Immigrants from German-speaking countries in Central Europe played a significant role in the building of the security establishment of the state in the making, and thereafter of the State of Israel. Thousands joined the Jewish Brigade of the British Army.
In 1942, The Palmach launched a volunteer track as an alternative to the British Army for the young immigrants in the kibbutzim. From among these young people the “German Platoon” was formed, under the command of Shimon (Koch) Avidan (1912–1994) and his deputy, Yehuda (Briger) Ben-Horin (1915–1974). The platoon was trained in cooperation with the British for sabotage missions over enemy lines. In January 1945, the platoon was incorporated into the Jewish Brigade; they left for Egypt and from there to Italy, where its soldiers took part in fighting the Germans.

Some of the Central European immigrants who had gained professional military experience already after World War I fulfilled key roles in the Haganah. The longest serving of these individuals was David Shaltiel, who would eventually command the Jerusalem District in the War of Independence and rise to the rank of general in the Israel Defense Forces.
The most senior immigrant officer from Austria in the Haganah was Sigmund von Friedmann, better known as Eitan Avisar (1892–1964), a career officer in the Austrian Army in the days of the empire and the republic, and subsequently a general in the IDF. Many of the immigrants showed a special interest in their surroundings and their Arab neighbors; they learned Arabic and English and undertook on-going security positions and liaison work with Arab neighbors and the British Mandate’s police force and army.
Central European immigrants were also served prominently in the intelligence division of the IDF, the political department of the Israel Foreign Ministry, the Mossad and the Shin Bet security service.