Moshe Dayan

Moshe Dayan - Israeli Military, Life Achievements and Childhood

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Moshe Dayan Biography Stories 

Moshe Dayan's Personal Details

Moshe Dayan was a former Israeli military leader, minister of defense and minister of foreign affairs

InformationDetail
BirthdayMay 20, 1915
Died onOctober 16, 1981
NationalityIsraeli
FamousLeaders, Political Leaders, Military Leaders, Israeli Military, Political Leaders
SpousesRuth Dayan
ChildrensAssi Dayan, Ehud Dayan, Yael Dayan
Birth PlaceDegania Alef
Political Ideologyleftist party
ReligionJewish
GenderMale
FatherShmuel
MotherDevorah
Sun SignTaurus
Born inDegania Alef
Famous asIsraeli Military & Political Leader
Died at Age66

Moshe Dayan's photo

Who is Moshe Dayan?

Voted as ‘the 73rd-greatest Israeli of all time’, Moshe Dayan is believed to be one of the greatest generals of all time. He became a respected, heroic figure in the Middle East, as he was the mastermind behind some of the most challenging and impossible of military victories. He served as the Chief of General Staff, Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Israeli government. He joined the illegal, underground Jewish defence force at the age of fourteen and was later sent to prison by the British authorities. He served during the Israeli war of independence and was the commander of the Sinai Campaign against Egypt. During his tenure in the defence ministry, he played a pivotal role in the 'Six-Day War'. He was a man of complex character, sometimes difficult to understand and was known for his mental brilliance. He lost his left eye in battle and wore an eye patch for the rest of his living years. Ironically, Dayan used to get quite depressed with war and also hated the suffering that it brought to mankind.

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Childhood & Early Life

Moshe Dayan was born on Kibbutz Degania Alef near the shores of Lake Kinneret in Palestine, Ottoman Empire, on May 20, 1915 to the Jewish immigrant couple Shmuel and Devorah. The family later moved to Nahalal, a settlement in northern Israel.

He was educated at the Agricultural School in Nahalal. By the time he was 14, he became a member of the ‘Haganah’, a Jewish army organisation of non-professional recruits.

Career

In 1938, he rose to the rank of a motorized patrol commander in the Palestine Supernumerary Police force. He also took part in several Special Night Squads operations.

In 1939, he worked as an instructor for various ‘Haganah’ leaders’ courses that were organised in Yavne'el. During this time the British Palestine Police Officers found many illegal rifles at the venue and asked for immediate evacuation.

The Haganah leaders’ course attendees were arrested by the Transjordan Frontier Force while they were travelling via Wadi Bira, They were sentenced to ten years of imprisonment but were released in 1941.

After release from jail, he was commissioned to work under the task force of an Australian-Palmach-Arab reconnaissance. This force was founded keeping in mind the Allied invasion of Syria and Lebano.

His residence in kibbutz of Hanita was utilised as a forward base and the military unit often penetrated through the Vichy French Lebanon.

In 1941, his forces occupied two bridges across the Litani River, the night before the Syria-Lebanon Campaign. He was subsequently wounded in battle and he lost his left eye.

In 1947, he was commissioned to work on Arab affairs as a member of the Haganah General Staff. They were assigned to recruit agents and access information in Palestine.

In April 1947, he became the head in charge of an abandoned property in Hafia. He took serious efforts to put an end to looting and thus ordered things to be stored in the Haganah warehouses and stock be given to Jewish agricultural settlements.

In May 1947, he was commissioned as the commander of the Jordan Valley sector. After battling for nine hours his troops successfully prevented the advancement of the Syrian forces.

In June 1947, he became the commander of the Israeli mechanized brigade, the 89th Battalion. He commanded troops during the Operation Danny. The following year, he was appointed as the Military Commander of all the Jewish areas in Jerusalem.

In 1949, he received promotion as Major-General and took control of the Southern Command. That year, he also took part in the armistice talks with officers from Jordan at Rhodes.

In 1951, he was trained at the British Army's Senior Officers' School in England, where he had enrolled for a course. The next year, he received a promotion as the Operational Commander of the Northern Command.

In 1952, he rose to the rank of chief of operations at General Headquarters. In this post one of his primary duties was to work on the construction of the canal that was supposed to divert water from the River Jordan.

In 1953, he was elected as the Chief of Staff of the armed forces - this was during a period of severe Arab belligerence. He continued to serve in this post for the next five years.

In 1955, he took office as the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces. The following year, he witnessed one of the biggest highlights of his military career when his forces succeeded in the Sinai Campaign against Egypt.

In 1958, he retired from the active military duty and spent most of his free time as a military adviser and even pursued writing. The next year, he was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture of Israel.

In 1967, he received the honour of becoming the Minister of Defense for Israel. During this tenure, he was the mastermind behind the 'Six-Day War', which resulted in the annexation of Sinai, Gaza Strip, the West Bank of Jordan and the Golan Heights.

After receiving critical comments for not being ready for the Yom Kipper War in 1973, he resigned as the Minister of Defense for Israel the following year. He went into political eclipse for some time.

In 1977, he was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Israel. During this time, he played a pivotal role in negotiating the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

In 1979, he retired as the Foreign Minister of Israel. After two years, shortly before his death, he founded the political party named, 'Telem', which won two seats in the elections that year.

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1935, he married Ruth Schwartz. After 36 years of marriage, his wife divorced him in 1971, due to many extra marital affairs. They have a daughter named Yael Dayan and two sons, Assi Dayan and Ehud Dayan.

He remarried a woman named Rachel in 1973.

From 1980, he suffered from health complication. The same year, he was also diagnosed with colon cancer.

He died on October 16, 1981 after he suffered from a massive heart attack. He was laid to rest in the Nahalal cemetery.

Trivia

In 2005, the eye patch of this Israeli military leader and politician was offered for sale on Ebay for a price of $75,000 U.S. dollars.

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Moshe Dayan biography timelines

  • // 20th May 1915
    Moshe Dayan was born on Kibbutz Degania Alef near the shores of Lake Kinneret in Palestine, Ottoman Empire, on May 20, 1915 to the Jewish immigrant couple Shmuel and Devorah. The family later moved to Nahalal, a settlement in northern Israel.
  • // 1935 To 1971
    In 1935, he married Ruth Schwartz. After 36 years of marriage, his wife divorced him in 1971, due to many extra marital affairs. They have a daughter named Yael Dayan and two sons, Assi Dayan and Ehud Dayan.
  • // 1938
    In 1938, he rose to the rank of a motorized patrol commander in the Palestine Supernumerary Police force. He also took part in several Special Night Squads operations.
  • // 1939
    In 1939, he worked as an instructor for various ‘Haganah’ leaders’ courses that were organised in Yavne'el. During this time the British Palestine Police Officers found many illegal rifles at the venue and asked for immediate evacuation.
  • // 1941
    The Haganah leaders’ course attendees were arrested by the Transjordan Frontier Force while they were travelling via Wadi Bira, They were sentenced to ten years of imprisonment but were released in 1941.
  • // 1941
    In 1941, his forces occupied two bridges across the Litani River, the night before the Syria-Lebanon Campaign. He was subsequently wounded in battle and he lost his left eye.
  • // 1947
    In 1947, he was commissioned to work on Arab affairs as a member of the Haganah General Staff. They were assigned to recruit agents and access information in Palestine.
  • // Apr 1947
    In April 1947, he became the head in charge of an abandoned property in Hafia. He took serious efforts to put an end to looting and thus ordered things to be stored in the Haganah warehouses and stock be given to Jewish agricultural settlements.
  • // May 1947
    In May 1947, he was commissioned as the commander of the Jordan Valley sector. After battling for nine hours his troops successfully prevented the advancement of the Syrian forces.
  • // Jun 1947
    In June 1947, he became the commander of the Israeli mechanized brigade, the 89th Battalion. He commanded troops during the Operation Danny. The following year, he was appointed as the Military Commander of all the Jewish areas in Jerusalem.
  • // 1949
    In 1949, he received promotion as Major-General and took control of the Southern Command. That year, he also took part in the armistice talks with officers from Jordan at Rhodes.
  • // 1951
    In 1951, he was trained at the British Army's Senior Officers' School in England, where he had enrolled for a course. The next year, he received a promotion as the Operational Commander of the Northern Command.
  • // 1952
    In 1952, he rose to the rank of chief of operations at General Headquarters. In this post one of his primary duties was to work on the construction of the canal that was supposed to divert water from the River Jordan.
  • // 1953
    In 1953, he was elected as the Chief of Staff of the armed forces - this was during a period of severe Arab belligerence. He continued to serve in this post for the next five years.
  • // 1955
    In 1955, he took office as the Commander-in-Chief of the Israel Defense Forces. The following year, he witnessed one of the biggest highlights of his military career when his forces succeeded in the Sinai Campaign against Egypt.
  • // 1958
    In 1958, he retired from the active military duty and spent most of his free time as a military adviser and even pursued writing. The next year, he was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture of Israel.
  • // 1967
    In 1967, he received the honour of becoming the Minister of Defense for Israel. During this tenure, he was the mastermind behind the 'Six-Day War', which resulted in the annexation of Sinai, Gaza Strip, the West Bank of Jordan and the Golan Heights.
  • // 1973
    After receiving critical comments for not being ready for the Yom Kipper War in 1973, he resigned as the Minister of Defense for Israel the following year. He went into political eclipse for some time.
  • // 1973
    He remarried a woman named Rachel in 1973.
  • // 1977
    In 1977, he was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Israel. During this time, he played a pivotal role in negotiating the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.
  • // 1979
    In 1979, he retired as the Foreign Minister of Israel. After two years, shortly before his death, he founded the political party named, 'Telem', which won two seats in the elections that year.
  • // 1980
    From 1980, he suffered from health complication. The same year, he was also diagnosed with colon cancer.
  • // 16th Oct 1981
    He died on October 16, 1981 after he suffered from a massive heart attack. He was laid to rest in the Nahalal cemetery.
  • // 2005
    In 2005, the eye patch of this Israeli military leader and politician was offered for sale on Ebay for a price of $75,000 U.S. dollars.

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Moshe Dayan's FAQ

  • What is Moshe Dayan birthday?

    Moshe Dayan was born at 1915-05-20

  • When was Moshe Dayan died?

    Moshe Dayan was died at 1981-10-16

  • Where was Moshe Dayan died?

    Moshe Dayan was died in Tel Aviv

  • Which age was Moshe Dayan died?

    Moshe Dayan was died at age 66

  • Where is Moshe Dayan's birth place?

    Moshe Dayan was born in Degania Alef

  • What is Moshe Dayan nationalities?

    Moshe Dayan's nationalities is Israeli

  • Who is Moshe Dayan spouses?

    Moshe Dayan's spouses is Ruth Dayan

  • Who is Moshe Dayan childrens?

    Moshe Dayan's childrens is Assi Dayan, Ehud Dayan, Yael Dayan

  • What is Moshe Dayan's political ideology?

    Moshe Dayan's political ideology is leftist party

  • What is Moshe Dayan's religion?

    Moshe Dayan's religion is Jewish

  • Who is Moshe Dayan's father?

    Moshe Dayan's father is Shmuel

  • Who is Moshe Dayan's mother?

    Moshe Dayan's mother is Devorah

  • What is Moshe Dayan's sun sign?

    Moshe Dayan is Taurus

  • How famous is Moshe Dayan?

    Moshe Dayan is famouse as Israeli Military & Political Leader