I have heard that no trip to Jerusalem is complete without visiting Ammunition Hill. This is the site of one of
the bloodiest battles fought during the Six Day War on June 6, 1967. Even though it resulted in an incredible victory - the reunification of Jerusalem - it cost the lives of many soldiers. Ammunition Hill has an interesting history. In the 1930's the British built a police academy in north Jerusalem and used the nearby hill to store their ammunition, which is how the hill got it's name. In 1948, during the Israeli War of Independence, the Jordanians captured Ammunition Hill. Once it was in the hands of the Jordanians, the heavily fortified hill served as a strategic way to control the entire surrounding area.
In 1967, during the Six Day War, 150 Israeli paratroopers attacked the hill. Due to bad military intelligence the Israelis thought they outnumbered the Jordanians by 3 to 1. Instead, the numbers ended up being pretty even. The two countries engaged in some intensive hand-to-hand combat that resulted in deaths of 36 Israelis and 71 Jordanians.
Today, Ammunition Hill serves as a somber memorial to commemorate all the Israeli soldiers - killed during the Six Day War. It also serves to celebrate an incredible victory - the reunification of Jerusalem. The site has well preserved trenches, bunkers, and tanks. In addition, it also has an in-depth museum which documents not only the Six Day War, but also the Armed Jewish Resistance to the Nazi's in Europe. Finally, Ammunition Hill serves as the main Jerusalem induction center for new IDF recruits.
