JEWISH TERRORISM PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS

A collection of important images showing Haganah and Irgun actions during end of the British Mandate in Palestine.

A group of 16 press photographs, dated 1945-1948, various sizes (mostly approx. 180 x 230 mm., a few larger or smaller), most with typescript descriptions on versos, stamps and serial numbers of mostly American press agencies. (Some lightly crinkled, a few light marginal creases.)

An interesting group of press photographs focusing on the breakdown of Jewish co-operation with the British mandatory authorities and growth of military action by Haganah and Irgun. One image shows the Haifa trade unionist David Shingarovsky released without charge from British custody, while another 3 photographs relate to the convicted Irgun terrorist, Dov Bela Gruner, and Irgun’s retaliatory kidnapping of Judge Ralph Windham, in an attempt to halt the execution of Gruner. Another photograph shows Acre prison, scene of the Irgun attack on 4 May 1947 in which 28 Irgun prisoners and 214 Arab prisoners escaped through a hole blown in the prison wall. There are also images of damage inflicted in Ramat Gan, as well as action scenes of Haganah troops in Ramleh, and Jaffa, and jubilant Haganah atop a lorry celebrating the successful delivery of the largest food convoy to reach Jerusalem along the Burma Road to relieve Jerusalem. The collection also includes an image of David Ben Gurion visiting Haganah troops at a Jerusalem camp.

6 images are reproductions of press photographs, but seemingly used by various media with various associated markings.