Report of an interview with Yitzhak Sadeh

Scope and Content

Yitzhak Sadeh (1890-1952) was a senior Haganah commander and organiser of the Jewish Settlement Police. Later he commanded Haganah's Palmach force.

Interview between Hay and Sadeh in Tel Aviv. Sadeh recalls his time in "Work battalions", Haganah, and the Nodetet, a Jewish counter-insurgent force active during 1936-39 unrest. He says a Col. Dorset assisted with these; he met leaders of Haganah in 1936 - Goloms and Sha'ul about need for a national defence organization , which he later organized in southern Palestine, the clash at Jordia. He met Wingate later; notes Wingate's dislike of hand grenades during operations because of friendly fire.

Sadeh confirms Wingate twisted regulations to enrol Haganah men in the SNS. He says Wingate had a very fertile mind, and could deal with most situations; would probably have succeeded whatever field he had gone into. could deal with most situations,Also describes Joseph Trumpledor (1880-1929), Russian Zionist, who organised the earliest Jewish defence forces in Palestine after the First World War.