Negev Brigade

Brigade emblem in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War

The 12th Negev Brigade (Hebrew: חטיבת הנגב‎, Hativat HaNegev) was an Israeli infantry brigade that served in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It was commanded by Nahum "Sergei" Sarig (hence also called Sergei Brigade) and consisted of four Palmach battalions. The Negev Brigade participated in many operations in the Negev Desert, including Operation Yoav in the latter part of the war.

History

Founding and organization

Haim Bar Lev, as Commander of the 8th Battalion of the 12th Negev Brigade (1948)

Negev Brigade Memorial Dome

Negev Brigade Memorial

The brigade was founded in March 1948 with two battalions, the 2nd and 8th. The 7th Battalion was created in April, with the 9th Battalion being the last of the four.^[1] Yisrael Galili, the Haganah Chief of Staff, and Yigal Allon, the Palmach commander, chose Sarig to command the brigade in December 1947, although the residents of the Negev and David Ben-Gurion appointed Shaul Avigur instead, without Sarig's knowledge. After Avigur toured the Negev, he told Ben-Gurion that he would not be able to command the brigade, citing deteriorating health, and praised Sarig.^[2]

Sarig decided to divide the Negev into two sectors, divided by the Beersheba–Gaza road (later Highway 25). Yigal Allon then named Haim Bar-Lev as the commander of the southern section—the 8th Battalion.^[2]

The Palmach memorial website records the names of 312 of its members who died whilst in the Negev Brigade.^[3]

Memorialization

Outside Be'er Sheva stands Dani Karavan's sculpture "Monument to the Negev Brigade".

References

1. ^ Tal (2000), p. 107
2. ^ ^{a b} Givati (1994), pp. 22–23
3. ^ http://www.palmach.org.il/show_item.asp?itemId=8572&levelId=42850&itemType=0

Bibliography

• Givati, Moshe (1994). In the Path of Desert and Fire. Ministry of Defense Publishing. ISBN 965-05-0719-1.  (Hebrew)
• Tal, David (2000). Ginosar, Pinhas. ed. Studies in the Founding of Israel – Volume 10. Ben Gurion University. p. 107. ISSN 0792-7169.  (Hebrew)