On March 12, 1915, Vladimir “Ze’ev” Jabotinsky and Joseph Trumpeldor founded the Jewish Legion of the British Army, fighting hard to liberate occupied Palestine from the Ottoman Empire, which had controlled the region for centuries. The Legion was the first real Jewish fighting force since the revolt against the Byzantines in 613-625 CE. The Jewish Legion proved vital to Allied forces during World War I and was crucial for paving the way for Jews to become autonomous in the land of Israel.In 1921, the World Zionist Organization requested that the Judean Regiment remain an active part of British forces in Mandatory Palestine until the fulfillment of the Balfour Declaration. The British government continued to go back on its promises to the Jews in the new mandate, such as the establishment of a Jewish homeland and the allowance of immigration, and sought instead to appease the growing anger of the local Arab population, in some cases even going as far as instigating riots against local Jewish communities. Soon, the first anti-Jewish riots broke out in Jerusalem. The British army reacted by confining the remnants of the Jewish Legion to their barracks. The necessity grew for the former Jewish Legion to take matters into its own hands and reorganize itself into the first active and independent Jewish resistance. Jabotinsky organized two companies, which, together, formed the Haganah (“The Defense”). The companies stormed the Damascus and Jaffa Gates guarded by British soldiers, resulting in Jabotinsky and 19 others being arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. After the arrest gained world attention, public demand resulted in Jabotinsky’s parole. For the first time in nearly two millennia, the Jews had a real fighting army and began their long journey on the road to independence.