Tvi Tzur

ZVI TZUR
OFFICIAL MEDAL 2008/5768
Sixth in the 11-Medal “Chiefs of Staff Of the Israel Defense Forces” Series.

Zvi Tzur (Czertenko), the sixth IDF Chief of Staff, was born in Russia in 1923. He immigrated to Eretz Israel in 1925, joined the Haganah at the age of 16, and served as a battalion commander in the Givati brigade during the War of Independence. He was the founder of the fast jeep reconnaissance company “Samson’s Foxes” which fought bitter battles on the southern front. As head of the Manpower Division of the IDF from 1952 –1955, he was responsible for a vast improvement in the conditions of service in the IDF. In 1956 Tzur was appointed commander of the Central Division of the army, and in 1958 he was promoted to deputy Chief of Staff.
Zvi Tzur served as Chief of Staff from January 1961 until the end of 1963. During this period he was responsible for modernizing the IDF, emphasizing quality manpower and modern weaponry. He oversaw the acquisition of Mirage jet fighters, the Centurion tank, as well as the first surface-to-air missiles by the IDF. The improvements made during this period provided the infrastructure for victory in the Six Day War.
On the eve of the war in 1967 Zvi Tzur was appointed an advisor to the Minister of Defense; he remained in this position for 7 years, until after the Yom Kippur War.
Zvi Tzur died in 2004.

Obverse: On the medal face, the likeness of Lieutenant General Zvi Tzur.

Reverse: "Chief of Staffs of the Israel Defense Forces".

Edge: All medals have smooth edges.

Designer: Igal Gabay.