Draft:Battle of Augusta-Victoria

Battle of Augusta-Victoria
Part of the Six-Day War
Date June 6, 1967 Location Augusta-Victoria Hill, East Jerusalem Result Israeli victory
Belligerents
Israel	Jordan
Commanders and leaders
Mordechai Gur	Unknown
Units involved
Harel Brigade, Jerusalem Brigade, armored units	Jordanian Arab Legion
Strength
Infantry and armored units	Entrenched Jordanian forces
Casualties and losses
None	12

The Battle of Augusta-Victoria was a pivotal engagement during the Six-Day War, fought on June 6, 1967, over the strategically important Augusta-Victoria Hill in East Jerusalem. The hill, housing the Augusta Victoria Hospital and the Lutheran Augusta Victoria Church, was used as a Jordanian military position. Its commanding height offered the Jordanian forces a vantage point for artillery and sniper fire into Israeli-held West Jerusalem.

Background

Jerusalem was divided between Israel and Jordan after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, with the Old City and East Jerusalem under Jordanian control. The Augusta-Victoria complex, located on the Mount of Olives, had been fortified by the Jordanian Arab Legion, providing them with a strategic advantage.

At the start of the Six-Day War on June 5, 1967, Israel launched operations to capture East Jerusalem, aiming to reunite the city under its control. Securing the Augusta-Victoria Hill was critical to stopping Jordanian shelling of West Jerusalem.

The Battle

On June 6, 1967, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched an attack on the hill. The assault was led by the **Harel Brigade** and the **Jerusalem Brigade**, with support from Israeli artillery and armor. Jordanian forces, heavily fortified on the slopes of the Mount of Olives, offered fierce resistance. The complex terrain, combined with entrenched defenses, made the battle particularly difficult for the attacking forces.

After several hours of intense fighting, the Israeli forces managed to flank the Jordanian defenses and take control of the hill, silencing the artillery positions that had been bombarding West Jerusalem.

Capture of the Hill

By the afternoon of June 6, the IDF successfully captured Augusta-Victoria Hill, securing a strategic position in East Jerusalem. This victory allowed Israeli forces to push further into East Jerusalem and contributed significantly to the capture of the Old City, completed on June 7, 1967.

Aftermath

The fall of Augusta-Victoria marked a turning point in the battle for Jerusalem. The IDF’s capture of the hill not only eliminated the Jordanian artillery threat but also provided Israeli forces with a clear path to the Old City. The successful Israeli offensive led to the reunification of Jerusalem, a key outcome of the Six-Day War.

Legacy

Augusta-Victoria Hill remains a notable site in the history of the Six-Day War. The hospital and church continue to function today, serving both religious and medical purposes. The battle is commemorated as part of Israel’s larger victory in the war, which significantly altered the territorial and political landscape of the region.