1941 Iraqi coup d'état

Anti-British coup that brought Rashid Ali al-Gaylani to power 1941 Iraqi coup d'état the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II Younis bahiri (Far-left), Haj Amin al-Husseini (Center-left) and Rashid al-Gaylani (Center-right) at a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of the 1941 Iraqi coup d'éta in Berlin 1 April–2 May 1941 Kingdom of Iraq Golden Square victory Overthrow of government of 'Abd al-Ilah Formation of National Defence Government British intervention in Iraq Iraq 1924 Iraq Iraq 1924 Golden Square Iraq 1924 'Abd al-IlahRegent of IraqIraq 1924 Taha al-HashimiPrime Minister of Iraq Iraq 1924 Rashid Ali al-GaylaniIraq 1924 Salah al-Din al-Sabbagh3rd Division CommanderIraq 1924 Kamil Shabib1st Division CommanderIraq 1924 Fahmi Said Independent Mechanized Brigade CommanderIraq 1924 Mahmud SalmanChief of the Air Force Royal Guard 3rd Infantry Division1st Infantry DivisionIndependent Mechanized Brigade The 1941 Iraqi coup d'état (ar ثورة رشيد علي الكيلاني, Thawrah Rašīd ʿAlī al-Kaylānī), also called the Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani coup or the Golden Square coup, was a nationalist coup d'état in Iraq on 1 April 1941http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/scottjc/coup.htm Scott James C The Coup Iraqi Coup California State University, Sacramento 9 August 2001 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071024000835/http://www.csus.edu/indiv/s/scottjc/coup.htm 24 October 2007 that overthrew the pro-British regime of Regent 'Abd al-Ilah and his Prime Minister Nuri al-Said and installed Sharaf bin Rajeh as Regent and Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as Prime Minister. The coup was led by four Iraqi nationalist army generals, known as "the Golden Square", who intended to use the war to press for full Iraqi independence following the limited independence granted in 1932. To that end, they worked with German intelligence and accepted military assistance from Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13610702 Ehrlich Sarah Farhud memories: Baghdad's 1941 slaughter of the Jews BBC 1 June 2011 The change in government led to the British invasion of Iraq and subsequent occupation until 1947. Background and coup From 1939 to 1940, a pro-British regime headed by the Regent 'Abd al-Ilah and Prime Minister Nuri as-Said ruled Iraq. Iraq severed relations with Nazi Germany on 5 September 1939 following the outbreak of World War II in Europe. However, Nuri tread carefully between his close relationship with Britain and dependence on pro-German Iraqi army officers and cabinet members. By this time, Iraq had become a refuge for Palestinian Arab leaders who had fled Mandatory Palestine as a result of the failed 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine. Among the key figures to arrive was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, the Palestinian Arab nationalist leader of the failed revolt. On 31 March, Abd al-Ilah had learned of a plot to arrest him and fled Baghdad for RAF Habbaniya. From Habbaniya he was flown to Basra and given refuge on the gunboat Cockchafer 1915 6. The Golden Square coup was launched on 1 April 1941, overthrowing the Regent and installing Rashid Ali al-Gaylani as Prime Minister. Gaylani proclaimed himself "Chief of the National Defence Government" and called forward Sharaf bin Rajeh, a distant royal relative, to legitimize the government and coup by becoming Regent in place of Abd al-Ilah. Abd al-Ilah was then indicted in absentia for 'trying to undermine the army, for harming national unity and for flouting the constitution.' Faisal and his family took refuge in the home of Mulla Effendi. The Golden Square also arrested pro-British citizens and politicians, but many managed to escape through Transjordan. This new government was recognized by the Germans, but not the British.Jackson Ashley Persian Gulf Command : a history of the Second World War in Iran and Iraq 2018 Yale University Press New Haven 9780300235364 57–58 https://books.google.com/books?id=TspfDwAAQBAJ The Golden Square intended to refuse further concessions to Britain, retain diplomatic links with Fascist Italy, and exile prominent pro-British politicians. They thought Britain was weak and would negotiate with them.Lyman, p. 13. On 17 April, Ali asked Germany for military assistance in the event of war with Britain.Lyman, p. 16. Ali also tried to restrict British rights under Article 5 of the 1930 treaty when he insisted that any newly arrived British troops be quickly transported through Iraq and to Palestine.Lyman, p. 31. British response Anglo-Iraqi War As one of his first acts, Gaylani sent an Iraqi artillery force to attack the RAF base in Habbaniya. By the end of April, Iraqi troops held strong positions on the escarpment above the base, and a siege began. Iraq had been a major supplier of petroleum to the Allied war effort and represented an important landbridge between British forces in Egypt and India. To secure Iraq, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered General Archibald Wavell to protect the air base at Habbaniya. On 18 April, British forces from India landed in Basra, Sabine Force. In the Mandatory Palestine, another force was created to enter Iraq from the west and relieve RAF Habbaniya, Habbaniya Force. On 18 April, in response to the coup the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade was landed at Basra. The British could initially draw upon the RAF Iraq LeviesAIR 29/955/2, The National Archives, Kew, London especially in RAF Habbaniya, with elements of Iraqforce. The British government justified their invasion of Iraq under the terms of the 1930 Anglo-Iraqi Treaty. Siege of Habbaniya In the following days, the new Iraqi government moved substantial ground forces, including an infantry brigade, an artillery brigade, and 12 armoured cars as well as tanks http://assyrianlevies.info/battle---habbaniya.html Kiwarkis Gabriel The Battle for Habbaniya 1941 Assyrian RAF Levies to the plateau overlooking RAF Habbaniya, the large Royal Air Force (RAF) base beside the River Euphrates 50 mi west of Baghdad. Upon arrival, the Iraqis demanded that the British not move any troops nor aircraft in or out of the base. The British responded by first demanding that the Iraqis leave the area and then, following the expiry of an ultimatum given in the early hours of 2 May, launched an attack. The base had a force of 96 lightly armed aircraft, most of which were either purpose-built trainers or obsolete combat aircraft converted to training use. They also had an understrength battalion from the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), six companies of the Iraq Levies, 18 armoured cars and a company of RAF personnel, giving a total strength of 2,200 servicemen to defend the base.http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/opsrep.html Royal Air Force History (Campaign Histories) The Battle for Habbaniya – The forgotten war RAF dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080607110454/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/opsrep.html June 7, 2008 The Royal Iraqi Air Force, despite having aircraft that included numerous modern British-, Italian- and US-built machines, failed to achieve air superiority. By the second day of fighting (3 May), four Blenheim fighter bombers arrived.http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/airops.html History Section Royal Air Force dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080330201252/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/airops.html March 30, 2008 With British forces having air superiority, the Iraqi army was forced back to Fallujah and the RAF attacked the Iraqi Air Force bases at Mosul and Rashid. Habbaniya had essentially lifted the siege with its own resources. Reinforcements, officially called "Iraqforce", came from two directions. British and Arab Legion forces arrived in two columns (Habforce and Kingcol) across the desert from Palestine and Transjordan. Additional Indian forces continued to arrive in Basra. The Iraqi army was driven out of Fallujah and pursued to Baghdad, which fell within a week. This cleared the way for the nominal restoration of the Regent and the pro-British government. British military occupation of Iraq continued until late 1947. German and Italian support for the nationalists section October 2020 In the course of the Iraq war, minor reinforcements for the nationalists were received from first Germany and then Italy. Arriving aircraft were crudely painted with Iraqi colours. Small numbers of Luftwaffe (German air force) bombers and heavy fighters, followed a few days later by obsolescent Regia Aeronautica (Italian air force) biplane fighters, flew sorties from Mosul against both RAF Habbaniya and the relieving Empire forces moving across from Transjordan. This was done to little effect. The Vichy French authorities in the Syria and Lebanon had helped the pro-Axis Iraqi nationalists and the German and Italian air forces, providing airfields for staging and refuelling.August 2018 Even before the end of the Iraq campaign, this led to RAF attacks on airbases in Syria. Within weeks these events led to British and Empire forces invading Vichy-administered Syria and Lebanon in the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. See also 14 July Revolution Airspeed Oxford Fairey Gordon Farhud Fawzi al-Qawuqji Führer Directive No. 30 Gloster Gladiator Hawker Audax King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) Vickers Type 264 Valentia Vickers Wellington References Sources de Chair Somerset Somerset de Chair 1944 The Golden Carpet London Faber and Faber Dunford Wood James 2023 The Big Little War London Kensington Square 978-1739266806 Dudgeon Anthony G 2000 Hidden Victory: The Battle of Habbaniya, May 1941 Stroud and Charleston Tempus Publishing 0-7524-2001-1 Lyman Robert Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad Osprey 2006 1-84176-991-6 Campaign Oxford http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/opsrep.html Royal Air Force History (Campaign Histories) The Battle for Habbaniya – The forgotten war RAF dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080607110454/http://www.raf.mod.uk/history_old/opsrep.html June 7, 2008 http://storyofwar.com/category/habbaniya-campaign-iraq-1941/ Dunford Wood Colin Habbaniya Campaign, Iraq 1941 A Story of War 2 June 2011 – an RAF pupil pilot's diary of the Habbaniya campaign http://storyofwar.com/background/raf-habbaniya-daily-intelligence-bulletins/ Dunford Wood Colin RAF Habbaniya Daily Intelligence Bulletins A Story of War 4 March 2012 External links http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,772682,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20100624070755/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,772682,00.html dead June 24, 2010 Near East: Trouble in Paradise Time 21 April 1941 15 July 2009 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,851228,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080413032014/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,851228,00.html dead April 13, 2008 May 12 – U.S.S.R. recognizes pro-Nazi Government of Iraq. Time 30 June 1941 5 July 2009 Category:Anglo-Iraqi War Category:1940s coups d'état Category:1941 crimes in Asia Category:20th-century crimes in Iraq Category:Baghdad in World War II Category:Arab nationalism in Iraq Category:Arab nationalist rebellions Category:Arab rebellions in Iraq Category:Collaboration with Nazi Germany Category:1941 conflicts Category:Iraq in World War II Category:Iraq–United Kingdom relations Category:Iraqi nationalism Category:Kingdom of Iraq Category:Middle East theatre of World War II Category:Coups d'état in Iraq Category:Rebellions in Iraq Category:April 1941 in Asia Category:Fascism in Iraq Category:Fascist revolts Category:Events that led to courts-martial Category:1941 in politics Category:Political violence in Baghdad Category:Rebellions against the British Empire Category:Resistance to the British Empire in World War II Category:Germany–Iraq military relations Category:Iraq–Italy military relations