THE ANGLO-IRAQI WAR Belligerents
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THE ANGLO-IRAQI WAR DATE: MAY 02 – MAY 31, 1941 Belligerents Allies: Axis Powers: United Kingdom Iraq Germany Assyrian Levies Italy Palestine Transjordan India 'Abd al-Ilah loyalists Australia New Zealand Greece The Anglo–Iraqi War was the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. Operations lasted from 2 to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the ousted pro-British regent of Iraq, Prince 'Abd al-Ilah. The campaign further fuelled nationalist resentment in Iraq toward the British-supported Hashemite monarchy. Although Britain had nominally given Iraq her independence in 1932, she continued to assert a heavy influence in Iraq via a mandate supported by the League of Nations. Oil was a major reason for this continued influence, while the fact that Iraq linked up British India and Egypt was another. The discontent by some regarding this arrangement led to the overthrowing of regent Nuri as-Said's government by Prime Minister El-Gaylani Rashid Ali on 2 April 1941, installing a new regent. Not long after Rashid Ali established his new government, he demanded that the British make no movement in or near the important airfield at Lake Habbaniya near Baghdad, threatening military action. As a response, General Sir Edward Quinan's Iraqforce arrived at Basra on April 18. Basra was secured by the Indian 10th Division on 2 May. Also on 2 May, 96 makeshift British bombers attacked Iraqi positions south of the Habbaniya airfield. On 3 May, four Blenheim aircraft reinforced Habbaniya, which by this time was defended by 2,200 men, including many loyalist Iraqis. After the Iraqi air force was defeated, British air superiority soon led to a victory at Fallujah, and then on 31 May at Baghdad. By the time of the Baghdad battle, German and Italian aircraft were present in Iraq at Rashid Ali's invitation, but did not pose a significant threat to the British forces. Rashid Ali fled to Germany via Persia as his government fell. An armistice was signed on 1 June, re-establishing a pro- British government. A large British presence remained in Iraq until October 1947. THE AFTERMATH Casualties for the Allies were slight, although more than 200 were killed and 28 aircraft were lost. Axis losses totaled 1,750 casualties with more than 500 killed. Most of the serviceable Iraqi aircraft were destroyed, along with 19 German and 3 Italian planes. M’44 SCENARIOS FOR THE ANGLO-IRAQI WAR The Anglo-Iraqi War consists of 5 standard scenarios and 1 Breakthrough (BT) scenario. These scenarios chronicle the battles from May 02 – May 22 1941, although the conflict did not end until May 31. All scenarios come from the Scenarios from the Front (SFTF) files section on the DoW website. No campaign rules are included; not all M’44 players have access to the Campaign books. Instead, simply tally up the number of medals won in each scenario after playing both sides. A medal tally sheet for all scenarios is included below. There are a total of 70 medals if the Breakthrough scenario is included, and 58 medals without. 1. May 02: The Siege of Habbaniya 2. May 06: Habbaniya 3. May 07: Ashar 4. May 10: The Siege of Rutbar BT 5. May 19: Fallujah 6. May 22: Counter Attack at Fallujah SCENARIO (+ total medal count) P1…………. P2…………. 1. The Siege of Habbaniya (12) 2. Habbaniya (10) 3. Ashar (12) 4. The Siege of Rutbar (BT) (12) 5. Fallujah (12) 6. Counter Attack at Fallujah (12) TOTAL MEDAL TALLY Acknowledgments to the authors of the scenarios that make up this Anglo-Iraqi War compilation: oddball secret_strategem This Anglo-Iraqi War booklet was compiled by Semba .