Effect of Holocaust Consciousness in General and the Journey to Poland in Particular on the Fighting Spirit in the IDF: A Comparative Study of Commanders and Combat Soldiers – Participants and Non-Participants of the Journey to Poland

Abstract

This chapter discusses the effect of Holocaust consciousness in general and of the journey to Poland in particular on the fighting spirit in the IDF. With the purpose of exploring to what extent Holocaust consciousness in general and the journey to Poland in particular influence the fighting spirit of former soldiers and career soldiers in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), the authors examined two major relationships between variables, on the ethical, emotional, and cognitive level: (1) the association between the soldiers’ fighting spirit and their Holocaust consciousness; (2) the association between participating in the journey to Poland and the perceived fighting spirit in the IDF. They conclude that Holocaust consciousness was found to have an effect on the fighting spirit. The journey itself, however, was found to have no effect on the fighting spirit. These research findings may illuminate one of the important projects of the IDF, “Witnesses in Uniform,” with regard to its purposes and efficacy. Effect of Holocaust Consciousness in General and the Journey to Poland in Particular on the Fighting Spirit in the IDF: A Comparative Study of Commanders and Combat Soldiers – Participants and Non-Participants of the Journey to Poland