Haim Laskov

Haim Laskov
Chaim Laskov in 1958
Born	1919 Barysaw, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic
Died	December 8, 1982 Israel
Allegiance	British Army Haganah Israel Defense Forces
Years of service	1932–1965
Rank	Rav Aluf (highest rank) Chief of Staff (1958–1961)
Battles/wars	World War II 1948 Arab–Israeli War Suez Crisis

Haim Laskov (Hebrew: חיים לסקוב‎‎; born 1919, Barysaw, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic – 8 December 1982) was an Israeli public figure and the fifth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

Haim Laskov was born in Barysaw in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (present-day Belarus). He immigrated to Palestine with his family in 1925. The family settled in Haifa, where they lived in dire poverty. Laskov's father was killed by Arabs in 1930.

Laskov joined the Haganah as a teenager, and served in various units, including Orde Wingate's Special Night Squads. He also served as a personal messenger for Yaakov Dori, who would later become the first Chief of Staff. In 1940, Laskov joined the British Army so that he could participate in World War II. He served in various capacities, and was a commander of the Jewish Brigade which saw action on the Italian front, eventually reaching the rank of major. After the war, he remained in Europe to participate in the Aliyah Bet illegal immigration effort to bring refugee Jews to Palestine. He also took part in various illicit acts of vengeance against the Nazis and their collaborators. Upon eventually returning to Palestine, he rejoined the Haganah, while also working as chief of security for the electric company.