IDF identifies remains of soldier killed in Cyprus, buried as unknown in Haifa since 1948
Shlomo Haimson was killed by guards at the detention camp in Cyprus during an escape attempt in September 1948.
On Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) revealed the location of the burial site for soldier Shlomo Haimson, whose identity had remained unknown for nearly 78 years. Haimson lost his father during the Holocaust and immigrated to Israel with his mother and girlfriend in the aftermath of World War II. They were later deported to Cyprus, a British Crown Colony, after the British intercepted their immigrant ship.
While held in a detention camp in Cyprus, Haimson joined a Haganah organization and trained to become an IDF soldier. Upon the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948, his mother and girlfriend were released from the camp and immigrated to Israel, settling in the Negev. Haimson, however, learned of his daughter Miriam's birth and decided to escape the camp in a bid to join his growing family.
On the night of September 29-30, 1948, Haimson and eight others managed to break through the camp's fences and attempted to flee to Israel. They were discovered by guards and opened fire, resulting in Haimson's death. The remaining escapees were captured and returned to the camp.
In 1970, Haimson's remains, along with those of others buried at the Jewish cemetery in Margo, Cyprus, were re-interred in Haifa as "unknown persons." Following an extensive investigation by the IDF's Missing Persons Unit, the Military Rabbinate, the Defense Ministry, and Cypriot associations, it was confirmed that Haimson was indeed buried in the immigrant section of the Haifa cemetery. His family was informed of this news last night.
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