Paratroopers Brigade (IDF)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=Paratroopers Brigade


caption=Paratroopers Brigade Insignia
country=Israel
allegiance=
type=Paratrooper
branch=Army
dates=1955
specialization=Infantry
command_structure=98th Paratroopers Division (IDF) (Reserve),
Infantry Corps
size=4 Battalions
current_commander=Colonel Herzl Halevi
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
nickname=
motto= "Initiate, Lead, Make an Example and Win"
colors=Maroon beret, Red & White Flag
march=
mascot=Snake
battles=Operation Entebbe, Mitla Pass, Jerusalem, Second Lebanon War
notable_commanders=Ariel Sharon, Rafael Eitan, Moshe Ya'alon
anniversaries=

The Paratroopers Brigade (חטיבת הצנחנים, "Hativat HaTzanhanim"), also known as the 35th Brigade, is a unit of paratroopers within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and forms a major part of the Infantry Corps. It has a history of carrying out special forces-style missions dating back to the 1950s. It is currently involved primarily in counter terror operations within the West Bank.

The brigade was created at the mid 1950's when the commando Unit 101 was merged with Battalion 890 (the IDF's Airborne Commando unit) in order to form an elite infantry brigade. The new unit was equipped with the IMI Uzi submachine gun as their primary weapon as it provided light and small automatic fire - essential properties for recon units and commandos.

The goals in creating the Paratroopers Brigade were:
# To have an elite infantry force.
# To innovate and improve fighting skills within other infantry units.
# To raise the next generation of military commanders and officers.

The first commander of the Paratroopers Brigade was Ariel Sharon.

The Paratroopers Brigade has had only one operational combat parachute drop, during the 1956 Sinai War. In the Six Day War (1967) the "Paratroopers Brigade" took part in the capturing of Jerusalem together with the "Jerusalem Brigade", "Harel Brigade" and armor support. The Paratroopers were the ones to capture the Western Wall and the Temple Mount - a moment that is considered as "historic" and the "highlight of this war" by the majority of the Israeli public, mainly due to the sacredness of these places to the Jewish people.

In the following years, the brigade was the source for many Israeli Chiefs of Staff, including Shaul Mofaz and Moshe Ya'alon.

The 35th (Paratrooper) Brigade consists of three regular battalions, each carrying the name of a venomous snake. The 101st commemorates Unit 101 and is the Brigade's 1st Battalion. The 202nd is the Brigade's 2nd Battalion and was numbered to keep it in line with the 101st. The 890th kept its original unit numbering but is the Brigade's 3rd Battalion. A Yahsar ("Special Troops Battalion") designated Yahsar Tzanchanim ("Airborne Special Troops Battalion") is under the direct command of the brigade headquarters.

Serving in the brigade is voluntary and requires passing different arduous physical and mental tests. The IDF has three reservist Paratrooper brigades at any given time, consisting of personnel who served their mandatory service in the brigade, and whom are mostly in their twenties (aside from officers). These are most likely the most highly-trained reservist brigades in the IDF.

Soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade are distinguished by their maroon beret, paratrooper wings, reddish-brown leather boots and the paratroopers service dress ("Yerkit"), which is slightly different from the regular ground forces service dress.

Units

(Paratrooper units are named after snakes.)
* 101st "Cobra" Airborne Battalion
* 202nd "Viper" Airborne Battalion
* 890th "Echis" Airborne Battalion
* "Flying Serpent" Special Troops Battalion
** "Naja" Anti-Tank Company
** "Coluber" Engineer Company
** 5173rd "Taipan" Reconnaissance Company
* "Eryx" Signal Company

See also

* Unit 101
* Paratroopers
* Duvdevan
*

External links

* [http://www.zanhanim.org.il Official Paratroopers Brigade Website]
* [http://www.judaicaheaven.com/Detail.bok?no=307 Photo of Israeli Paratrooper after Capture of Western Wall in the Six Day War, 1967]