Danny Matt
Encyclopedia
Danny Matt is a former decorated career Israeli military officer who served in the Israel Defense Forces
from 1948 until 1992. He attained the rank of Major General and fought in five Arab-Israeli wars including the wars of 1948 and 1973
. Among his many exploits was a daring operation which involved leading a paratroop force across the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War
. The operation was the beginning phase of a larger Israeli counter offensive that ultimately led to the defeat of the Egyptian army.
in its attempts to subvert anti-Jewish British immigration policies. He then attempted to join the British Army’s Jewish Brigade but, despite his service with the Coastal Police, was rejected because of his youth. He then pressured his father to sign a false document indicating that he was 18 years old and presented this document to gain acceptance. He saw service in Egypt, Italy and the Netherlands. In 1946, he left the British army, returned to Israel and joined the Palmach
, the Jewish para-military strike force.
(renamed Rosh Tzurim
following the Six-day war
), part of the block of settlements just south of Jerusalem that formed the Gush Etzion
block. Arab attacks on the block were sporadic at first but intensified as the British departure date neared. In May 1948, Arab irregulars backed by the Jordanian Legion attacked the Gush Etzion block. Matt stood his ground and sprayed machinegun fire into the attacking forces. The fighting was so intense that at one point, he was throwing hand grenades with his right hand while firing the machinegun with his left. However, with supplies and ammunition exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered, the defenders were ordered by the nascent Israeli government to surrender and Matt was taken prisoner by the Jordanian Legion.
took note of Matt’s military talents and persuaded him to join the elite and newly formed Battalion 890. The Battalion, a merge of the paratroops with members of Unit 101
, was at the forefront of Israel’s counter insurgency and retaliatory operations of the 1950s. Sharon appointed Matt to be a Company Commander. In February 1955 Matt along with Aharon Davidi
led a force of 150 paratroopers on a night raid against an Egyptian military encampment in Gaza killing 37 Egyptian soldiers. The raid, which was carried out in retaliation for the murder of an Israeli boy on orders from Egyptian military intelligence, was hailed as a success by Israeli Defense Minister David Ben Gurion.
and was wounded in the neck and shoulder. Some 260 Egyptian and 38 Israeli soldiers were killed in the battle. After his recovery, he was given various command positions within the military.
military complex. After being heliported deep into the enemy's rear, Matt's paratroopers marched several miles over dune-covered ground and surprised the Egyptian gunners and neutralized their artillery. The feat enabled General Sharon to mount a divisional assault unmolested by Egyptian artillery. On June 10, 1967, on the last day of the war, Matt's paratroops ferried by helicopter secured the southern Golan Heights defeating Syrian forces they encountered.
Following the Six Day war, Egypt and Israel became locked in a series of localized engagements along the Suez Canal
. In addition, Palestinian guerilla groups staged infiltrations and terrorist attacks with the (ultimately unsuccessful) aim of establishing a permanent presence in the West Bank
. During this period, Matt was given command of Paratroop Brigade 35. On March 21, 1968 he led the brigade in an assault against the Palestinian guerilla base at Karameh
. Matt’s men along with other infantry elements destroyed the Karameh base killing 150 guerillas and taking another 128 captive. Jordanian forces who attempted to intervene suffered 61 killed, 108 injured and four taken prisoner. The IDF
sustained 28 KIA
and eight of these were from Matt’s paras. As a result of the operation, the guerillas realized that they were vulnerable to Israeli reprisal actions and were forced to move their base of operations farther from the border.
Matt also led his para forces on a daring deep penetration commando raid into the heart of Egypt’s Nile valley. On the night of 31 October/1 November, Matt’s troops, ferried by Super Frelon
helicopters over some 300 Km of Egyptian airspace, attacked and destroyed
two bridges over the Nile as well as an electrical transformer near the town of Nag Hamadi. The Israelis suffered no casualties but the damage to Egypt was immense and underscored its vulnerabilities to Israel’s formidable commandos.
. On October 14, large Israeli and Egyptian tank formations dueled in Sinai in a battle that was decidedly one-sided in Israel’s favor and resulted in a thorough Egyptian rout. The Egyptians lost some 260 tanks against only six Israeli. Capitalizing on their success, the Israelis embarked upon Operation Stouthearted Men, a complex plan involving a multi-divisional crossing of the Suez Canal. These forces would then encircle the Egyptian army. Spearheading the operation was a paratroop brigade under the command of Danny Matt. On the night of October 15, Matt and his brigade crossed the Canal and established a bridgehead on the western bank of the Canal Zone. Matt played a critical role in this operation, which ultimately resulted in the encirclement and defeat of the Egyptian army.
for the soldiers, a role established by the Knesset
in 1972 to address concerns and problems encountered by soldiers. In 1992, he retired thus ending 49 years of distinguished military service.
Despite his retirement from the army, Matt’s commitment to the Israel Defense Forces
did not diminish. In his civilian life, Matt served as chairman of the LIBI Fund, a nonprofit organization
that assists IDF soldiers.
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
from 1948 until 1992. He attained the rank of Major General and fought in five Arab-Israeli wars including the wars of 1948 and 1973
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
. Among his many exploits was a daring operation which involved leading a paratroop force across the Suez Canal during the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
. The operation was the beginning phase of a larger Israeli counter offensive that ultimately led to the defeat of the Egyptian army.
Early life
Matt was born on December 10, 1927 in Cologne, Germany. He immigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1934. His military career began in 1943 when he joined the British Mandatory Coastal Police but he covertly utilized his status in the Coastal Police to assist the nascent PalyamPalyam
Palyam was the sea force of the Palmach.-History:Palyam was set up in April 1945 as the Palmach's tenth company which originated from the Palmach's Naval Platoon. The Company's first commander was Abraham Zakai...
in its attempts to subvert anti-Jewish British immigration policies. He then attempted to join the British Army’s Jewish Brigade but, despite his service with the Coastal Police, was rejected because of his youth. He then pressured his father to sign a false document indicating that he was 18 years old and presented this document to gain acceptance. He saw service in Egypt, Italy and the Netherlands. In 1946, he left the British army, returned to Israel and joined the Palmach
Palmach
The Palmach was the elite fighting force of the Haganah, the underground army of the Yishuv during the period of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Palmach was established on May 15, 1941...
, the Jewish para-military strike force.
War of 1948
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Matt manned a machinegun post at Ein TzurimEin Tzurim
Ein Tzurim is a religious kibbutz in southern Israel. Located south of Kiryat Malakhi, it falls under the jurisdiction of Shafir Regional Council, and is a member of the Religious Kibbutz Movement. In 2007 it had a population of 1,100.-Original kibbutz:...
(renamed Rosh Tzurim
Rosh Tzurim
Rosh Tzurim is a religious Israeli settlement and kibbutz in the West Bank. A member of the Religious Kibbutz Movement, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gush Etzion Regional Council. In 2008 it had a population of around 130 families...
following the Six-day war
Six-Day War
The Six-Day War , also known as the June War, 1967 Arab-Israeli War, or Third Arab-Israeli War, was fought between June 5 and 10, 1967, by Israel and the neighboring states of Egypt , Jordan, and Syria...
), part of the block of settlements just south of Jerusalem that formed the Gush Etzion
Gush Etzion
Gush Etzion is a cluster of Israeli settlements located in the Judaean Mountains directly south of Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the West Bank, Palestinian territories. The core group includes four agricultural villages that were founded in 1940-1947 on property purchased in the 1920s and 1930s, and ...
block. Arab attacks on the block were sporadic at first but intensified as the British departure date neared. In May 1948, Arab irregulars backed by the Jordanian Legion attacked the Gush Etzion block. Matt stood his ground and sprayed machinegun fire into the attacking forces. The fighting was so intense that at one point, he was throwing hand grenades with his right hand while firing the machinegun with his left. However, with supplies and ammunition exhausted and hopelessly outnumbered, the defenders were ordered by the nascent Israeli government to surrender and Matt was taken prisoner by the Jordanian Legion.
Border wars
Following his release from captivity, Matt returned to civilian life for a short duration but soon returned the IDF. He enrolled in an officer’s training course and was given command of a unit responsible for thwarting Arab infiltrations into southern Israel. Ariel SharonAriel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
took note of Matt’s military talents and persuaded him to join the elite and newly formed Battalion 890. The Battalion, a merge of the paratroops with members of Unit 101
Unit 101
Unit 101 was a special forces unit of the Israeli Defense Forces , founded and commanded by Ariel Sharon on orders from Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in August 1953...
, was at the forefront of Israel’s counter insurgency and retaliatory operations of the 1950s. Sharon appointed Matt to be a Company Commander. In February 1955 Matt along with Aharon Davidi
Aharon Davidi
Aharon Davidi is an Israeli general and founder of the Sar-El volunteer program of the IDF.-Biography:He was born in Israel as the youngest son of an immigrant family from Bender, . At the age of fifteen, he served in the Haganah and Palmach...
led a force of 150 paratroopers on a night raid against an Egyptian military encampment in Gaza killing 37 Egyptian soldiers. The raid, which was carried out in retaliation for the murder of an Israeli boy on orders from Egyptian military intelligence, was hailed as a success by Israeli Defense Minister David Ben Gurion.
Suez War
During the Sinai Campaign of 1956, Matt took part in the battle for the Mitla PassMitla Pass
The Mitla Pass is a 32 km-long snaky pass in the Sinai of Egypt, wedged between mountain ranges to the north and south, located about 50 km east of Suez...
and was wounded in the neck and shoulder. Some 260 Egyptian and 38 Israeli soldiers were killed in the battle. After his recovery, he was given various command positions within the military.
Six Day War
During the Six Day war of 1967, Matt commanded a reserve para brigade assigned to General Ariel Sharon's division and was tasked with silencing Egyptian artillery positions at Um-Katef in the Abu AgeilaBattle of Abu-Ageila (1967)
The 1967 Battle of Abu-Ageila was a military confrontation between the Israeli and Egyptian military which was part of the Six-Day War of June 1967...
military complex. After being heliported deep into the enemy's rear, Matt's paratroopers marched several miles over dune-covered ground and surprised the Egyptian gunners and neutralized their artillery. The feat enabled General Sharon to mount a divisional assault unmolested by Egyptian artillery. On June 10, 1967, on the last day of the war, Matt's paratroops ferried by helicopter secured the southern Golan Heights defeating Syrian forces they encountered.
War of Attrition
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
. In addition, Palestinian guerilla groups staged infiltrations and terrorist attacks with the (ultimately unsuccessful) aim of establishing a permanent presence in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
. During this period, Matt was given command of Paratroop Brigade 35. On March 21, 1968 he led the brigade in an assault against the Palestinian guerilla base at Karameh
Battle of Karameh
The Battle of Karameh was fought on March 21, 1968 in the town of Karameh, Jordan, between the Israel Defense Forces and combined forces of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Jordanian Army...
. Matt’s men along with other infantry elements destroyed the Karameh base killing 150 guerillas and taking another 128 captive. Jordanian forces who attempted to intervene suffered 61 killed, 108 injured and four taken prisoner. The IDF
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
sustained 28 KIA
KIA
-People:* Kia Abdullah , British-Asian author and journalist* Kia Asamiya , Japanese manga artist* Kia Byers , Canadian canoeist* Kia Corthron , American playwright, activist, and television writer...
and eight of these were from Matt’s paras. As a result of the operation, the guerillas realized that they were vulnerable to Israeli reprisal actions and were forced to move their base of operations farther from the border.
Matt also led his para forces on a daring deep penetration commando raid into the heart of Egypt’s Nile valley. On the night of 31 October/1 November, Matt’s troops, ferried by Super Frelon
Aérospatiale Super Frelon
The Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon is a three-engined heavy transport helicopter produced by Aérospatiale of France. The helicopter is still in use in China where the locally produced version is known as the Z-8. "Frelon" is French for hornet....
helicopters over some 300 Km of Egyptian airspace, attacked and destroyed
Operation Shock
Operation Shock was a commando operation executed in 1968 by the Israeli commando unit Sayeret Matkal to sabotage of power plant and Nile bridges in Egypt....
two bridges over the Nile as well as an electrical transformer near the town of Nag Hamadi. The Israelis suffered no casualties but the damage to Egypt was immense and underscored its vulnerabilities to Israel’s formidable commandos.
Yom Kippur war
On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a multi-front, surprise attack on Israel. After neutralizing the Syrian threat, the Israelis turned their attention southward to deal with the Egyptians, who had by now dug into defensive positions on the east bank of the Suez CanalSuez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
. On October 14, large Israeli and Egyptian tank formations dueled in Sinai in a battle that was decidedly one-sided in Israel’s favor and resulted in a thorough Egyptian rout. The Egyptians lost some 260 tanks against only six Israeli. Capitalizing on their success, the Israelis embarked upon Operation Stouthearted Men, a complex plan involving a multi-divisional crossing of the Suez Canal. These forces would then encircle the Egyptian army. Spearheading the operation was a paratroop brigade under the command of Danny Matt. On the night of October 15, Matt and his brigade crossed the Canal and established a bridgehead on the western bank of the Canal Zone. Matt played a critical role in this operation, which ultimately resulted in the encirclement and defeat of the Egyptian army.
Other military duties and appointments
Following the war, Matt was given command of the 90th reserve armored division. In 1974, he was appointed head of the Military Court of Appeals. From 1979 until 1982 he served as Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. From 1982 through 1992 he served as the OmbudsmanOmbudsman
An ombudsman is a person who acts as a trusted intermediary between an organization and some internal or external constituency while representing not only but mostly the broad scope of constituent interests...
for the soldiers, a role established by the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
in 1972 to address concerns and problems encountered by soldiers. In 1992, he retired thus ending 49 years of distinguished military service.
Despite his retirement from the army, Matt’s commitment to the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
did not diminish. In his civilian life, Matt served as chairman of the LIBI Fund, a nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that assists IDF soldiers.