Shimon Avidan (Hebrew: שמעון אבידן; February 7, 1911 – September 11, 1994), born Siegbert Koch (Hebrew: זיגברט קוך), was an Israeli soldier and officer, the commander of the Givati Brigade during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.Born in Germany, he moved to Palestine in 1934, and lived on Kibbutz Ayelet HaShahar and then Ein HaShofet in Palestine. He fought with the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War.Avidan is also known for his activities in the Palmach in World War II.