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The Artillery Corps first came into being in the War of Independence. It was, in fact, the child of the "Artillery Service' of the "Hagana" whose men had gained their experience mainly in the Jewish Brigade of the British Army. The men, as well as the guns, came from different countries, and this complicated the operation of the equipment in the early days.
In May 1948, at the height of the War of Independence, the first field guns were brought to Israel - the "Napoleonchiks", as they were called, old French 65 mm mountain cannons. They were immediately taken to the Jordan Valley and played a significant role in stopping the Syrian army in their attack on Degania. 75 mm "Krupp" guns were acquired for the rest of the war, and together with the "Napoleonchiks", constituted the main artillery force of the land battles, as well as serving in the defence of the skies (as anti-aircraft guns) and on the shores of the new State.
After the War, the Corps was re-organized, new equipment was purchased and personnel was trained. This reorganization was felt during the period of the Retaliatory Actions, particularly in assisting the infantry in the Kalkilya action in October 1956, following which the Artillery Officer was awarded the Decoration of the Commander-in-Chief.
In the light of lessons learned from the Sinai Campaign, most of the towed guns, which had difficulty negotiating certain terrain, were exchanged for French (and later American) 105 mm motorised guns.
The Six Day War found the Corps ready and mobile, a fact which was significant in the practical role it was able to play both in Sinai and in the breakthrough to the Golan Heights.
Following the Six Day War, many captured guns were put into service and their mobility improved.
In the War of Attrition, the artillery fought along the cease-fire lines on all borders - against terrorists, on the Lebanese border and in the Jordan Valley, against the Syrians on the Golan Heights, and against the large Egyptian forces on the Suez Canal. In the Yom Kippur War, artillery units did much in stopping the Syrians on the Golan Heights, and took part in the breakthrough towards Damascus, when their shells fell on the outskirts of the Syrian capital.
On the southern front, the Corps assisted in keeping the Egyptians at bay in the breakthrough to the West Bank of the Suez Canal. Its role was especially important in view of the limited air cover available and the vast number of enemy anti-aircraft batteries. Artillery units managed to destroy the land-to-air-missile batteries, thus helping the Air Force function much more effectively.
After the war, the introduction of the Israeli - made "David computer for firing cannons was, in effect, a major "technological leap" forward.
In the Litani campaign, and in the Peace for Galilee War, artillery units took a very active part, effective both at short and long range and exhibiting an extremely fast fire-power.
Today the Artillery Corps - modern in its weaponry and constantly progressing - is part of the integrated Field Corps Command of the Israel Defence Forces.
The monument to the fallen of the artillery corps
The Monument is sited in Zikhron Yaaqov. In a square, paved with stone cut from Jerusalem rock, rise up six blocks of rough concrete - man-made boulders. Their design and positioning is of six cannon barrels, that have been put together into a battery. The six barrels point at some invisible axis in the middle and thus form a sculptured group closing in the space between them. Because of this, those who come to the Monument do not look at it from a distance but walk within it, and become part of it.
On the day that the Monument was dedicated, the barrels had the names of the Corps' 640 fallen riveted to them. They fell serving in the British Army in the Second World War, they fell in the War of
Independence, the Sinai Campaign, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, the Peace for Galilee Campaign and they fell in the fighting between the wars.
The names are in chronological order by date of death. At the front of the monument appears the verse: "these are the names of the warriors" (Samuel b, 23, 8).
The Monument is set on a hill on the slopes of Zikhron Yaaqov, on a plot that was donated by the Aaronson family who were among the founders of the Nih Organisation. Nearby, "Artillery House" is due to be built. The Monument itself is at the highest point in the area and is designed to become the heart of the complex. It was built on the initiative of bereaved families who formed the "Netzach LeTotchan" (Commemoration of the Artillery Soldier) Association, representatives of veterans of the Corps, members of the Artillery Corps Association, and the Artillery Corps.
Alex Sher, the architect, a veteran of the Artillery Corps himself, designed the Monument, and an unveiling ceremony took place on the 10th of Nissan, 5747 (9 April 1987).
