I know this subject isn’t IDF related – but the men of the Jewish Brigade were certainly predecessors to an independent Israeli army and many of them went on to fight in 1948 so I hope this topic will be permissible here…

My limited understanding of the Jewish Brigade during WWII is that it was an infantry unit – but can anyone tell me if some portion of that force was “mechanized”? I just thought it would be an interesting / unusual modeling subject to depict a M2 or M3 Halftrack of the Jewish Brigade.

I know the infantrymen of the Jewish Brigade were distinguishable by a Star of David insignia patch on their shoulders – does anyone know if the Brigades vehicles had similar or other insignia used to distinguish them from other vehicles in the English army?

Thank you,

Noah

Greetings Noah, if you can get hold of a copy of 'The Jewish Brigade', An Army with two Masters 1944-45 by Morris Beckman, there is photo in it of a 'Brigader', M Goldblum, leaning against the front of a truck, dated May 1946. There is a clear view of the Brigade Tac sign on the front mudguard, a 3 vertical band square with the Star of David in the middle. It's a B & W pic, so cant be sure of the real colour's, but the centre one would appear to be white.
The ISBN number is 1-86227-032-5 if you have a good library to order it for you. Hope this helps in some way.

Colin.

Colin –

Thank you very much for the response! I’m ecstatic to learn the Jewish Brigade’s vehicles did have an insignia to differentiate them. I’ll certainly try to track down a copy of that book! From your description, the insignia on the vehicle seems similar or identical to the one worn on their uniforms – a white stripe bordered by two purple bands and a yellow Star of David.

Thank you again for the information,

Noah

Hi Noah

This web page has a pic of Soldiers of the Jewish Brigade with Jewish remnants, Italy, 1945. They are gathered around a Brigade truck clearly emblazoned with the Magen David on the cab doors.

http://www.olinfilms.com/brigade/resources/tour/tour6.html

Hope that helps

Nige

This site has some great pics of vehicles and markings for the Jewish Brigade too

http://212.79.246.244/5800/home.nsf/specials_jewishbrigade?openagent&id=c

Hope this helps

Nige

Nige -

Thank you very much for directing me to that great website and image! It’s sure starting to look like this project has possibilities.

Thanks,
Noah