Autograph Postcard Signed by Joseph Trumpeldor – St. Petersburg, 1918 – Self Defense and "HeChalutz" Organization

Autograph Postcard Signed by Joseph Trumpeldor – St. Petersburg, 1918 – Self Defense and "HeChalutz" Organization
A postcard handwritten and signed by Joseph Trumpeldor. St. Petersburg, 1918. Russian.
In 1917, after seeing his vision of establishing Jewish Legions coming to life, Joseph Trumpeldor was informed that he would not be able to enlist due to his handicap. Trumpeldor returned to St. Petersburg and in the following months lobbied to establish "Russian Jewish Legions", which were meant to have a historic role: join the World War, fight in the Caucasus front and participate in the conquest of Palestine. The plan drew the interest of the Russian authorities, but the October Revolution and the outbreak of the civil war buried it. Eventually, a single volunteer battalion, unaffiliated with the Russian Army, was established in St. Petersburg, drawing about 150 Jewish fighters and acting in self-defense only. After several months, the Soviet authorities dismantled the battalion and it was mostly forgotten.
Following the dismantling of the battalion, Trumpeldor invested his efforts in another Zionist enterprise – providing agricultural training to Jewish youth while still abroad and facilitating their immigration to Palestine. The training camps were organized by the "HeChalutz" organization in Russia, headed by Trumpeldor (with others), who established its central office. Many of the Third Aliyah pioneers were trained in these camps.
In this postcard, sent shortly after the battalion was dismantled, Trumpeldor announces he had abandoned the Russian Jewish legions plan, and refers to the early stages of the establishment of "HeChalutz" training camps. Trumpeldor writes: "I remember my promise, I haven't written to you since in the field that interests you – the establishments of battalions for Palestine – nothing has been done yet, and cannot be done under current circumstances. The 'HeChalutz' agricultural group is preparing to work not far from Petrograd. If you want to take part in these works, write to me… I still do not have permission for self-defense, but of course I have not abandoned this thought … with the greeting of Zion, Trumpeldor".
Approx. 14X9 cm. Good condition. Stains. Abrasion to verso (from removing the postage stamp?), not affecting the text.