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Dafni, Reuven

Date of birth:
November 11th, 1913 (Zagreb, Austria-Hungary)
Date of death:
June 15th, 2005
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Born Ruben Kandt

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Warrent Officer 2nd Class
Unit:
Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:
November 15th, 1945
Citation:
"W.O. DAFNI volunteered for escape work in JUGOSLAVIA and was dropped by parachute into that country in March, 1944. Due to his knowledge of that country, and the people, and by the diplomatic manner in which he overcame the Jugoslav partisans distrust of representatives of other countries, DAFNI quickly established cordial relations with the partisan Commanders.

For seven months he was second in command of the escape mission and for a period, while the Commander was in ITALY, he was in sole charge. Briefing the partisans and the native population on the action to be taken when planes crashed was largely DAFNI's work, and, as a result, many rescued aircrew passed through the hands of the mission. He penetrated into AUSTRIA and established communication with two P/W camps there, although at that time no partisan hands were operating in the area.
In all his work for the Allied Cause, W.O. DAFNI proved himself to be courageous, enterprising and intelligent; he was undeviating in his devotion to duty."
Mentioned in Dispatches

Sources

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