title: Shlomo Erell
text: # Shlomo Erell
  
  Shlomo Erell (20 November 1920 – 20 November 2018) was a Major General in the IDF, and the seventh Commander of the Israeli Navy.
  
  ## Early life and family
  
  Erell was born in Poland in 1920 and was taken to Mandate Palestine by his parents in 1926. His family moved to Petah Tikva, but eventually settled in Tel Aviv. In his youth, he was member of the Betar youth movement.
  
  ## Career
  
  With the outbreak of World War II, Erell joined the British merchant marine. In January 1941, his ship was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-boat. Erell was rescued and after recuperating, he returned to the navy. After the war he was discharged from the Navy at the rank of captain. With the outbreak of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War Shlomo Erell joined the Israeli Navy and he became the captain of the Israeli Naval vessel Palmach. The Palmach was credited with many operations in the Sinai and in Lebanon.
  
  After the war, Erell continued as an IDF officer. He held many posts including being the IDF military attaché in the Israeli embassy in Italy, and commander of the Israeli Navy's missile ships. In January 1966, Erell was promoted to the rank of Aluf (Major General) and became the Commander of the Israeli Navy. In 1968, he resigned from his posts as Commander of the Israeli Navy and he retired from the IDF.
  
  After retiring, Erell received a master's degree in administration from Columbia University. In the 1970s, he became a member of the Likud party and from time to time he was brought in by Israeli leaders as an advisor of Naval issues.
  
  ## Death and legacy
  
  Erell died on 20 November 2018, on his 98th birthday.
  
  ## Published works
  
  * Erell, Shlomo (2000), Diplomacy in the Depths of the Sea. Ma'ariv Publishing.
  