A hundred years ago, the Defense Organization was established. • To mark the occasion, we met with two fighters and their grandchildren who serve in the IDF, who said: "We grew up on grandfather's stories".
The traveling Palmach unit in the 1938 Tower of Justice
"My grandson's fiancee lives where I fought"
A few months ago, Zvi Cohen (92) closed a circle. He came to Kibbutz Malkia, met his fiancée's grandson Tal, who lived there, and told the kibbutz members: "Here I fought, for this place I defended in the War of Independence."
Cohen was drafted in defense in 1945 and later joined the Palmach. At the outbreak of the War of Independence he joined the Yiftah Brigade that fought in the Galilee and participated in the conquest of the city of Safed and Tiberias. Finding out that my future grandson's wife lives where I fought. It's about closing a circle. "
Zvi Cohen, who lives in Tel Aviv, met on Thursday with his grandson, Major Tal Cohen, who serves as a commanding officer at the Artillery Brigade. "I know the stories from childhood," says the proud grandson. About a year ago, when he was a battery commander in a leopard battalion, he brought his soldiers to visit the Palmach Museum, where his grandfather had been volunteering for many years. Our family has been fighting since the founding of the state and we will continue to fight to keep the state going, ”the grandson says.
He said, "It is important to understand that we still have people from the generation who founded the country. We still need to mobilize and contribute on our own." Zvi reinforces his grandson's words: "The youth today do not know enough. In our childhood and in our youth, we all aspired to come to the defense."
Air defense
The private history of Dan Tolkowsky (99) is interwoven with the history of the State of Israel. He began his service at 16 when he enlisted in defense. He said, "For me the defense was running around biking in Tel Aviv, passing letters to all kinds of dignitaries." From there he joined the British Army, completed a pilot course and fought as a "Spitfire" pilot in Italy, France and Greece.
When he was discharged in 1946, he began working as a mechanical engineer in the United Kingdom, but at the same time was recruited back to defense and engaged in secret procurement of aircraft and flying them to Israel. "I spoke to someone in the British Air Force, and he said that recruits were looking for protection. So I came back." Dan was even injured in his hand when he brought a plane to Israel. Later, he was among those present at the Declaration of Independence, and enlisted in the Air Force. In 1953 he became commander of the Fifth Air Force, commanding the corps, in part, in a sacred operation.
"I blatantly shoot in the Air Force," he smiles. Nurit, his granddaughter, serves as an operations officer, and is expected to be a commander in 201 Squadron at Ramon Base in the Negev. She says she did not plan to close a circle, but there is no doubt that she is proud of it. "Now the stories are more understandable to me."
Asked if he believes soldiers know enough about the defense, he is surprised: "I do not expect young soldiers to know things for details. I expect them to live in the present. However, one must remember that the Air Force is lying about its history."
then and today
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