NCJ Number
63645
Date Published
1977
Length
413 pages
Annotation
MENACHEM BEGIN PRESENTS HIS PERSONAL MEMOIRS AS A TRIBUTE TO THE EMERGENCE OF THE SOVEREIGN JEWISH STATE OF ISRAEL.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE IN STALIN'S RUSSIA IS FIRST CHRONICLED WITH STATEMENTS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF PERSONS IN THE SOVIET UNION. THIS VOYAGE OUT OF RUSSIA AND INTO GERMANY IS THEN TOLD ALONG WITH HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE UNDERGROUND GROUP THAT BEGAN TO FIGHT FOR THE RETURN OF THE HOMELAND TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THE STRUGGLE FOR ISRAEL AND THE ROLES OF GREAT BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES, GERMANY, AND RUSSIA IN THAT STRUGGLE ARE DESCRIBED THROUGH PERSONAL ANECDOTE AND MEMORY. BATTLES ARE EXPLORED THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF REMEMBERED PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. THE CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WARS CREATE ARE DEPICTED FOR MANY OF THE LEADERS OF THE BATTLES FOR OLD AND NEW JERUSALEM IN 1948. THE 'ALTALENA' AFFAIR IS RELATED, AS IS THE TAKING OF JAFFA AND THE WORKING OF THE IRGUN. THE REVOLT OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR VICTORY IN ISRAEL ARE THUS RECOUNTED THROUGH EXCERPTS OF CORRESPONDENCE, QUOTES FROM THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE STRUGGLES, AND PHOTOGRAPHS. AN INDEX IS PROVIDED. (MHP)