Shlomo Ambar

Shlomo Ambar was born in 1923 in Kfar Azar

Shlomo Ambar, originally Batman, was born in Kfar Azar on September 1, 1923. As a youth he was active in the Haganah and served as a messenger during the Arab revolt years. In 1941 he joined the Jewish settlement police and completed a Haganah squad commanders course at Ramat Yohanan.

In 1942 he volunteered for the British Army and later served in the Jewish Brigade as a demolitions sergeant. He fought on the Senio River in Italy and stayed in Europe until 1946, helping Holocaust survivors and working on arms purchases and illegal immigration.

In 1948 he completed the first IDF officers course and took part in Operation Nachshon. He served in the Alexandroni Brigade, and in 1952 became a battalion commander in the Golani Brigade. He later served as deputy commander of Golani and in 1963 became commander of the Tel Aviv District.

From July 1964 to July 1967 he led the Training Command. Before the Six-Day War he set up a decoy division, Division 49, using cardboard tanks. From 1969 to 1972 he headed the Civil Defense, and after his discharge he directed the postal service. He died in March 2013 and was buried in Yarkon Cemetery.