Chief of Staff's Gift to IDF Orphans

Hagana 70th anniversary
Official award medal, 1990

The Hagana was the underground Jewish army of the pre-state period. Its mission was to defend and protect tie Jews and their settlements, as well as to fulfill the Zionist goal of achieving a Jewish state. Founded in 1920, the Hagana continued to function until the establishment of the State on May 26,1948, when all of the Hagana forces, the General Staff and its branches, the fighting divisions and the professional corps, became members of the Israel Defense Forces. The Hagana withstood Arab attacks, recruited thousands in the war against the Nazis, established weapons production, constructed the Tower and Stockade settlements and brought some 100,000 refugees to Israel as illegal immigrants.

Obverse:
Hagana emblem - a sword and olive branch; inscription - "HAGANA 70th ANNIVERSARY" in Hebrew and English.

Reverse:
A branch with leaves and Hebrew inscription "The Jewish people owes an enormous debt to the Hagana" and the author "D. Ben-Gurion". Below, along the circumference, the source of the quotation "Order of the Day to the Israel Defence Forces" (May 31, 1948).

Edge: IGCMC emblem and initials "I.G.C.M.C." in Hebrew on the right and in English on the left, with serial number.

Serialization: All medals are numbered.

Design: Joseph Bass

Engraving: Tidhar Dagan

Mint: The Government Mint