The 7th Armored Brigade (Hebrew: חטיבה שבע, Hativa Sheva) is a military formation of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Formed during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and still in operation, it is the oldest armored brigade in the IDF.[1] It has historical ties to the earlier Jewish Brigade, which was raised during World War II.[2] The brigade took part in all of Israel's wars. During the Battles of Latrun in 1948, the 3rd Alexandroni and 7th Brigades together suffered 139 casualties. It fought in the Six-Day War under the command of Colonel Shmuel Gonen (Gorodish). In the Yom Kippur War, under the command of Colonel Avigdor Ben-Gal, it was stationed at the defense line of the northern part of the Golan Heights (sharing the defense with the Barak Armored Brigade), where it successfully repulsed heavy attacks by much larger Syrian forces. Since then, the Bridade took part in all IDF's main operations, and stands today as one of 3 main armoured brigades of the IDF.
During the 1948 War, the 7th Brigade primarily consisted of Sherman tanks and mounted infantry. Early on, the 7th also contained an artillery element. During the 1960s, the brigade was equipped with British Centurion tanks modified in Israel. These were gradually superseded in the late 1970s by the Israeli-made Merkava main battle tanks, of which several versions have since been employed.
The 7th Brigade once belonged to Israel's Southern Command. The 7th was based in the Golan Heights as part of the 36th Armored Division from the end of the Yom Kippur War until February 2014.[3]
In 1948, the brigade's reputation was as one of the crueler combat forces of the period.[4] Israeli historian Ilan Pappé writes: "In many of the Palestinian oral histories that have now come to the fore, few brigade names appear. However, Brigade Seven is mentioned again and again, together with such adjectives as 'terrorist' and 'barbarous.'"[4][5]
7th Brigade memorial7th Brigade monument7th Brigade during a military exercise on the Golan Heights
The 7th Brigade was initially equipped with jeeps and cars with a few machine guns in July 1948, when the experienced Canadian officer Ben Dunkelman took over. He sized up two approaching Egyptian battle groups equipped with half-tracks, US M4 Sherman tanks and other vehicles. Dunkelman attacked both of them by surprise at night, when the crews were out of their vehicles. The Egyptian soldiers fled, allowing the 7th Brigade to appropriate their arms and vehicles.[6]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 7th Armored Brigade (Israel).
^Matan Galin (20 December 2012). "Improving with age: the 7th Armored innovates". Israeli Defense Forces (www.idf.il).
^Gross, Judah Ari (3 October 2018). "73 years on, Italy awards Jewish Brigade medal of valor for fighting Nazis". Times of Israel. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
^Lappin, Yaakov (2014-02-23). "Amid raging conflict in Syria, IDF deploys new division to border – Defense – Jerusalem Post". Jpost.com. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
^ abDan Freeman-maloy (Winter 2011). "Mahal and the Dispossession of the Palestinians". Journal of Palestine Studies. 40 (2). JSTOR 10.1525/jps.2011.XL.2.43.
^Ilan Pappé, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 2006). Page. 158
^Dunkelman, Ben (1984). Dual Allegiance: An Autobiography, Goodread Biography. ISBN0-88780-127-7
^. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
August 22, 2023
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The 7th Armored Brigade Hebrew חטיבה שבע Hativa Sheva is a military formation of the Israel Defense Forces IDF Formed during the 1948 Arab Israeli War and still in operation it is the oldest armored brigade in the IDF 1 It has historical ties to the earlier Jewish Brigade which was raised during World War II 2 The brigade took part in all of Israel s wars During the Battles of Latrun in 1948 the 3rd Alexandroni and 7th Brigades together suffered 139 casualties It fought in the Six Day War under the command of Colonel Shmuel Gonen Gorodish In the Yom Kippur War under the command of Colonel Avigdor Ben Gal it was stationed at the defense line of the northern part of the Golan Heights sharing the defense with the Barak Armored Brigade where it successfully repulsed heavy attacks by much larger Syrian forces Since then the Bridade took part in all IDF s main operations and stands today as one of 3 main armoured brigades of the IDF Hativa Sheva Armor BrigadeInsignia of the 7th BrigadeActive1948 presentCountry IsraelBranchArmyTypeArmorPart ofNorthern CommandGarrison HQCamp KatsabiaEngagements1948 Arab Israeli War Sinai Six Day War War of Attrition Yom Kippur War 1982 Lebanon War 2006 Lebanon War 2008 Cast LeadCommandersCurrentcommandercolonel Yiftach NorkinNotablecommandersAvigdor Kahalani Shmuel Gonen Yanush ben gal During the 1948 War the 7th Brigade primarily consisted of Sherman tanks and mounted infantry Early on the 7th also contained an artillery element During the 1960s the brigade was equipped with British Centurion tanks modified in Israel These were gradually superseded in the late 1970s by the Israeli made Merkava main battle tanks of which several versions have since been employed The 7th Brigade once belonged to Israel s Southern Command The 7th was based in the Golan Heights as part of the 36th Armored Division from the end of the Yom Kippur War until February 2014 3 Contents 1 Reputation 2 Units 3 Brigade commanders 4 ReferencesReputationIn 1948 the brigade s reputation was as one of the crueler combat forces of the period 4 Israeli historian Ilan Pappe writes In many of the Palestinian oral histories that have now come to the fore few brigade names appear However Brigade Seven is mentioned again and again together with such adjectives as terrorist and barbarous 4 5 7th Brigade memorial 7th Brigade monument 7th Brigade during a military exercise on the Golan HeightsThe 7th Brigade was initially equipped with jeeps and cars with a few machine guns in July 1948 when the experienced Canadian officer Ben Dunkelman took over He sized up two approaching Egyptian battle groups equipped with half tracks US M4 Sherman tanks and other vehicles Dunkelman attacked both of them by surprise at night when the crews were out of their vehicles The Egyptian soldiers fled allowing the 7th Brigade to appropriate their arms and vehicles 6 Units71st Battalion was in the 1948 Latrun Battles 72nd Battalion was in the 1948 Latrun Battles 73rd Battalion was in the 1948 Latrun Battles 75th Romach Lance Armor Battalion Merkava Mk 4M 77th Oz Courage Armor Battalion Merkava Mk 4M 79th Battalion was in the 1948 Operation Hiram 82nd Gaash Rage Armor Battalion Merkava Mk 4M 603th Lahav Blade Armored Engineer Battalion Palsar 7 356th Reconnaissance Company Palhik 7 353rd Hanit Spear Communications CompanyBrigade commandersShlomo Shamir May July 1948 Ben Dunkelman July 1948 July 1949 Yosef Eitan July 1949 July 1950 Shmuel Goder October 1950 August 1953 Yitzhak Pundak April 1954 October 1955 Uri Ben Ari October 1955 December 1956 Aharon Nachshon December 1956 March 1958 David Elazar December 1958 April 1959 Israel Tal April 1959 April 1960 Arye Shakhar June 1960 July 1961 Avraham Adan July 1961 January 1963 Herzl Shafir January 1963 December 1964 Shlomo Lahat January 1965 May 1966 Shmuel Gonen June 1966 June 1969 Ya akov Even June 1969 June 1971 Gabriel Amir June 1971 September 1972 Avigdor Ben Gal September 1972 February 1974 Ori Orr February 1974 December 1975 Avigdor Kahalani December 1975 October 1977 Yossi Ben Hanan October 1977 June 1979 Nati Golan June 1979 March 1981 Eitan Kauli Keinan March 1981 September 1982 Meir Zamir September 1982 February 1984 Amir Noy May 1984 September 1985 Avraham Palant September 1985 May 1987 Efraim Laor May 1987 November 1988 Dubik Rosenthal Tal November 1988 July 1990 Zvika Gendelman July 1990 January 1992 Yitzhak Harel January 1992 October 1993 Gershon HaCohen October 1993 August 1995 Dan Biton August 1995 August 1997 Shmulik Rosenthal August 1997 April 1999 Ya akov Ayash April 1999 July 2001 Halutzi Rudoy July 2001 August 2003 Eyal Zamir August 2003 September 2005 Amnon Eshel Asulin September 2005 August 2007 Ro i Elkavetz August 2007 May 2009 Ya akov Banjo May 2009 July 2011 Oded Basyuk July 2011 June 2013 Nadav Lotan June 2013 July 2015 Dan Noyman July 2015 August 2017 Roman Gofman August 2017 Source 7 References Wikimedia Commons has media related to 7th Armored Brigade Israel Matan Galin 20 December 2012 Improving with age the 7th Armored innovates Israeli Defense Forces www idf il Gross Judah Ari 3 October 2018 73 years on Italy awards Jewish Brigade medal of valor for fighting Nazis Times of Israel Retrieved 3 April 2021 Lappin Yaakov 2014 02 23 Amid raging conflict in Syria IDF deploys new division to border Defense Jerusalem Post Jpost com Retrieved 2016 04 14 a b Dan Freeman maloy Winter 2011 Mahal and the Dispossession of the Palestinians Journal of Palestine Studies 40 2 JSTOR 10 1525 jps 2011 XL 2 43 Ilan Pappe The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine Oxford Oneworld Publications 2006 Page 158 Dunkelman Ben 1984 Dual Allegiance An Autobiography Goodread Biography ISBN 0 88780 127 7 7th Brigade Commanders Archived from the original on July 10 2011 Retrieved March 21 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 7th Armored Brigade Israel amp oldid 1127355950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
