{"id":564,"date":"2021-04-29T12:37:22","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T12:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.akko.org.il\/?post_type=attraction&p=564"},"modified":"2021-08-19T06:15:12","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T06:15:12","slug":"the-underground-prisoners-museum","status":"publish","type":"attraction","link":"https:\/\/www.akko.org.il\/en\/attraction\/the-underground-prisoners-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"The Underground Prisoners Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The citadel of Akko was built during the Ottoman Period over the ruins of a 12th century Crusader fortress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Ottoman Period, the citadel served as the palace of Akko’s rulers and then as a prison, army barracks and weapon warehouse for the local garrison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several members of the “Hashomer” organization were imprisoned in the Citadel of Akko under Turkish rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the British Mandate, the citadel served as the main prison for the north of Israel. Hundreds of members of the Haganah, Etzel and Lehi underground organizations were imprisoned here because of their struggle to defend the Yishuv (the body of Jewish residents in Palestine, before the establishment of the State of Israel), their war against mandatory rule and their fight for their right to establish a national home in the Land of Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first prisoner during British military rule was Zeev Jabotinsky, Commander of the Jewish defense of Jerusalem. Nineteen other members of the city’s defense were imprisoned along with him during the 1920 Palestine riots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1939, 43 members of the Haganah commander courses held in Yavniel \u2013 including Moshe Dayan and Moshe Carmel, ten Haganah members from Kibbutz Ginosar, as well as 38 members of the Etzel commander courses held in Mishmar Hayarden, were imprisoned in the Citadel of Akko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On May 4, 1947, Etzel forces broke into the prison in a daring action coordinated with their imprisoned friends. Forty-one prisoners were freed, including thirty Etzel members and eleven Lehi members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three members of the attacking force and six released prisoners were killed in a battle that ensued outside of the prison walls against British police and military forces. Operation commander Dov Cohen, AKA “Gundar (District of Unit Commander) Shimshon”, was among the casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the operation drew to its conclusion, it became evident that 27 prisoners had managed to escape; however, eight escapees were captured, along with five of the Etzel fighters. Three out of the five men captured were sentenced to death by a British military court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\nAtmosphere photo gallery ahead – Skip to next content<\/a>\n

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\n \n\n\n\n\"A<\/picture> <\/div>\n A trial in prison<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n\n\n\n\"Prison<\/picture> <\/div>\n Prison corridor<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n\n\n\n\"prisoners'<\/picture> <\/div>\n prisoners’ photos<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
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\n \n\n\n\n\"One<\/picture> <\/div>\n One of the prison’s cells<\/span>\n <\/div>\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n