Although an unofficial underground movement, the Hagana ("defense" in Hebrew) was the primary quasi-military body of the Jewish community in Palestine and the Zionist Movement during the time of the British mandate, prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. From that time, the Hagana became the army of the state of Israel – ‘Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) (in Hebrew, Tzva Hagana Le-Yisrael – Zahal).
The Hagana was established in 1920 and operated during the next decade under the auspices of the Workers Union ("Histadrut”, in Hebrew). Following a period of Arab rioting, in August 1929, the Hagana became the "official", though secret, military wing of the Zionist Jewish Agency and the National Jewish Committee (Vaad Leumi) of Palestine.
The Hagana General Command comprised six public representatives from the left and center-right Jewish parties. The main assignment of Hagana was to provide security to Jewish life and property against Arab violence, which had caused the deaths of more than 700 Jews between 1920 and 1939.
The museum is located on 23 Rothschild blvd., built on 1923. The front of the building and two of its rooms were preserved. The new exhibit showcases the evolution of the settlements and the force of the Hebrew Shield from 1970 and until the end of the independence war or 1949 with the declaration of the state of Israel. The exhibit is accompanied by audio-visual presentations.