Hashomer Hatzair white and blue banner for Kibbutz Safiac acquired by a British officer
Extent and Medium
overall: Height: 32.125 inches (81.598 cm) | Width: 47.875 inches (121.603 cm)
Creator(s)
- D. P. Grehan (Original owner)
Biographical History
D.P. Grehan was born in Ireland. As an adult, he joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers, one of three Irish units in the British Army, and served in World War II (1939-1945). In March 1947, Lieutenant Grehan was stationed on the island of Cyprus, which was ruled by the British under a United Nations mandate. He served as a commanding officer at H.Q. 1, overseeing internees at the British detention camp at Caraolos. The majority of the internees held at the camp were Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, many of whom were captured while trying to immigrate to Palestine illegally. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established and, within six months, all of the internees on Cyprus were transported to the Jewish homeland. Lt. Grehan’s service in Cyprus concluded when the camp was closed in 1948.
Archival History
The banner was acquired by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2003.
Acquisition
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection
Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.
Scope and Content
White and blue cloth banner with a blue and white Star of David and Hashomer Hatzair emblem acquired by Lt. D.P. Grehan, a Royal Irish Fusilier in the British Army who served as a commanding officer in Karaolos detention camp on Cyprus from March 1947 to June 1948. It is emblazoned with the slogan: Be strong and of good cheer. The Ha-shomer Ha-tsa'ir Workers Party of Palestine, a Marxist-Zionist political party allied to the Kibbutz and socialist youth movements, was founded in 1946. Banners like these were used by internees at their tents and in parades and ceremonies. The internees were Ma'apilim, illegal immigrants, most Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, captured while trying to reach . Israel without permission from the British. Great Britain controlled Palestine under a United Nations mandate and enforced very restrictive immigration policies. The huge number of postwar displaced persons led the British to set up the camps in 1946 as a deterrent. Ships attempting to bring unauthorized refugees were stopped by the British Navy and the passengers were interned on Cyprus. On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel was established. Within six months, most of the refugees interned on Cyprus were welcomed into the Jewish homeland.
Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Reproduction
No restrictions on use
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Rectangular, heavy canvas banner with an upper blue panel and a lower offwhite panel, with a chain stitched cut-out cloth design. Sewn to the front center is a large, cloth Star of David: the top half offwhite, the bottom blue. There are 2 blue Hebrew words on either side of the star’s lower half. On the back center is a cloth wreath, possibly laurel leaved, enclosing an elongated Star of David around a fleur-de-lis. At the bottom of the wreath is a stylized bow, with satin stitched ends and white Hebrew characters; the top is offwhite, the bottom is blue. Above the wreath are 3 white Hebrew words. Two short, wide, offwhite, frayed, woven cloth straps are attached at the left end midpoint.
Corporate Bodies
- World Hashomer Hatzair
Subjects
- Holocaust survivors--Cyprus.
- Jewish refugees--Cyprus.
- Military camps--Cyprus.
- Prisoners as artists--Cyprus.
- Palestine--Emigration and immigration.
- Soldiers--Great Britain--Biography.
- Great Britain--Emigration and immigration--Government policy--History--20th century.
- Refugee camps--Cyprus.
- Jews--Cyprus--History--20th century.
Genre
- Identifying Artifacts
- Object