Chaim Laskov

CHAIM LASKOV
Official Medal 2008/5768
Seventh Medal in the “Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces” Series

Chaim Laskov, Israel’s fifth chief of staff, was born in Russia in 1919 and moved to Eretz Israel with his family in 1925.
He joined the Haganah as a teenager, serving in various units, including Orde Wingate’s Special Night Squads. He volunteered to fight in the British Army in World War II, reaching the rank of major as a commander in the Jewish Brigade. He joined the Haganah permanent staff in 1947, commanding the first mechanized battalion of the IDF in the battles of Latrun, Nazareth, and Galilee. During the War of Independence he was promoted to Brigadier General and director of training. Appointed commander of the Air Force in 1951, he oversaw preparations for the introduction of Israel’s first jet fighter, the Meteor.
In 1955 Chaim Laskov was appointed deputy chief of the general staff and was commanding officer of the armored corps during the Sinai Campaign of 1956. He was appointed Chief of Staff in 1958, against the background of the unification of Egypt and Syria as the United Arab Republic and the associated security threat to Israel. During his tenure the IDF acquired its first submarine and its Super Mystere jet planes.
Retiring from the army in 1961, Laskov became Director General of the Israel Ports Authority, serving until 1970, during which time the port of Ashdod was built. He later became the first Soldier’s Ombudsman, a position he held until his death in 1983.

Obverse:
Portrait of Lieutenant General Chaim Laskov

Reverse:
Inscription in the center “Chiefs of Staff of the Israel Defense Force" in English and Hebrew,
above the emblem of the Israel Defense Force, to the right, emblem of the Chief of Staff

Edge:
Smooth

Designer:
Igal Gabay

Engraving: Slovakia
Minting: Gold - ICMC Mint, Israel, Silver and Bronze - Slovakia