Kazztacher, David (Cas)

Son of Efraim-Fishel and Rivka. He was born on April 16, 1924 in the city of Oran, Germany. In December 1934 he emigrated to Israel with his parents. Studied until the seventh graduating class of the Bialik Gymnasium in Haifa. Gave special attention to the exact sciences. Stopped studying for family reasons, and after passing an entrance examination he was accepted in the fall of 1947 at the Technion and again stopped his studies in order to join the fighters. In 1939 he “increased” his age and was accepted into the Hagana. Served in the liaison company in Haifa. His commanders noticed his virtues and sent him to a course for youth commanders and later to a commanding officer course, where he participated in the Gadna base and expanded his ranks and was appointed platoon commander. Haifa, and his family, because of his father’s illness, he expanded his activities in the Haganah by purchasing weapons, hiding him and treating him, as well as in a secret and limited sabotage unit. Was appointed to the Haganah’s permanent apparatus and was appointed commander of a youth battalion and after completing a course for officers of the Intelligence Corps, he served in this position in the Haifa District. Later, as part of his preparations for an entrance examination at the Technion, he served as a guide in the officers’ training course. He knew how to keep secret not only the affairs of his service, but also his rise in military ranks. At the beginning of the War of Independence, he was among the first students to be drafted to the rank of deputy commander of the Hish Battalion in Haifa, and was able to protect Haifa and ensure its roads and carry out special sabotage missions in the Western Galilee. When the time came, he commanded the operations to conquer the eastern part of the city and carried out this mission in the Haifa industrial zone on April 22, 1948, two hours before the liberation of the city. In October 1948, a military camp near Haifa was named after Captain David Kasztacher Character after falling to the rank of captain.