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Iraq
Tag
(15)
1927
December
14
The Anglo-Iraqi treaty
On 14 December 1927 in London Britain recognised Iraq as independent and promised to back its entry to the League of Nations in 1932. Yet the mandate went on.
1939
September
05
Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia break off relations with Germany
In September 1939 Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia broke off relations with Germany. They met their obligations to London but did not declare war on the Reich.
1941
April
01
The Iraqi coup d’état
On 1 April 1941 the colonels of the “Golden Square” overthrew the pro-British government and regent Abd al-Ilah in Baghdad. Rashid Ali al-Gaylani took power.
18
The British land at Basra
On 18 April 1941 the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade landed at Basra; the day before, aircraft had begun flying a British infantry battalion into Shaibah.
30
The Iraqi siege of Habbaniya
On 30 April 1941 Iraqi troops occupied the plateau above the British air base at Habbaniya and demanded that flying stop. The base was under siege.
May
02
The Anglo-Iraqi War begins
At dawn on 2 May 1941 training aircraft from Habbaniya and Wellingtons from Shaibah struck the Iraqis above the base. Within five days the siege collapsed.
09
The fatwa of the Mufti of Jerusalem
On 9 May 1941 the Mufti of Jerusalem, Amin al-Husseini, proclaimed in Baghdad a fatwa calling on Muslims to wage holy war against Britain.
12
The USSR recognises Rashid Ali’s government
On 12 May 1941 the Soviet Union recognised Rashid Ali al-Gaylani’s government, then ten days into its war with Britain – a gesture by Stalin towards Berlin.
13
Fliegerführer Irak at Mosul
On 13 May 1941 the core of Fliegerführer Irak, a German air group sent via Vichy Syria to aid Rashid Ali’s government, reached Mosul.
14
The RAF against Vichy airfields in Syria
On 14 May 1941 London let the RAF attack German aircraft on Vichy Syria’s airfields. Bombs fell on Palmyra and Rayak – a prelude to war in the Levant.
17
The Battle of Fallujah
On 19 May 1941 British troops from Habbaniya took the Euphrates bridge at Fallujah, opening the road to Baghdad, and on 22 May repulsed an Iraqi counter-attack.
19
The Gabès pogrom
On 19–20 May 1941 a pogrom in Gabès, Vichy Tunisia, left seven Jews dead and about twenty wounded.
23
Directive No. 30
On 23 May 1941 Hitler’s Directive No. 30 named the Arab freedom movement a natural ally against England and granted Iraq modest aid. It came too late.
31
Baghdad surrenders
On 31 May 1941 an armistice ending the Anglo-Iraqi War was signed outside Baghdad. Rashid Ali and the Mufti had fled to Iran; the Regent returned on 1 June.
1943
January
16
Iraq declares war on the Axis
On 16 January 1943 Nuri al-Said’s government declared Iraq at war with Germany, Italy and Japan from midnight, and Iraq joined the United Nations.