VIRTUAL JEWISH MUSEUM

When the British Government issued their White Paper in 1939, limiting Jewish immigration to Palestine, world-wide Jewry, especially in the Holy Land, was outraged. This was an outright repudiation of England's own Balfour Declaration, and of the Mandate given Britain by the League of Nations. And yet, when Germany invaded Poland, starting World War II on September 1, 1939, Jews were supportive of Great Britain's fight against the Nazis.  Ben Gurion summed up the dillemma with his famous phrase:  We will fight the Nazis as  if there is no White Paper and we shall fight the White Paper as if there are no Nazis.
Although the British appreciated the support (as opposed to the pro-Hitler posture of many Arabs), they were wary of giving training to Jews, which might somehow come back to haunt them in Post-war Palestine.  This was not an idle fear. But as the war dragged on, and manpower need rose, Jews became increasingly involved in training and combat.  
In October 1939, 26,000 Palestinian Jews joined the British army.  All-Jewish companies were formed, attached to the East Kent Regiment, known as 'The Buffs'.  Later, these 15 companies formed 3 infantry battalions establishing the 'Palestine Regiment'.  One Arab Palestinian company existed as well.  With limited training and equipment, they were assigned guard duty in Libya and Egypt.  They did see some action in North Africa.
Finally, in September 1944, the Jewish Brigade Group was formally established - 5000 men fully trained and equipped.  It included infantry battalions, a field artillary regiment, and other units including the Royal Army Service Corps.  They saw action in North Africa, Greece, and Italy. After the war they assisted Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. The JBG was disbanded in summer 1946.