Underground Movements

Three Jewish underground movements operated during the British Mandate period.

The largest, the Haganah (established in 1920), was founded by the official body of the Jewish community as a self-defense organization to safeguard the security of the Jewish population. From the mid-1930’s, it also retaliated for Arab attacks and responded to British restrictions on Jewish immigration with mass demonstrations and sabotage.
 
The Etzel (established 1931) rejected the self-restraint imposed by the Jewish leadership on the Haganah and initiated independent actions against both Arab and British targets.

The smallest and most militant group, the Lehi, motivated mainly by its anti-British attitude, split (1940) from the Etzel because of the Etzel’s acceptance of the Jewish community’s ban on all armed underground activities during World War II.
 

The three organizations were disbanded after the establishment of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in May 1948.
 
 

The Jewish Brigade was formed (September 1944) as an independent Jewish military unit of the British army, with its own flag and emblem, following a prolonged effort by the Jewish community in the Land of Israel and the Zionist movement abroad to achieve recognized participation of the Jewish people in the war against the Nazis. Comprised of some 5,000 men, the Brigade saw action in Egypt, northern Italy and northwest Europe.
 
 

Facts About Israel, Israel Information Center
 

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