Musings On Iraq review Iraq 1941, The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad
Musings On Iraq review Iraq And Syria 1941, The Politics and Strategy of the Second World War
Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny
Musings On Iraq review Persian Gulf Command, A History of the Second World War In Iran and Iraq
Musings On Iraq review Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The Nationalist Movement in Iraq 1939-1941
Musings On Iraq review The Role of the Military In Politics, A case study of Iraq to 1941
Musings On Iraq interview World War II In Iraq and Syria Interview With Case Western’s Prof Broich
1939
Sep 5 PM Said broke relations with Germany as WWII started Didn’t consult with
Golden Square officers that wanted concessions from British first
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq And Syria 1941, The Politics and Strategy of the Second World War)
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
1940
Jun 28 Italian Amb told Iraq it wanted an independent Syria Lebanon and Iraq as well
Ambassador didn’t check with foreign office beforehand
Jul 1 UK Cabinet decided to send division from India to Basra to pressure PM Gaylani who
refused to break relations with Italy and demanded changes to Anglo-Iraq Treaty UK Mideast Cmdr Gen Wavell opposed idea saying it would make situation worse Cabinet cancelled deployment
Jul 5 PM Gaylani made overture to Germany by sending Justice Minister Shawkat to meet
German Ambassador to Turkey von Papen Papen said that Middle East was Italy’s sphere of influence so Germany could only act as an intermediary Shawkat said Iraq wanted Germany to stop Italian imperialism from expanding in Middle East and support pan-Arabism instead Papen said Iraq should contribute to war vs England and Shawkat said that would happen Shawkat asked for Syrian govt to be restored and aid in Palestine
Jul 10 England decided to send Indian Div to Basra after PM Gaylani wanted to block
British troops moving through Iraq as part of Anglo-Iraq Treaty UK Middle East commander Gen Wavell afraid sending troops to Iraq would destabilize region so had unit sent to Egypt instead
Sep 1 PM Said said that all Iraqi railways rivers ports and airfields could be used by British
under Anglo-Iraq Treaty after German invasion of Poland
Sep 2 British asked Iraq to break ties with Germany Intern all Germans Provide aid if needed
Sep 3 PM Said advocated declaring war on German after British did Interior Min announced
it would censor all news due to outbreak of WWII
Sep 5 PM Said broke relations with Germany as WWII started Didn’t consult with Golden
Square officers that wanted concessions from British first Also arrested all Germans in Iraq and deported them to India
(Musings On Iraq review The Role of the Military In Politics, A case study of Iraq to 1941)
(Musings On Iraq review of Rashid Ali al-Gailani, The National Movement in Iraq 1939-1941)
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq And Syria 1941, The Politics and Strategy of the Second World War)
Sep 9 Mufti of Jerusalem who was living in Baghdad sent proposal to Italy Said in return
for Italian support for Arab nationalism and aid in Palestine Iraq would give it and Germany access to its oil block England from sending troops through Iraqi territory and secret treaty with Baghdad Proposal was first sent to Germans Italians had given to Mufti before with few results so had no confidence in him Germans were willing to give money and weapons to him if Italy agreed It did
Oct 18 German ambassador to Turkey told Iraq’s Finance Minister Shawkat Germany
supported Arabs but gave no specific promises or support
Nov 1 Report to UK cabinet said PM Gaylani had to be dealt with because of
contacts with Germany and refusal to sever ties with Italy
Nov 1 UK Chiefs of Staff recommended removing Gaylani via diplomatic moves
Nov 7 British cabinet decided to send emissary to Iraq to demand Regent remove PM
Gaylani from power for his overtures to Axis
Dec 5 US Amb to Iraq sent not to PM Gaylani saying he was worried about direction of
Iraq-English relations because of Gaylani’s overtures to the Axis
Dec 15 Foreign Minister Said wrote memo to PM Gaylani and Regent that Iraq had to
back England and US during WW2
1941
Jan 28 Regent of Iraq appointed 2 new ministers to offset PM Gaylani leading to PM to
plot against Regent
Jan 30 Regent of Iraq fled Baghdad for Diwaniya fearing retaliation by PM Gaylani
Jan 30 British were hoping to use Regent fleeing to spread unrest in Iraq to remove PM
Gaylani from power
Jan 31 PM Gaylani stepped down fearing civil war due to his reaching out to Axis that
had split govt and angered British
Jan 31 UK Foreign Office decided to give money to Regent to help him return to power
Feb 3 Gen Taha al-Hashemi became PM backed by Golden Square officers
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Feb 7 Germany told Italy it was thinking of arming Iraq and was going to give money to
Mufti of Jerusalem who was living in Baghdad
Mar 7 Head of Political Dept at German Foreign Ministry Ernest Woermann argued that
Berlin should find ways to send arms to Iraq but that Baghdad should not declare war on UK because couldn’t win
Mar 17 After consulting with UK Foreign Minister Suwaidi convinced PM Hashemi and
Regent to move against Golden Square officers Golden Square called on army to overthrow Hashemi
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Apr 1 PM Hashemi deposed in Golden Square officers’ coup after Hashemi tried
to remove them Regent Ilah fled Iraq to Jordan with help of British
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle of Fallujah 1941)
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Apr 1 US and England believed Iraq coup part of German plan in coordination with
invasion of Balkans and Libya Wasn’t
Apr 1 Golden Square officers thought British were plotting against them
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
Apr 2 Regent of Iraq arrived at British airbase at Habaniya Anbar after Golden Square
officers tried to arrest him after coup Regent tried and failed to organize resistance to coup in Basra Then fled to Jordan
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Apr 3 Golden Square officers picked Gaylani to become PM for 3rd time Started arresting
pro-British politicians
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Apr 3 British War Office asked commander in Middle East what forces available
for Iraq after Golden Square military coup
Apr 3 Nazi Germany sent letter saying it supported the Golden Square coup and would
lend military aid
Apr 4 British called new Gaylani govt illegal and distributed copies of message by Regent
to resist
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
Apr 4 Ultra intel in UK intercepted message from Italian amb in Tehran that Rome and
Berlin were going to send arms to Iraq via Syria
Apr 4 UK Chiefs of Staff asked Middle East commander Gen Wavell how many troops he
could spare for Iraq
Apr 6 British commander in Iraq asked for military reinforcements from Egypt but
turned down
Apr 6 Iraq banned British military from moving from Habaniya base Confiscated
radios from British Military Mission
Apr 7 UK Middle East commander Gen Wavell told War Office military intervention in
Iraq not possible and diplomacy should be used instead Wavell thought Regent of Iraq could be restored to power by strong statement and show of force by Royal Air Force
Apr 8 UK Joint Planning Staff said all measures should be taken to overthrow PM Gaylani
Apr 8 Churchill ordered Secretary of State for India to put together a military force to
send to Iraq
Apr 8 German Foreign Office said it supported Arab action against British for their Freedom
Berlin sent message to Mufti of Jerusalem in Baghdad that Germany willing to provide war aid to Iraq
Apr 9 German Foreign Minister von Ribbentrop was told Gaylani govt was pro-Axis and
Germany working on getting it arms from region Ribbentrop okayed arms shipments to Gaylani govt and sabotage in Iraq and region against English
Apr 9 Germany and Italy made joint statement of support for PM Gaylani promising
military and financial aid Encouraged Gaylani to confront England
Apr 10 London ordered India to send forces to Shaiba air base in Basra province and Basra
city
Apr 10 British expeditionary force put together in India to be sent to Iraq to deal with PM
Gaylani
Apr 10 PM Gaylani convened parliament and asked it to pick new Regent Selected
Sharif Sharaf veteran of Arab revolt and relative of Hashemite family
Apr 10 PM Gaylani gave speech at parliament that his govt would honor Anglo-Iraq Treaty
of 1930 to stall British action against him
Apr 10 Hitler decided to give military aid to Iraq
Apr 10 Italian ambassador to Iraq said Golden Square coup sign Iraq believed Axis was
winning WW2 and would soon be in Middle East
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Apr 11 UK Ambassador to Iraq wrote that PM Gaylani’s speech that he would honor Anglo-
Iraq Treaty deprived England of its best excuse against his govt and that his will should be tested by telling him British troops would be landing soon in Basra and travelling through Iraq which was right under treaty
Apr 12 British convoy left India for Basra with infantry brigade Then told its arrival would
be delayed until PM Gaylani told troops arriving to test his will
Apr 13 UK decided to go ahead with troop deployments to Iraq
Apr 16 Britain told Iraq that troops would be landing in Basra soon under Anglo-Iraq
Treaty
Apr 16 PM Gaylani agreed to allow British troops to land in Basra but demanded that
they immediately set out for Palestine or Egypt
Apr 16 German letter arrived saying it would support Iraq revolt against British
Apr 17 PM Gaylani asked Germany for military aid in case of war with British
Apr 17 British naval convoy moved towards Shatt al-Arab waterway in Basra
Apr 17 British battalion from India started arriving at Shaiba air base in Basra
Apr 18 Britain landed 20th Infantry Brigade in Basra Dock workers went on strike
Apr 18 British battalion from India completed deployment to Shaiba air base in Basra
Apr 18 PM Gaylani asked Italian Amb if Axis would give Iraq military aid against
British and Axis air power 1st time Iraq asked for military intervention from Axis
Apr 18 PM Gaylani asked UK Amb that no more British troops land in Iraq and they all
had to leave Iraq
Apr 19 British 20th Infantry Brigade finished its landing in Basra and 7 planes flown into
Habaniya airbase
Apr 20 Churchill told Foreign Secretary Eden that British troops landed in Iraq to
establish a base in Basra and control province
Apr 20 UK Amb told PM Gaylani that Iraqi forces in Basra would be reinforced to a full
division Said UK had no right to land troops and keep them in Basra
Apr 21 PM Gaylani asked UK Amb that no more British troops land in Iraq and they all
had to leave Iraq
Apr 21 Hitler told military aid to Iraq could only be delivered by air and that would require
stop in Syria which would need approval of Vichy France Hitler got intelligence of large British forces in Iraq and more arriving so was skeptical of providing aid to Gaylani govt
Apr 23 PM Gaylani asked for German military intervention in case of war with England
Apr 23 London decided to land an entire division from India in Basra
Apr 24 PM Gaylani and Mufti of Jerusalem met with Italian ambassador Told him they
were angry Axis had done nothing to help Iraq vs British
Apr 25 Iraq-Italian treaty signed to provide financial and military aid to Iraq for war against
UK Axis would get oil concessions and use ports and military bases
Apr 26 PM Gaylani asked Axis for military and financial aid against British
Apr 27 German Foreign Min Ribbentrop told Hitler that Gaylani govt was anti-British and
said that plans were underway to send military aid to Iraq and French arms from Syria
Apr 28 PM Gaylani and Golden Square officers decided to go to war with British Asked
Axis for military and financial aid for second time to be used against British
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
Apr 28 UK Amb to Iraq told PM Gaylani second contingent of British troops landing
at Basra Gaylani refused them entry Amb ordered start of evacuation of British civilians from Iraq
Apr 28 364 British troops airlifted to Habaniya air base
Apr 29 More British troops from 20th Infantry Brigade arrived in Basra Iraq protested
Apr 29 British Ambassador told British women and children to leave Baghdad because
of expected war with Iraq
Apr 29 PM Gaylani sent Iraqi forces to British air base at Habaniya Anbar 11th Inf Brigade
ordered to Baghdad to later be deployed to Anbar UK Emb in Baghdad informed UK forces in Habaniya Iraqi army heading their way
Apr 29 Iraqis flooded Habaniya area limiting movement of British troops there Occupied
Kirkuk oil fields Cut oil to Haifa and restarted flow to Lebanon for Vichy France that could be used by Axis
Apr 30 PM Gaylani refused permission for British troops to land in Basra
Apr 30 2 brigades of Iraqi soldiers surrounded British Habaniya base ordered British
to cease operations there Iraq had 9000 troops British 2250
Apr 30 Iraqi forces surrounded British embassy in Baghdad
Apr 30 PM Gaylani hoped to pressure British to leave Iraq without a fight
Apr 30 UK memo to Chiefs of Staff discussed destroying Iraq’s oil wells to deny them to
Germany
May 1 PM Churchill said all measures would be taken to restore Iraq including use of force
May 1 Iraqi High Command sent message to UK air commander in Iraq to halt all flights
which was refused Said if there was any interference by UK would be act of war
May 1 British decided on pre-emptive attack to move Iraqi army away from Habaniya
base in Anbar
May 1 PM Gaylani went to Turkish Amb to Iraq saying British violating 1930 treaty and
expected English air strikes any time Gaylani asked Turkish ambassador to contact British and try to stop conflict Message was passed to British ambassador to Iraq
May 1 Iraqi police opened fire on British workers in Rutba, Anbar England responded by
sending forces from Transjordan to town
May 1 British bombers sent from Egypt to Shaiba air base in Basra
May 1 1st Battalion of Iraq’s 11th Inf Brigade sent from Baghdad to Fallujah to confront
British
May 2 English commander at Habaniya base Anbar consulted with London and got
permission to attack Iraqis surrounding camp British planes bombed Iraqis starting Anglo-Iraq War British lost 22 planes and 10 pilots
May 2 Iraq launched air strike upon Habaniya base in retaliation Shelled air field damaging
40 planes British lost 13 dead and 20 wounded
May 2 Grand Mufti in Baghdad declared jihad against British after attack on Iraqi forces
in Habaniya
May 2 Iraqi forces took British fort at Rutba, Anbar
May 2 British troops broke up angry mob of Iraqis at Zubeila, Basra
May 2 Iraqi govt asked Germany for diplomatic relations to be restored and military aid
including planes
May 2 UK Chiefs of Staff ordered Mid-East Commander Gen Wavell to make plans to
destroy Iraq’s pipelines
May 2 Iraq’s 1st Inf Brigade ordered from Baghdad to Ramadi to block British troops from
Transjordan being sent to Habaniya Air Base 11th Inf Brigade sent to Habaniya
May 2 British took Iraq out of Sterling zone and had foreign banks close to impose
economic sanctions on Gaylani govt
May 3 2nd day UK bombing Expanded to Iraqi air bases and supply lines in Baghdad and
Diyala
May 3 Iraqi air force bombed Iraqi army in Ramadi by accident in night raid
May 3 Churchill ordered British troops to march from Palestine to Iraq
May 3 UK commander for Mid-East Gen Wavell given command of Iraq Complained no
forces to spare and negotiations should be used instead Wavell later claimed he could send a small force from Palestine to Iraq but it would threaten security in the region and again called for talks with Baghdad
May 3 PM Gaylani told Italian ambassador Iraq needed German and Italian air support to
deal with British, financial aid and a German military mission to work with Iraq General Staff
May 3 German Foreign Min Ribbentrop supported sending special representative to
Baghdad along with military liaison officers to set up arrival of German aid Also suggested sending fighter and bomber squadrons to Iraq Hitler agreed
May 3 Communists called on public to support Gaylani govt when war started Saw him as
anti-imperialist
May 4 British bombed Iraqi air bases in Baghdad and Baquba Destroyed or damaged
29 planes in Baghdad 14 in Baquba
May 4 British bombers arrived at Habaniya airbase from Egypt while Iraqis continued
to shell base 150 UK troops also flown into base
May 4 British troops in Habaniya base launched attack and failed to take Sin al-Dhibban
used to cross Euphrates and supply Iraqi troops outside base
May 4 British dropped leaflets on Baghdad saying war was with Gaylani govt not
Iraqi people
May 4 Regent broadcast radio message asking people not to follow Gaylani govt Baghdad
radio called on govt to arm the people
May 4 PM Gaylani sent diplomat to Tehran and told embassy in Turkey to pressure
Germans to send aid
May 4 UK Chiefs of Staff told Mid-East commander Gen Wavell he had to take action
against the Gaylani govt
May 4 UK War Sec Eden told Iraqi charge d’affaires if war continued and Germany joined all
of Iraq would become a battlefield
May 5 UK Mid-East commander Gen Wavell told to think up air strike plan against Kirkuk
oil fields Idea was later dropped
May 5 Gen Wavell told Chiefs of Staff didn’t think a force from Palestine could relieve
Habaniya Base in Anbar that their departure would threaten security in Palestine and Egypt therefore talks should be taken up with Baghdad
May 5 Iraqi troops at Habaniya ran out of ammunition and not re-supplied Began
withdrawing 300 captured by British
May 6 UK Foreign Min Eden told parliament if Iraq withdrew forces from Habaniya and
fighting stopped London willing to talk Policy was to remove PM Gaylani
May 6 Iraq launched largest air attack on Habaniya air base Iraqi army continued to withdraw
from outside base due to lack of water and rations 409 Iraqi soldiers captured Iraq launched 2nd air raid on Habaniya later that day Iraqis lost initiative in Anglo-Iraq War when gave up in Habaniya Had no plan or leadership to do more than lay siege to base
May 6 British and Assyrian forces took Sin al-Dhiban, Anbar captured 300 Iraqi soldiers
May 6 British planes destroyed Iraqi column heading for Habaniya inflicting over 1,000
casualties and prisoners taken
May 6 PM Gaylani told Mufti of Jerusalem to contact Germans and ask them for
immediate aid
May 6 German deal with Vichy France allowed military equipment to be moved from
Syria to Iraq to fight British
May 6 German air unit sent to Syria bound for Mosul to confront British
May 6 More British troops landed in Basra
May 6 Mob attacked Jewish hospital in Baghdad looking for British agents Burned parts of
facility
May 7 British troops took Ashar, Basra Iraqis bombed British Habaniya air base Iraqi forces
retreating from Habaniya ran into Iraqi units coming from Fallujah Columns stopped to consult Attacked and destroyed by British planes from Habaniya base
May 7 Jewish business and homes in Basra looted Notables in Basra organized protection of
Jewish areas
May 7 Communists sent letter to PM Gaylani calling for him to stop attacks on Jews Happened
after Jewish stores and homes looted in Basra in May
May 8 British Arab Legion left Palestine to take back Fort Rutba, Anbar from Iraqi police
One regiment refused to cross Transjordan border into Iraq
May 8 British Royal Air Force reported Iraqi air force combat ineffective Lost 25 planes
Another 20-30 heavily damaged
May 8 6 more English planes landed at Habaniya air base from Egypt
May 8 Vichy France agreed to transfer weapons from Syria to Iraq to use its air fields and okayed landing of German planes
May 8 Iraq Defense Minister Shawkat went to Turkey for talks Ankara offered end of
fighting permission for UK to use bases in Iraq In return UK would recognize Gayalani’s govt
May 8 Iraq Finance Minister Suwaidi went to Saudi Arabia to explain conflict with England
and ask for mediation Ibn Saud said Iraq should talk with London and end war
May 8 UK Mideast Cmdr Gen Wavell said not enough troops to take Baghdad and fight
Iraqi and Axis forces
May 8 People called on British army to take control of Basra city to stop looting of Jewish
business and homes They refused
May 9 Germany announced aid package for Iraq
May 9 German diplomat arrived in Syria to organize arms shipments to Iraq
May 9 Start of 100 German and 20 Italian airplanes landing in Syrian bases to fight British in
Iraq British intel found out about planes being flown from Greece to Syria and that Vichy France sending trains full of military aid to Iraq
May 9 British planes bombed Iraqi police holding Fort Rutba, Anbar while Iraqi
reinforcements arrived Bombed air bases in Mosul and Rashid
May 9 British commander in India Gen Auchinleck told Chiefs of Staff British had to deal
with Iraq
May 9 PM Churchill told Mid-East commander Gen Wavell he had to take bold military
action against Iraq and wouldn’t negotiation with PM Gaylani
May 10 New German ambassador to Iraq arrived in Mosul with 2 He 111 bombers
May 10 Iraqis abandoned Fort Rutba allowing British to capture it
May 10 UK India commander Gen Auchinlek advocated occupying Baghdad Mosul
Kirkuk to preclude German intervention Mid-East commander Gen Wavell replied that Iraq not as important as other fronts and he had limited resources
May 10 UK Mideast cmdr Gen Wavell told Churchill attack on Baghdad could start
Arab revolt Wavell told Churchill some Jordanian forces already refused to go to Iraq Wavell finally gave order for forces in Jordan to head for Habaniya Anbar Wavell ordered that Baghdad was not to be occupied
May 11 British forces left Haifa, Palestine heading for Habaniya, Anbar
May 11 More British planes landed as reinforcements at Habaniya air base
May 11 German military aid began arriving from Syria by train Stored in Mosul but
never used
May 11 German diplomat Dr. Grobba arrived in Baghdad along with 3 German planes and
20,000 Pounds for PM Gaylani
May 12 Soviet Union recognized PM Gaylani’s govt
May 12 British reinforcements from Palestine and Transjordan attacked by a German
Bomber as they entered Iraq
May 12 German air force liaison officer killed while trying to land in Baghdad during dog
fight between Iraqi and British fighter planes
May 12 PM Gaylani told German ambassador to Turkey that Ankara made offer to be
middleman with England Gaylani feared Ankara would intervene in Iraq German ambassador dismissed that idea
May 13 Iraq told German ambassador to Turkey that it agreed to Turkish offer to
mediate with England
May 13 Golden Square officers rejected Turkey’s offer to mediate with England and
threatened to shoot PM Gaylani if he accepted He offered to resign Mufti of Jerusalem had to intervene
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
May 13 1st trainload of Nazi German war supplies from Vichy France controlled Syria arrived
in Mosul to support PM Gaylani’s govt Never used
May 13 British forces bombed Syrian-Mosul railway to try to block Axis aid to Iraq
May 13 Jordanians from Palestine arrived at Fort Rutba in Anbar
May 13 German planes attacked British forces at Habaniya air base 1 British plane shot
down by German plane over Mosul
May 13 Egyptian Chief of Staff Gen Masri arrested while attempting to fly to Iraq to join
fight vs British
May 14 British force from Palestine took Rutba Strafed by Iraqi plane
May 14 Churchill authorized British air force in Iraq to attack German planes in Syria
May 14 2 British fighters flew out of Iraq and attacked 2 German bombers in Syria
damaging them
May 14 German war planes began landing in Mosul Were attacked by British planes
May 14 Iraq Finance Minister Suwaidi met German ambassador Told to take up Turkish
mediation offer to stall for time until Axis aid could be organized German ambassador promised German planes were arriving and military aid coming from Syria
May 15 German major arrived in Baghdad to lead Brandenburgers Commandorecon unit
in Iraq along with squadron of bombers and squadron of fighters Met with PM Gaylani Decided priority blocking Transjordan force from reaching Habaniya base Was too late to do that
May 15 Germany had total of 24 fighters and bombers in Iraq to help Gaylani govt fight
German planes were painted in Iraqi colors to hide their origin
May 15 British bomber attacked Iraqi column outside Rutba, Anbar
May 15 German plane bombed British force from Palestine heading towards Habaniya
May 15 British received intel that German planes flying to Iraq from Syria
May 15 Kurds began discussing revolt against PM Gaylani to take advantage of crisis with
British
May 16 While British planes bombed Iraqi column outside Rutba, Anbar English ground
forces were attacked by German planes
May 16 German planes attacked Habaniya base British destroyed 10 German planes in Irbil
and Mosul
May 16 German commander in Iraq agreed with Baghdad’s plan to retake Habaniya but
didn’t have forces to do it
May 16 Mullah Mustafa Barzani escaped Baghdad and headed for Sulaymaniya
May 17 British forces set out from Habaniya base to try to take Fallujah
May 17 10 British planes landed at Habaniya air base from Egypt and launched
attack on German planes in Mosul British bombed Baghdad air base Shot down 2 German fighters
May 17 German liaison officer with Iraqi govt killed by an Iraqi soldier flying into
Baghdad
May 18 British bombed Fallujah while troops begin surrounding town
May 18 Transjordan force arrived at Habaniya base in Anbar Were attacked by German planes
May 19 British took Fallujah from Iraqi forces after heavy bombing Was necessary to
cross Euphrates onto Baghdad 300 Iraqis captured
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
May 19 Iraqi command found out about loss of Fallujah and decided to launch
counterattack
May 19 Iraq Defense Minister Shawkat returned from Turkey Was accused of being a
traitor by Golden Square officers for talking about mediation with England Fled to Turkey
(Musings On Iraq review Iraq Between the Two World Wars, The Militarist Origins of Tyranny)
May 20 German planes attacked British Habaniya air base in Anbar
May 21 Iraqis launched counterattack attempting to retake Fallujah from British Entered
town
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
May 21 German planes bombed air base at Habaniya for a second day
May 21 Iraq launched raids into Basra city suburbs but failed
May 22 Iraq attempt to recapture Fallujah failed
(Musings On Iraq Iraq’s First Battle Of Fallujah 1941)
May 22 Regent of Iraq along with Nuri al-Said arrived at British base at Habaniya, Anbar
Said sent letter to Iraqi commander in Ramadi who agreed to switch sides
May 23 German planes attacked British forces in Fallujah Iraqi artillery shelled town
May 23 Hitler Order 30 Germany would support Arabs against British especially in Iraq
May 23 UK Mid-East commander Gen Wavell and Indian commander Gen Auchinlek met
in Basra Decided to send forces to Baghdad and more to be sent from India to Iraq
May 24 Mufti of Jerusalem told Italians Arab revolt hinged on Iraq and it needed more
support
May 25 British attacked Iraqis 6 miles up from Basra city 10th Indian Div ordered to head
north
May 26 2nd trainload of German military aid arrived from Syria Stored in Mosul but never
used
May 26 12 Italian planes landed in Kirkuk from Syria to operate under Germans Immediately
attacked British forces in Anbar
May 26 Mussolini met with German military attache’ and expressed concern about Iraq
Asked whether Berlin would give substantive or symbolic support to Iraq Mussolini told German military attache’ Iraq could turn tide in Mediterranean Attache’ said Berlin serious about Iraq
May 27 Operation Regulta began British forces marched north from Basra to Kut and
onto Baghdad Captured Ur
May 27 British forces moved from Fallujah to cut Baghdad-Mosul road and railway Forced
Iraqis out of Taji north of Baghdad
May 27 PM Gaylani told Italians he was disappointed with Axis assistance
May 27 UK Foreign Min Eden said that Regent Ilah lacked a strong character but he was
loyal to England
May 27 Germans began withdrawing from Iraq
May 28 British forces captured Khan Nuqta fort on march from Fallujah to Baghdad
May 28 British troops moved from Basra to Baghdad take Ur
May 28 British forces attacked Abu Ghraib canal but turned back by Iraqis
May 28 British intel spread rumor to Iraqi military that 100 tanks heading to Baghdad Led PM
Gaylani to flee
May 28 3rd shipment of German military supplies arrived in Mosul Never used
May 28 Iraq Chiefs of Staff decided to withdraw to Kirkuk to avoid British attack on
Baghdad PM Gaylani joined them
May 29 Italian planes got into dogfight with British planes over Baghdad 1 Italian and 2
British planes shot down
May 29 British defeated Iraqi forces at Abu Ghraib Turned back at Abu Ghraib canal in
push on Baghdad for second time
May 29 British forces defeated by Iraqi army at Kadhimiya, Baghdad
May 29 PM Gaylani told military leadership had fled to Persia leading to his own
escape there along with Mufti of Jerusalem
May 29 German ambassador to Iraq fled Baghdad for Kirkuk fearing British advance
May 29 Governor of Baghdad captured by British on trip to Samarra
May 30 Last brigade of British 10th Infantry Division from India landed in Basra
May 30 British troops reached Baghdad Iraqi army barracks in province bombed leading it
to ask for peace
May 30 Baghdad mayor and army officers approached British embassy asking for armistice
May 30 German Ambassador to Iraq Grobba fled to Mosul Told German Foreign Minister
Ribbentrop Iraqis still in the fight Ribbentrop said that more planes would arrive by June 1 Grobba said because of lack of fuel German planes would have to operate from Syria
May 30 Public order committees created to run Baghdad Paramilitary youth groups dissolved
and told to turn in weapons
May 31 Mayor of Baghdad worked out peace treaty with British surrendering city
May 31 Yunis Sabawi pro-Nazi leader appointed himself governor of southern Iraq
and told Jews to stay in homes
May 31 German ambassador to Iraq told Berlin UK-Iraq armistice signed False rumor British
seized Mosul airport forced him to flee to Syria
May 31 German High Command told German planes heading to and based in Iraq to
gather in Aleppo until further notice
Jun 1 Regent of Iraq returned to power after PM Gaylani overthrown by British
Jun 1 497 Iraqi soldiers killed and 695 wounded British lost 150 troops during Anglo-
Iraq War
Jun 1 Regent welcomed at airport by group of Jews from Baghdad who were attacked
on way home 1 Jew killed 16 wounded Violence continued into capital
Jun 1 Farhud anti-Jewish pogrom in Baghdad started with police soldiers and paramilitary
youth group Then spread to looters Around 120 people killed and 850 wounded
Jun 1 Yunis Sabawi pro-Nazi leader who appointed himself governor of southern Iraq
planned pogrom against Jews but deported by British
Jun 1 British troops barred from entering Baghdad during Farhud UK Foreign Office
thought it would look bad for Regent to return to power backed by English troops
Jun 1 German Gen Felmy head of military mission to Iraq arrived in Syria after Anglo-
Iraq War was over
Jun 2 Jamil al-Midfai named PM in new govt after PM Gaylani overthrown by British
Jun 2 Anti-Jewish pogrom the Farhud in Baghdad continued until curfew imposed 135-189
Jews killed 700-1000 wounded 10 raptes 550 stores 900 apts looted
Jun 2 Regent of Iraq Ilah ordered end to Farhud Sent army into Baghdad Killed large number
of people looting and attacking Jews
Jun 2 British intelligence officer asked why British troops weren’t sent to Baghdad to stop
the Farhud Thought London didn’t want to upset the Regent
Jun 2 UK 20th Indian Brigade ordered from Basra to Baghdad to help secure area
Jun 3 3rd train load of German military aid arrived from Syria Stored in Mosul after war ended
Jun 3 British troops occupied Mosul after overthrowing Gaylani govt
Jun 5 British forces occupied Kirkuk
Jun 6 British forces sent to Haditha and pushed insurgents led by Qawujki into Syria
Jun 7 British forces crossed from Iraq into Syria attempting to capture German diplomat
Dr. Grobba
Jun 8 British campaign started against Vichy French in Syria using troops in Iraq
Germany used Syria to supply pro-Nazi Gaylani govt in Iraq
Jun 9 Another British brigade landed in Basra to help secure country after PM Gailani govt
overthrown in Anglo-Iraq War
Jun 9 Iraq broke relations with Italy for being member of Axis at request of British
Jun 10 British air force destroyed train shipment of German military aid heading for
Iraq from Syria Anglo-Iraq War already over
Jun 16 Another British brigade landed in Basra to help secure Iraq after Anglo-Iraq War
Oct 10 Nuri al-Said became PM 3rd time
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