On May 14, 1941, the Haganah created the Palmach (an acronym for Plugot Mahatzstrike companies), an elite commando section, in preparation against the possibility of a British withdrawal and Axis invasion of Palestine. Its members, young men and women, received specialist training in guerrilla tactics and sabotage.Yigal Allon, Sword of Zion. . pp. 116, 117. During 1942 the British gave assistance in the training of Palmach volunteers but in early 1943 they withdrew their support and attempted to disarm them.Allon, pp. 125, 126. The Palmach, then numbering over 1,000, continued as an underground organization with its members working half of each month as kibbutz volunteers, the rest of the month spent training.Allon, p. 127. It was never largeby 1947 it amounted to merely five battalions (about 2,000 men)but its members had not only received physical and military training, but also acquired leadership skills that would subsequently enable them to take up command positions in Israel's army.
on may 14 1941 the haganah created the palmach (an acronym for plugot mahatzstrike companies) an elite commando section in preparation against the possibility of a british withdrawal and axis invasion of palestine its members young men and women received specialist training in guerrilla tactics and sabotageyigal allon sword of zion  pp 116 117 during 1942 the british gave assistance in the training of palmach volunteers but in early 1943 they withdrew their support and attempted to disarm themallon pp 125 126 the palmach then numbering over 1000 continued as an underground organization with its members working half of each month as kibbutz volunteers the rest of the month spent trainingallon p 127 it was never largeby 1947 it amounted to merely five battalions (about 2000 men)but its members had not only received physical and military training but also acquired leadership skills that would subsequently enable them to take up command positions in israel's army