Collection of letters and photographs - Mordechai Maklef (1920-1978), third IDF Chief of Staff. Including letters from David Ben-Gurion regarding Maklef assuming the role of Chief of Staff and his retirement. Ca. 1946-1953. Mordechai Maklef was born in Motza (near Jerusalem). During the 1929 riots, when he was 9 years old, most of his family members were murdered. In the years that followed he was raised by relatives in Jerusalem and in Haifa. At the age of 16 he joined the youth battalions of the Haganah and when he turned 19 he quit his studies in the Technion and enlisted in the "Special Night Squads ", a British unit established by Orde Charles Wingate. When the "Night Squads" were dismantled he was involved in agricultural work for a living. When World War II broke out he was sent by the Haganah to the British Army, participated in several training courses, fought in North Africa and in Italy and was released in 1946 as Major. Maklef stayed in Europe for a while and was engaged in illegal immigration to Israel. When Maklef returned to Israel he rejoined the Haganah as commander of Haganah forces in Haifa. When the War of Independence broke out Maklef fought with the Carmeli Brigade, took part in battles in Haifa, Acre and the Galilee, planned and took part in Operation Hiram to capture the Galilee. When the war ended Maklef headed the Israeli delegation to talks with Lebanon and Syria. Maklef was appointed in 1949 as deputy Chief of Staff and senior operations officer. In January 1952 Maklef went to study in Britain as preparation for his retirement from IDF, and returned to Israel in August of the same year. After Yigael Yadin's resignation, the Minister of Defense at the time, David Ben-Gurion. turned to Maklef and asked him to accept the role of Chief of Staff. Maklef accepted Ben-Gurion's offer on condition that it will be for one year only. On December 7, 1952 Maklef became the third IDF Chief of Staff at the age of 32. During his service he completed a plan of budget cuts, freed the army from half-civilian missions, and initiated the establishment of Unit 101 commanded by Ariel Sharon. Maklef retired in December 1953. The collection includes: 1-3. Three letters from David Ben-Gurion to Mordechai Maklef. Official letters, partly written in a personal tone and indicate that Ben-Gurion greatly appreciated and liked Maklef. · Typewritten letter on the Prime Minister's official stationery, hand signed by David Ben-Gurion. January 1, 1952. Sent towards Maklef's trip to Britain. "My dear Major General – upon leaving for studies I have a friendly obligation to wish you farewell – and add immediately – and welcome back to the IDF… I see in your studies a temporary break (a fruitful one) from your blessed service in IDF. I knew (at least partly) of your difficulties… but you are not a man discouraged by difficulties while fulfilling his duty. I appreciated your wish to be engaged in agriculture but you are destined to be a soldier – and I do not assume for one minute that you will escape from your destiny…" (Hebrew). 2 leaves, 26 cm. Attached with glue and with staples to a Bristol sheet. · Letter typewritten on official stationery, with some additions handwritten by Ben-Gurion and his signature. December 8, 1952. In the letter, sent to Maklef on the day following his appointment as Chief of Staff, Ben-Gurion lists his future missions. 2 leaves, 28 cm. · Letter typewritten on official stationery, with some corrections in Ben-Gurion's handwriting and his signature. December 6, 1953. A long letter in which Ben-Gurion expresses his regrets that Maklef is retiring: "Dear Mordechai – with great sorrow I part from you today, before I part from IDF. I owe you a deep personal thank you, for listening to me in spite of your wish and tendency... My gratitude, however, is only part of what the people of Israel owe you for seventeen years of service…since you were a boy of sixteen…the bond of arms tied us in loyal and deep friendship…may you succeed in all of your future deeds – just as you were successful so far” (Hebrew). 4 leaves, 28 cm. Condition varies. Filing holes to the three letters. Folding marks, creases, some stains and some tears to some of the leaves. 4. Typewritten letter from Mordechai Maklef to David Ben-Gurion (Marked “Strictly Personal”) in which Maklef asks to release him from the role of Chief of Staff. October, 1953. [1] leaf, 21 cm. Folding marks and tears. 5. Typewritten letter (copy), hand signed, from I.H. Gash, lieutenant in the British Army, Maklef’s commander. October 1946. English. Letter of recommendation towards Maklef’s release from the British Army. [1] leaf, 29.5 cm. Stains, folding marks and tears at margins. Upper part of letter pasted to a Bristol sheet (one of Ben-Gurion’s letters is pasted to reverse of the Bristol sheet). 6-12. Seven black and white photographs of Mordechai Maklef: · five portraits from the period of Maklef’s service as Chief of Staff (1952-1953), stamped on the reverse with the ink stamp of the photographer Zoltan Kluger. · Photograph documenting Maklef’s meeting with Frederick Augustus Irving, superintendent of the United States Military Academy. July, 1952. Titled on the reverse. · Portrait photograph of Maklef, July 1953. Average size 24X19.5 cm. Overall good condition. Some damages to some photographs.