This is a series of photographs from the children’s newspaper, Ha’aretz Shelanu (Our Country) which was published prior to the third Independence Day in 1951. The series deals with the War of Independence and the IDF achievements in this war.
At the top of the page is an inscription from a combat post in the Negev: “Intelligence, courage, and love of freedom are the foundations of our struggle.” The other photographs focus on other elements of the war such as soldiers reopening the route to Jerusalem, the lowering of the final British flag still standing in Israel, tanks rolling through the Negev, Arab families leaving their homes, and soldiers fighting in various different places.
The display was intended as a souvenir pullout for children, perhaps to put on a wall or a display, and was designed to be a proud testament to the bravery of the soldiers. There are numerous references to “our country” and “our army,” probably an attempt to instill in the children a sense of pride.
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War of Independence – Israel’s War of Independence began after the 1947 UN vote on the Partition Plan, dividing Palestine into two separate states: a Jewish and an Arab state. The Jewish side accepted the plan, while the Arab side rejected the plan and launched a war to annihilate the Jewish state. The war was fought along the entire border of Israel. The first stages took place from November 29, 1947 until the creation of the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. During this stage Arabs from within the borders of Israel fought against the Yishuv (the pre-state Jewish community). Control of the roads was crucial, and the Arab fighters had the upper hand, although the Haganah had some success in the weeks leading up to independence. The next stage of the war began after the declaration of the State of Israel. The various military groups that had been operating previously, such as the Haganah, Etzel, and Lehi, were combined to form the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Once Israel was an independent country, the surrounding Arab countries declared war and fought alongside the local Arab militias. The IDF defeated the Arab forces, setting the borders of the state. In 1949, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Egypt signed armistice agreements with Israel, and the war officially ended on July 20, 1949. The War of Independence spanned the entire country and consisted of 39 military operations. Over 6,000 Israelis were killed and 15,000 were wounded. Many of the soldiers were new immigrants to Israel and Holocaust survivors.
