The independence
The men and women recently released from the British Army played a key-role in the organization of the Israel Defence Forces. The men and women recently released from the British Army gained considarable practical experience in organization, command, routine, and in actual fighting in large military formations.
This practical experience made it possible to form and to organize the Israel Defense Forces with despatch, rapidly and efficiently. There is no doubt that this experience was critical for the formation of "Tzahal" and for the victory over organized and well-equipped armies of 5 Arab states.
Another contribution of the valunteers, perhaps the most important one: in 1945, the Jewish population of Palestine was 450,000 people. The activities of the Jewish volunteers, immediately after the end of the war and before the Jewish authorities in Palestine could act in order to do anything to meet the challenge of rescuing the survivors and bringing them to Eretz-Israel, made it possible for quarter of a million survivors to reach Eretz-Israel.
This quarter of a million people reached Palestine before and during the War for Independence and they increased the Jewish population in the country by 50%. Most of the newcomers were young people, capable of serving in the Armed Forces. There is no doubt that without this increase of Jewish population, "The Yishuv" would not have been able to raise an Army and to defeat the Arabs.
