Shimon Mazeh

Shimon Mazeh (Sometimes spelled Shimon Maz'ah; Hebrew: שמעון מזא"ה; September 3, 1907 – 2000) was Haganah fighter, a major general in the Israel Defense Forces, an agronomist, and a businessman. He served as the head of the Manpower Directorate from 1949 until December 1952.[1]

Shimon Mazeh
Shimon Mazeh, November 28, 1941
Native name
שמעון מזא"ה
Birth nameRussian: Мазе Шимон
Born(1907-09-03)September 3, 1907
Vitebsk, Russia
DiedApril 2, 2000
Bethlehem, Israel
Buried
Military cemetery at Mount Herzl
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service1933–1955
Rank Aluf
Commands held
Battles/wars
Other work

Biography
From left to right: Zvi Ayalon, Moshe Tzadok, Yaakov Dori, Shimon Mazeh, Mordechai Maklef, and Shlomo Shamir

Mazeh was born in the Russian Empire and grew up in Germany. During his teens he joined the Blau Weiss, a Jewish youth movement. He studied agronomy in Germany, Italy and France and completed his doctorate. In 1931 Mazeh migrated to Israel. He became a researcher for the Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research in Rehovot.

British Army and the Israel Defense Forces

Mazeh joined the Haganah in 1933.[2][3] He volunteer in the British Army during World War II. He served in the convoy and after the formation of the Jewish Brigade he commanded the brigade's supply unit in Europe. During the 1947–1949 Palestine war he became the founder of the combat service support of the IDF which he headed until May 1949.[2][3][4] The division consisted of a number of sub-services: Food services, Fuel services, Equipment services, Transportation services, and service dogs and horses.[2]

After a short stay in the United States, Mazeh was appointed to the head of the Manpower Directorate on October 9, 1949.[2] His success in the combat service support proved to be invaluable for his work in the Manpower Directorate. Mazeh served this position until 1952 when he was succeeded by Tzvi Tzur.[5]

After his release from the IDF

At 1955 Mazeh was released of his military service and went into private business.[2][3] With the aid of foreign investors Mazeh founded an agricultural corporation named "מגל" ("sickle"). The company, which focused on growing mainly cotton and sugar beet, operated near Kibbutz Hazor and Gan Yavne. They also managed a number orchards in the area. At the time Mazeh became the President of Cotton Farmers of Israel. During the late 1960s and early 1970s Mazeh represented the organization in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Mazeh died in 2000. He is buried in the Military cemetery at Mount Herzl.

References
  1. "אגף כוח האדם". Israel Defense Forces. October 29, 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. "קורות חיי מפקדי החיל לדורותיהם - שמעון מזא"ה" (in Hebrew). Israel Defense Forces. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  3. "שמעון מזא"ה". מוזיאון הלוחם היהודי. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  4. כהן, עדה (August 29, 1961). "האגרונום חזר למקצועו - והצליח". Maariv. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  5. גלבר, יואב (1986). גרעין לצבא עברי סדיר. הוצאת יד בן צבי. p. 508. ISBN 9789652170316.
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