THE CREATION OF GRANDMA'S ARMY - AFTERMATH

At the end of the War of Independence, the IDF had over 100,000 full-time men and women in uniform, as compared to the mere handful of full-time soldiers at its beginning. In addition to 12 brigades, mostly infantry, it had several regiments of artillery. The first armoured regiments were equipped with light armoured vehicles: some captured, some "requisitioned" from the departing British troops; a few tanks; including two Cromwells "bought" from the withdrawing British, and some reconstituted from American scrap.

The Navy consisted, at first, of reconverted illegal immigrant vessels. There were the elements of an Air Force - Spitfires and Messerschmidts, acquired mainly in Czechoslovakia. Also, light civilian planes which the Haganah had used for reconnaissance and communications purposes. Some World War II US war surplus bombers, which had been used as scrap, were bought. These carried out their first "strategic attack" on Cairo, en route to Israel, even before reaching their home base. Armed with a Baedeker tourist guide, one of them bombed and strafed Abdeen Palace: basic perhaps, but entirely unexpected and therefore psychologically effective.

As soon as the armistice agreements were signed and the immediate danger had passed, the IDF - except for a small nucleus - was not only demobilized, but effectively disbanded. The new state had urgent tasks which required all its resources - above all, absorbing the flood of new immigrants, who at last were able to come "home". An attempt to keep the demobilized soldiers in some sort of reserve framework, failed.

Meanwhile, there was little inclination on the Arab side to renew full-scale fighting. Not that they had come to face reality and recognise Israel - far from it; but they did realize that to fight against Israel required thorough preparation.

However, they found what was considered a perfect tool to show their own people that the war was not over yet and, at the same time, both to harrass Israel and embarrass her. Palestinian fedayeen (terrorists) infiltrated across the long and ill-protected border. No place in Israel was far from the border. Infiltrations for the purpose of stealing farm equipment, were followed by the laying of mines, the killing of individuals, and wholesale massacres. The fedayeen were trained, equipped and paid for by Egyptian Intelligence, operated mainly from bases in Jordan - so that Jordan would bear the brunt of Israel's retaliation, which inevitably followed. And each time Israel retaliated, the Security Council condemned it. Condemnation of an Arab government had long since become an impossibility, because of the Soviet veto.

The infiltrations - however painful, militarily and diplomatically - were no more than a diversion from the main concern of the IDF - preparations for the second round.

                                                                         

Since then, the IDF has transformed from a small, newly-formed army to one of the most respected and powerful militaries in the world. For over 74 years, the IDF has protected the Israeli people, and this was made possible because of the Haganah, the Palmach, and all the resistance movements which built the foundation for the IDF we know today. It is imperative that they continue their legacy and, when called upon, to fight for Israel's future.