Shimon Mazeh

Shimon Mazeh
Shimon Mazeh, November 28, 1941
Native name	שמעון מזא"ה
Birth name	Russian: Мазе Шимон
Born	(1907-09-03)September 3, 1907 Vitebsk, Russian Empire
Died	April 2, 2000 (aged 92) Bethlehem, Palestine
Buried	Military cemetery at Mount Herzl
Allegiance	United Kingdom Israel
Service / branch	Jewish Brigade Haganah Israel Defense Forces
Years of service	1933–1955
Rank	Aluf
Commands	Head of combat service support Head of the Manpower Directorate, 1949 – December 1952
Battles / wars	1947–1949 Palestine war World War II
Other work	President of Cotton Farmers of Israel Representative of Israel Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Shimon Mazeh (Sometimes spelled Shimon Maz'ah; Hebrew: שמעון מזא"ה; September 3, 1907 – April 2, 2000) was Haganah fighter, a major general in the Israel Defense Forces, an agronomist, and a businessman. He served as the head of the Manpower Directorate from 1949 until December 1952.

Biography

From left to right: Zvi Ayalon, Moshe Tzadok, Yaakov Dori, Shimon Mazeh, Mordechai Maklef, and Shlomo Shamir

Mazeh was born in the Russian Empire and grew up in Germany. During his teens he joined the Blau Weiss, a Jewish youth movement. He studied agronomy in Germany, Italy and France and completed his doctorate. In 1931 Mazeh migrated to Israel. He became a researcher for the Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research in Rehovot.

British Army and the Israel Defense Forces

Mazeh joined the Haganah in 1933. He volunteer in the British Army during World War II. He served in the convoy and after the formation of the Jewish Brigade he commanded the brigade's supply unit in Europe. During the 1947–1949 Palestine war he became the founder of the combat service support of the IDF which he headed until May 1949. The division consisted of a number of sub-services: Food services, Fuel services, Equipment services, Transportation services, and service dogs and horses.

After a short stay in the United States, Mazeh was appointed to the head of the Manpower Directorate on October 9, 1949. His success in the combat service support proved to be invaluable for his work in the Manpower Directorate. Mazeh served this position until 1952 when he was succeeded by Tzvi Tzur.

After his release from the IDF

At 1955 Mazeh was released of his military service and went into private business. With the aid of foreign investors Mazeh founded an agricultural corporation named "מגל" ("sickle"). The company, which focused on growing mainly cotton and sugar beet, operated near Kibbutz Hazor and Gan Yavne. They also managed a number orchards in the area. At the time Mazeh became the President of Cotton Farmers of Israel. During the late 1960s and early 1970s Mazeh represented the organization in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Mazeh died in 2000. He is buried in the Military cemetery at Mount Herzl.