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The “Final Solution”: Royal Engineers (Solel Boneh) Express Shock at News of the Final Solution

(November 30, 1942)

To: Executive of the National Committee, Jerusalem

Dear Sirs:

We were thoroughly shocked to hear the horrific tidings that are coming in from the Diaspora communities of Nazified Europe. The Palestinian Division of the Training Center for Royal Engineers and Royal Engineers Company 745 (Solel Boneh), including its officers, sergeants, and soldiers, second the Yishuvs hearts ache; our every fiber cries for revenge.

At this time, as the Yishuv expresses its profound anguish—the anguish of mortally persecuted brethren—and its intense anger, may our rage not be one of helplessness.

We are massively, inconsolably aggrieved, but the only appropriate answer at this time is to build the Hebrew force, its armed force, that of its units and companies. Only by means of this force shall we advance toward the enemy, only thus will we be able to confront him face to face, and only thus shall we earn our share in his defeat and, thereby, earn our share in destroying the ghettos and rescuing the few who have survived.

May your assemblies during these days of bereavement represent a further stage in the Yishuvs ability to mobilize fully for war.

And to our brethren in the destroyed Diaspora communities, we say: You are sanctifying the name of Israel, we have sworn loyalty to you: we will surely avenge your blood upon the enemy for the abuse he has visited on us!

H. Kapitan, Company Commander (R. Atlas)
Palestinian Division of the Training Center for Royal Engineers

D. Haimovitz
Platoon commander, Solel Boneh


Source: Yad Vashem - Eclipse of Humanity