The remains of Martin Davidovich, named by the IDF as the first fallen paratrooper, will be brought to Israel next week for burial, 73 years after his death in a training accident in then-Czechoslovakia, the Defense Ministry announced over the weekend.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Born in 1927 in Czechoslovakia, Davidovich was a member of Hashomer Hatzair youth movement. During World War II, he was sent to Auschwitz and then to the Mauthausen concentration camp. He lost most of his family members in the Holocaust. According to military archives, Davidovich returned to Czechoslovakia after the war ended, and joined the Czech Brigade, a unit training future soldiers for the State of Israel.
According to testimonies on the "Honor Israel's Fallen" website, in Aug. 18, 1948, Davidovich was accidentally shot in the head during a training exercise in which the cadets were practicing taking over a sentry post.
Davidovich was 21 years old at the time of his death. He was secretly buried in the Jewish cemetery in Prague.
While Davidovich did not officially serve in the Israeli military, his death took place during a training session for the IDF, and he was mentioned by name in a report of the incident submitted to Israeli authorities at the time by the parachuting instructor team, the Times of Israel reported.
In 2001, the IDF officially recognized him as a fallen soldier.
A delegation comprising Defense Ministry and military officials was slated to travel to Prague on Sunday to retrieve his remains. On Wednesday, IDF paratroopers will join the delegation to escort Davidovich's coffin back to Israel for burial.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
