Collection of "Shanah Tovah" Greeting Cards – The Palestine Regiment, the Jewish Brigade and the Auxiliary ...

Collection of "Shanah Tovah" Greeting Cards – The Palestine Regiment, the Jewish Brigade and the Auxiliary Territorial Service – The Middle East and Europe, 1942-1946
Approx. 45 "Shanah Tovah" (Happy New Year) greeting cards from soldiers of the Palestine Regiment and the Jewish Brigade and female soldiers of the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service). Late 1942 to late 1946.
Most of the cards bear the emblem or name of the unit, company or corps to which the writer had belonged – usually accompanied by a Star of David – and a short greeting for the New Year. On several of the cards, maps, illustrations or photographs were printed, some of them are simple and symbolic while others are detailed and well-executed, reflecting the technical means that were at the disposal of the unit. Many units and companies which served in a variety of capacities and fronts in the Middle East and in Europe are represented in this collection. Some of the cards note the location as "somewhere".
When the Jewish volunteers from Palestine served in the Palestine Regiment, before the establishment of the Jewish Brigade in September 1944, unofficial emblems were designed by the soldiers of the Jewish battalions themselves in order to emphasize their identity as Jewish soldiers and challenge the military authorities, which forbade the soldiers to carry Jewish flags and emblems. The emblems appeared on unofficial publications such as "Shanah Tovah" greeting cards and Haggadot, and to a certain extent, met the need of the Jewish soldiers from Palestine for self-identity and a flag.
Enclosed:
1. Printed "Shanah Tovah" postcard for the soldiers of the 88th infantry division of the USA army. Gorizia (Italy), the eve of Rosh Hashanah 1946.
2. Photographic "Shanah Tovah" greeting card from the DP camp of Grottaferrata in Italy. On the card, a montage of Jewish soldiers, a map of Palestine, the Arch of Titus and a sculpture of Moses, alongside Hebrew greetings of Happy New Year and "Long Live our homeland Israel!" (Hebrew). Late 1948.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition.
Provenance: The Rimon Family Collection.