The full diary of Avraham Ayalon (Lentesh), head of the IDF history department during the Yom Kippur War
The IDF and Defense Establishment Archive presents the full diary of Brigadier General Avraham Ayalon (Lentesh) of blessed memory, head of the IDF history department in the war. Lentesh described dramatic events of the war, as they were experienced at the Higher Command bunker, known as the "Bor."
Due to its exceptional historical importance, The IDF and Defense Establishment Archive decided to upload the whole diary, known as "The Lentesh Notebooks," all 300 pages, to its website, for benefit the public.
In the diary Lentesh describes the discussions (including those with the Minister of Defense), he writes about the wrenching reports arriving from the fronts, the pains of making fateful fateful decisions, about commanders' opinions and the involvement of former senior commanders, who arrived to offer their experience, such as General Yigal Yadin who was later a member of the Agranat Commission, appointed to investigate the war.
The diary includes moving descriptions of commanders whose family members were fighting at the fronts, including Lentesh's own tragedy, his son was missing on Mount Hermon captured by the Syrians.
Along with other personal stories one may read in the diary about Yair Tal, son of Israel Tal, deputy Chief of Staff, who was wounded in the fighting and returned to the front in spite of his father's objections.
The original diary, in Lentesh handwriting is stored in The IDF and Defense Establishment Archive.