must look at the outcomes of the operations it carried out, and compare them
with those of other army units. This is the only way to obtain a reliable overview
of the SNS, its role, and its impact on the campaign as a whole.
As an introduction to the story of the SNS, a review of the circumstances
that led to its establishment is presented. These include the nature of the Arab
Revolt that began in 1936, and, particularly, the security situation that prevailed
in Palestine beginning in the Spring of 1938. The immediate background to
the story of the SNS is also presented, from Wingate, "the Friend," his ties to
Zionism and the role he assumed during the Arab Revolt, the events that led to the
establishment of the SNS, and up to the beginning of its operations.
The heart of the volume is an analysis of the main elements of the unit. First,
its structure, the means of its organization, and the characteristics of the men who
served are presented. This is followed by analysis of the operational principles
137
death by accident at an early age, before he reached his peak, also add to his
appeal. It is no surprise, then, that to date no less than eight biographies have been
written about him, as well as several more books dedicated to his military ideas.
Wingate began to stand out as an original, extraordinary officer during his service
in Palestine; therefore the SNS is extensively covered in the books about him.
The organization is also honored in the literature on the Jewish defense forces,
and many of those who participated in its operations have written about them
extensively in their memoirs. However, until now, the discussion of the Special
Night Squads has been limited mainly to two perspectives. In the literature about
Wingate, the focus has been on his personal development during his service in
Palestine and the impact of the experience he gained in the SNS on his later
activities. The texts about the Jewish defense forces have highlighted the personal
stories of the Jewish fighters, from the perspective of simple soldiers.
This volume is an effort to focus on the Special Night Squads, discussing the
ways in which it operated and the consequences of its actions. It offers the first
examination of the SNS as a military organization that was established in response
to specific needs, with the aim of achieving defined objectives, and not simply
as part of Wingate's personal story or as a chapter in the history of the Jewish
defense forces.
Structure of the Book
This volume examines the structure and organization of the SNS, the military
approach that guided it, and the methods it employed. Such an investigation
cannot be carried out in a vacuum; it must be based on the broader contexts,
in this case, the British military effort to put down the Arab Revolt. In order to
examine Wingate's innovations, it is necessary to consider his military views,
compared with the accepted British counter-insurgency doctrine at the time. In
order to evaluate the extent to which the unit succeeded in attaining its objectives,
we must look at the outcomes of the operations it carried out, and compare them
with those of other army units. This is the only way to obtain a reliable overview
of the SNS, its role, and its impact on the campaign as a whole.
As an introduction to the story of the SNS, a review of the circumstances
that led to its establishment is presented. These include the nature of the Arab
Revolt that began in 1936, and, particularly, the security situation that prevailed
in Palestine beginning in the Spring of 1938. The immediate background to
the story of the SNS is also presented, from Wingate, "the Friend," his ties to
Zionism and the role he assumed during the Arab Revolt, the events that led to the
establishment of the SNS, and up to the beginning of its operations.
The heart of the volume is an analysis of the main elements of the unit. First,
its structure, the means of its organization, and the characteristics of the men who
served are presented. This is followed by analysis of the operational principles
137
