The whole world was engulfed and hit with conflict during the Second World War. Only Antarctica,
outside of global warming, was saved from being hit by the global affair. Yet, focus
is almost always given to three theaters, the Pacific, European, and to a much lesser extent,
the North African Campaign. Yet, many other regions, and nations, were caught up in this
conflict as well. And in today's video, we will exploring one of the conflicts, that tends to not
get mentioned much in the re-telling of history. This is, the British Invasion, of Iraq.
Iraq came under British control, following the end of WW1, the nation was established as a mandate,
which granted them some levels of autonomy, but were still subject to British control. The nation
would gain full independence in 1932, but a previous treaty signed in 1930, granted the
British military base rights and unrestricted troop transport through the nation. By 1937,
few British troops were left in the territory. However, as war brewed in Europe, the two British
air bases in Iraq, one near Basra and another in Habbaniya. These bases were used to secure
British oil interests in the region, and at the start of the second world war, would also
act as training base and recruitment centers for British troops in the region. In September 1939,
the Iraqi Government broke off diplomatic relations with Nazi Germany. In March 1940, the
nationalist and anti-British, Rashid Ali replaced Nuri as-Said as Prime Minister of Iraq. Rashid Ali
made contacts with German representatives to establish some levels of diplomatic relations
between the two governments, though he was not yet an openly pro-Axis supporter. In June,
when Italy joined the war, the Iraqi government did not break off diplomatic relations. And the
Italian Legation in Baghdad became the chief centre for Axis propaganda and for fomenting
anti-British feeling in the region. On April the first of 1941, former prime minster Rashid Ali,
and a section of pro-German senior military officers, overthrew the Iraqi government in
a coup, and aimed to push the nation into an alliance with the Axis powers in Europe,
viewing the British government control in the region, as to weak to contest this move, yet,
for the rest of the month. Reinforcements for both Iraqi and British forces, were raised and
flooded into the country. On May the first, tensions between the two, would boil over.
The British in the region at the start of the conflict, had around 24,000 men
raised and equipped under the command of Major-General William Fraser. This included
a handful of British regulars, as well as a slew of colonial troops from around the area,
many of which, had been transported from India, or were locally raised militia units. The
British also had an armored car company, made up of 18 Rolls Royce armored cars,
made during the early 1920's. The company also had two functional large tanks and a
single Carden Loyd Tankette. They could field around 100 aircraft including a mix of Gloster
Gladiator biplanes, Hawker Audax biplanes, Hawker Hart light bombers, and a handful of
others. The British navy in the area, consisted of four patrol ships, later reinforced by the
Aircraft carrier HMS Herrmis, and two light cruisers, with the ability to call upon ships
from the Eastern station squadron if needed. Naval combat, did not occur during this war.
The Iraqi's force, was composed of around 60,000 men, most in four infantry divisions
and one mechanized brigade. With the Mechanized Brigade, composed of a light-tank company,
an armoured-car company, two battalions of motorised infantry, and an artillery
brigade. The Iraqi army, while fairly decently equipped, was not particularly well trained,
and a large section of it, was comprised of irregular and militia units. The Iraqi airforce,
was largely a mix of British and Italian built planes, 60 strong,
and centered out of Baghdad. With a naval force, consisting of four gunboats, and a minesweeper.
Fighting erupted, and was centered largely around the British base at Habbaniyal,
which the Iraqi's were besieging. On May the second, the British launched a series
of airstrikes against the Iraqi held positions. Throughout the day, the pilots from Habbaniya
flew 193 sorties and claimed direct hits on Iraqi transports, armored cars and artillery pieces,
losing only five aircraft themselves. The attacks surprised the Iraqis, government included. Many of
the solders in the army, thought that they were merely on training. The government,
didn't think that the British would actually fight, and instead, settle for a negotiated
surrender. For three more days, British aircraft would rule the sky's launching
heavy attacks on not only Iraqi supply lines, but also airfields in major cities, and even the Iraqi
encampments. By May the 6th, the Iraqi's let up the siege, leaving a large section of material,
including around half of all Iraqi artillery pieces. The siege at Habbaniyal, cost the British
around 100 casualties, while the Iraqi's suffered around 600, with many more being
captured the next few days. Iraqi reinforcements were spotted a few miles away from the base,
and RAF pilots gunned down hundreds, leaving the path to Baghdad, largely open.
The Germans had been informed of the on-going war, and after some deliberation, material and
weaponry would be sent to Iraq via Vichy French Syria. Including a number of German Aircraft,
under the command of Colonel Werner Junck. This force would numbering around two dozen craft,
all while attacking British held positions. Junck forces also aided in moving supplies
from Vichy Syria into Iraq, and by the 18th of May. Had lost around 30 of his air force,
being wittled down to just three craft by the end of May, and an Italian contingent
of a dozen aircraft was brought in, but they had little to do with the on-going fighting.
Habbaniyal was secured by the Mid of May, and, reinforced by troops from
Palestine and TransJordan, The British went on the offensive with the town of Fallujah
and Ramadi being the next main objective, before marching onto Baghdad itself. Both
towns were occupied by an Iraqi brigade, with Fallujah blocking the main route to Baghdad,
and Ramadi blocking any British troop movements to the west of their current position. However,
the forces at Ramadi, would be left, and not attacked, due to the heavy fortifications,
and the self-imposed flooding of the area. So all attention was focused at Fallujah,
with battle plans going into Motion, on the night of the 17th. A British party crossed the river,
and managed to capture a handful of Iraqi artillery pieces, with them
managing to capture the main bridge-way to the city. With a full on attack on the town starting
in the morning. By the 21st, Fallujah was in British hands, and they managed to hold off an
Iraqi counter-attack on the 22nd. At the same time that this was occurring. The British were
advancing from their base in Basra, even though their total forces, were slow in the advance,
but it deferred a heavy amount of Iraqi troops, that could have hindered Frasers movement.
On the night of 27 May, the British advance on Baghdad began. The advance made slow progress and
was hindered by the many destroyed bridges over the irrigation waterways which had to
be crossed. Faced with the British advance, the Iraqi government of Rashid Ali collapsed, and him,
along with a bunch of the cabinet. Fled to Iran. Later going on to Germany. The Mayor of Baghdad,
came to meet the British on the outskirts of the town, and they quickly signed a
peace treaty and armnestince, putting a halt to hostilities, and on On 2 June,
Jamil al-Midfai was named Prime Minister of Iraq, while a pro-British monarch and government,
was re-established in the nation. And while this would largely put down the war in Iraq, the forces
under British command would not yet be finished, and instead, Iraq would be used as a spring-board
to launch an invasion to both the west, and east. But that is a topic, for another time.