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| − | + | [[Image:Uzi Gal.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Uziel Gal, 1953]] | |
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'''Uziel "Uzi" Gal''' ('''עוזיאל "עוזי" גל'''), born '''Gotthard Glas''' ([[December 15]], [[1923]]–[[September 7]], [[2002]]), was a German-born [[Israel]]i gun designer best remembered as the designer and namesake of the [[Uzi|Uzi submachine gun]]. | '''Uziel "Uzi" Gal''' ('''עוזיאל "עוזי" גל'''), born '''Gotthard Glas''' ([[December 15]], [[1923]]–[[September 7]], [[2002]]), was a German-born [[Israel]]i gun designer best remembered as the designer and namesake of the [[Uzi|Uzi submachine gun]]. | ||
| − | Gal was born to Erich and Miele Glas in Weimar, [[Germany]]. His parents divorced when he was young and he grew up mostly with his mother, in a farmhouse filled with antiques, including some old weapons. When the Nazis came to power in [[1933]], his Jewish school moved to England with all its students. In 1936, at the age of 13, Gal would join his father, who had earlier emigrated from Germany and settled in Kibbutz Yagur in the British Mandate of Palestine | + | Gal was born to Erich and Miele Glas in Weimar, [[Germany]]. His parents divorced when he was young and he grew up mostly with his mother, in a farmhouse filled with antiques, including some old weapons. When the Nazis came to power in [[1933]], his Jewish school moved to England with all its students. In 1936, at the age of 13, Gal would join his father, who had earlier emigrated from Germany and settled in Kibbutz Yagur in the British Mandate of Palestine. |
After graduation, he joined the Palmach (underground infantry forces of the Hagana) and specialized in weapons maintenance. In [[1943]] he was arrested by [[British]] forces (who ruled Israel until 1948) for illegally carrying a gun and sentenced to six years in prison. He was pardoned and released in 1946, after serving more than two years of his sentence, and returned to Yagur. | After graduation, he joined the Palmach (underground infantry forces of the Hagana) and specialized in weapons maintenance. In [[1943]] he was arrested by [[British]] forces (who ruled Israel until 1948) for illegally carrying a gun and sentenced to six years in prison. He was pardoned and released in 1946, after serving more than two years of his sentence, and returned to Yagur. | ||
==The UZI== | ==The UZI== | ||
| − | [[File:Uzi 1.jpg| | + | [[File:Uzi 1.jpg|right|250px]]Gal participated in several battles in northern Palestine during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, also known as the War of Israeli Independence, and was sent to an officer training course after the state of Israel was established in May 1948. While there, demonstrated the [[submachine gun]] prototype he had developed on his own while living in Yagur. Having impressed his superiors with the performance and simplicity of his prototype, Gal was promptly sent to work at the [[Israel Military Industries]] to continue developing the gun. |
In [[1951]], after more than two years of development and modifications, The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) adopted the new weapon as its official submachine gun and named it UZI, after its developer, despite the unassuming Gal's repeated (and ignored by his superiors) protests that the new weapon should not be named after him. Despite the worldwide success of his invention, Gal never once received any royalties for his work on the original UZI — as a career officer, he felt that he should not receive such royalties because his creative work was part of his normal duties and his contribution to the country's security. | In [[1951]], after more than two years of development and modifications, The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) adopted the new weapon as its official submachine gun and named it UZI, after its developer, despite the unassuming Gal's repeated (and ignored by his superiors) protests that the new weapon should not be named after him. Despite the worldwide success of his invention, Gal never once received any royalties for his work on the original UZI — as a career officer, he felt that he should not receive such royalties because his creative work was part of his normal duties and his contribution to the country's security. | ||
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Gal was decorated with Tzalash HaRamatkal (Israel Chief Of Staff Citation) in [[1955]] and became the first person to receive the Israel Security Award, when it was presented to him by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in [[1958]], in recognition of his work on the Uzi. | Gal was decorated with Tzalash HaRamatkal (Israel Chief Of Staff Citation) in [[1955]] and became the first person to receive the Israel Security Award, when it was presented to him by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion in [[1958]], in recognition of his work on the Uzi. | ||
| − | He married his second wife, Ahuva Frankel, in 1956 and their daughter Tamar was born in 1961. Ahuva devoted most of her time to caring for Tamar, who suffered from serious brain damage and needed special treatment and attention in order to benefit from regular schooling. | + | He married his second wife, Ahuva Frankel, in 1956 and their daughter Tamar was born in 1961. Ahuva devoted most of her time to caring for Tamar, who suffered from serious brain damage and needed special treatment and attention in order to benefit from regular schooling. |
Gal retired from the IDF in [[1975]] at the rank of Lt. Colonel, following a 27-year service wherein he worked on various projects for the Israeli government. The following year he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so that Tamar could participate in a specialized treatment program for her ongoing condition. Tamar died in 1984 from a brain tumor, and was buried in Kibbutz Yagur, Israel. | Gal retired from the IDF in [[1975]] at the rank of Lt. Colonel, following a 27-year service wherein he worked on various projects for the Israeli government. The following year he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so that Tamar could participate in a specialized treatment program for her ongoing condition. Tamar died in 1984 from a brain tumor, and was buried in Kibbutz Yagur, Israel. | ||
| − | While in the United States, Gal continued to work as an independent developer on various designs and projects | + | While in the United States, Gal continued to work as an independent developer on various designs and projects until he passed away on September 7, 2002, after a year-long battle with cancer. |
Uziel Gal was laid to rest in Kibbutz Yagur nearby to Tamar and Ahuva, just at the foot of Mt Carmel, and surrounded by three generations of the Gal family. | Uziel Gal was laid to rest in Kibbutz Yagur nearby to Tamar and Ahuva, just at the foot of Mt Carmel, and surrounded by three generations of the Gal family. | ||
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* [http://files.uzitalk.com/reference/pages/uzielgal.htm Uziel Gal] biography by his son, Iddo Gal | * [http://files.uzitalk.com/reference/pages/uzielgal.htm Uziel Gal] biography by his son, Iddo Gal | ||
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2246368.stm BBC obituary] | * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2246368.stm BBC obituary] | ||
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{{featured article}} | {{featured article}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gal, Uziel}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Gal, Uziel}} | ||
[[Category:Israeli firearms designers]] | [[Category:Israeli firearms designers]] | ||
[[Category:Israeli submachine guns]] | [[Category:Israeli submachine guns]] | ||
