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Ernst (Yacov) Miller
The son of Herman and Lotta, Ernst Miller was born in Gottingen in Germany on 18th November 1919. He completed high school and was a member of the Habonim Zionist movement.
He was sent to Chile to work in his trade as an electrical mechanic, and in preparation for immigrating to Israel, he joined a Youth Aliyah training camp. However, because he was married he was unable to obtain an official entry permit from the British Mandate authorities, so he decided to immigrate with his family to Santiago, Chile, in 1937.
Through his efforts, the youth group Kadima was founded in 1939 and was later absorbed into the Hashomer Hatzair movement. He joined the pioneer training farm and worked there from 1945-47; thanks to his initiative, a metal workshop was started as part of their agricultural enterprise.
At the end of July 1947, he arrived with his wife in Israel with the first group of Chilean pioneers, and joined Kibbutz Negba. His was the first garin (small group of pioneers) to reach Israel from Latin America.
At Negba they were trained in defense and from the beginning of the War of Independence they participated in these activities. Ernst volunteered to accompany the kibbutz cargo truck on an essential delivery to Kibbutz Gat. On the return journey he was killed near Kartieh on 6th December 1947. He was buried the next day at Negba.
Following in his footsteps, other groups of pioneers immigrated to Israel from South America. Ernst’s son was born six months after he fell.
Source: Translated from the Yizkor website by Joe Woolf.
CATEGORY:PERSONAL STORIES 1947-49 –
FALLEN, HAGANAH, KIBBUTZIM
MENU TITLE:MILLER, Ernst Yacov– KIBBUTZ NEGBA – Among first group from Latin America
ERNST (YACOV) MILLER
The son of Herman and Lotta, Ernst Miller was born in Gottingen in Germany on 18th November 1919.He completed high school and was a member of the Habonim Zionist movement.
He was sent to Chile to work in his trade as an electrical mechanic, and in preparation for immigrating to Israel, he joined a Youth Aliyah training camp. However, because he was married he was unable to obtain an official entry permit from the British Mandate authorities, so he decided to immigrate with his family to Santiago, Chile, in 1937.
Through his efforts, the youth group Kadima was founded in 1939 and was later absorbed into the Hashomer Hatzair movement.He joined the pioneer training farm and worked there from 1945-47; thanks to his initiative, a metal workshop was started as part of their agricultural enterprise.
At the end of July 1947, he arrived with his wife in Israel with the first group of Chilean pioneers, and joined Kibbutz Negba.His was the first garin (small group of pioneers) to reach Israel from Latin America.
At Negba they were trained in defense and from the beginning of the War of Independence they participated in these activities.Ernst volunteered to accompany the kibbutz cargo truck on an essential delivery to Kibbutz Gat.On the return journey he was killed near Kartieh on 6th December 1947.He was buried the next day at Negba.
Following in his footsteps, other groups of pioneers immigrated to Israel from South America.Ernst’s son was born six months after he fell.
Source:Translated from the Yizkor website by Joe Woolf.
The son of Herman and Lotta, Ernst Miller was born in Gottingen in Germany on 18th November 1919. He completed high school and was a member of the Habonim Zionist movement. 