Women of the Jewish Brigade Posters

The Jewish settlement in Israel saw itself as part of the resistance against the Nazis during World War II. Despite initial resistance from religious factions, the call for women to serve alongside men in the British army echoed strongly from the war’s outset. Approximately 40,000 soldiers from the Hebrew settlement volunteered for the British army, with around 4,500 being women.

In 1941, supported by the Jewish Agency, representatives from various women’s Zionist organizations such as the Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) and Hadassah, petitioned the British authorities to allow Jewish women volunteers to join the ATS Women’s Auxiliary Corps.

In October 1941 British authorities agreed to recruit 5,000 women. Although the agency requested the women be recruited into Hebrew units, this was only partially fulfilled, with most women being dispersed across various ATS units in the Middle East. Nevertheless, these women were promised special recognition and the use of Hebrew as an official language among recruits.

Despite numerous challenges, approximately 4,500 women volunteered for the ATS, with about 700 joining the Women’s Air Auxiliary Corps. These women took on diverse roles, serving in locations such as Cairo, Alexandria, Bari, and Rome. Their tasks ranged from ambulance driving to combat support for the Jewish Brigade.

The contribution of Jewish women during World War II was invaluable. Upon their return, they brought back extensive military experience, laying the groundwork for the IDF Women’s Corps and a conceptual revolution regarding women’s ability to serve in any position — a notion that continues in the IDF to this day. The IDF Women’s Corps, entrusted to pioneers like Sarah Braverman, the only female soldier who returned from the paratrooper mission in Europe, and Shoshana Gershonovich, marked a significant step forward in Jewish women’s struggles toward equality.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day this week,  let us honor their legacy remarkable achievements, and unwavering commitment to building and protecting Israel.