Cohen, Yosef

Son of Elisheva and Leo. He was born on September 30, 1920 in Karlsruhe, Germany. From 1925, his family lived in Germany where he attended elementary school and later a government gymnasium. During his high school years he was a member of a sports association, but was removed from it by the racial laws of Nuremberg and joined a Jewish youth movement founded at that time. A few months later he was removed from the Gymnasium and in preparation for his immigration to Israel, he began working as an apprentice to Messager. At the same time, he joined the Habonim youth movement. In 1936 he immigrated with his family to Eretz Israel, where he helped his father the painter at a factory he set up to print textile. His spare time was devoted to fulfilling national obligations. He joined the Haganah and worked on the summer and winter nights at the same time as bloody events. In 1942, he enlisted in the British Army, joined the infantry company “Baps”, and in due course moved with his company to the Jewish Brigade and participated in battles in Italy. Even during the training period in Fiuggi and on the front lines he became known as a good soldier and reached the rank of sergeant. The privates under his command loved him for his kindness, modesty, moderation, and friendly attitude toward them. They called him by the nickname “Yossi”. Despite his longings for his wife in Israel when given the opportunity to meet with the enemy, he was happy. On 24 Nisan, April 4, 1945, he fell during a clash with the Germans in Dempsey, on the southern bank of the Senio River in Italy, and was brought to rest in the cemetery in Ravenna. He left a wife, parents, brother, and two sisters. His name is commemorated in the book “The Jewish Brigade.” Grave Location IV.C.5 Unit Palestine Regiment Corporal Rank.