Post by jnealYou know of any good documents available on the net concerning
collaboration of the nazis and arabs?
I recall there was one pretty good post by Deborah on the subject in these
NGs.
We might start somewhere around 1935: when Hitler introduced the Nuremberg
racial laws, he received telegrams of congratulation from all corners of the
Arab world. For reference look up Howard Sachar's 'A History of Israel: From
the Rise of Zionism to Our Time, p.196.
In a letter dated January 20, 1941, and addressed to Hitler, the Mufti of
Jerusalem (Arafat's uncle, by the way!) appealed for German aid to the Arabs
to fight Zionists on the grounds that this would "cause the Jews to lose
heart," especially in the United States, and that in turn would prompt
Roosevelt to abandon his support for Britain. In other words, if you help
the Arabs, the Axis wins the war (http://www.meforum.org/article/268 )
The Mufti Haj Amin el Muhammad Husayni even paid a personal visit to
Hitler, to propose the Germans to carry out the "final solution" for the
Jews of Arab countries, including Palestine.
( http://www.meforum.org/article/263,
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/728053/posts )
The Mufti appealed over the Nazi radio for Arabs and Muslims to revolt
against Allies. Mattar of the Institute for Palestine Studies
unapologetically asserts in the Middle East that Husayni
"Cooperated with the Nazis ... and he assisted in anti-British
and anti-Jewish propaganda campaigns and in recruitment of
Muslims for the war effort. He attempted but failed to limit the
number of Jews leaving Axis countries for Palestine.
His association with the Nazis tainted his career and his cause."
( http://www.meforum.org/article/417 )
At that time, Hitler busy with his European campaign, suggested that the
Arabs should start on their own.
Following Hitler's advice, the Mufti had initiated a series of bloody
pogroms throughout Arab lands.
In Palestine, the Mufti formed "youth troops" fashioned after the Hitler
Youth in Germany. As Kimmerling and Migdal point out, "Palestinians had the
young, brown- and black-shirted fascists to emulate." (Kimmerling and
Migdal, Palestinians, p. 101.) In June 1941 the Mufti-inspired pro-Nazi coup
of Rashid Ali sparked rioting and pogrom in Baghdad. Armed Iraqi mobs, with
the complicity of the police and the army, nurdered 180 Jews and wounded
almost 1000. (Myths and Facts, A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, by
Mitchell G. Bard, p. 203)
Arab achievements during WWII
(http://members.tripod.com/~marcin_w/index-2.html ) :
Iraq. Iraqi armed forces never participated in any operations.
Lebanon. At the start of the war Lebanon created two infantry battalions
(Bataillons de Chasseurs Libanois) and one cavalry squadron (these units
formed an integral part of the French "Levante" Army that was stationed in
Lebanon and Syria); in 1941 these units participated in military operations
against British and Free French forces while fighting on behalf of the Vichy
army. In the aftermath of Vichy surrender in Lebanon, they were placed under
Free French command by the victorious Allies. These units formed the nucleus
of the future new Lebanese national army. Following the liberation of
Lebanon from Vichy control, the combat role of Lebanese military formations
had practically ended.
Saudi Arabia. The armed forces of Saudi Arabia did not participate in WWII.
Syria. Following the French surrender in 1940, Syria was placed under Vichy
administration. The Germans began to construct military airfields on Syrian
soil with the silent approval from General Dentz (the regional French high
commissioner), with the aim of supporting a pro-Axis coup in nearby Iraq.
These airfields located at Damascus, Palmira, and Rayak (the latter in
Lebanon) were already up-and-running by the first half of 1941. In response
to these threats, the British forces of General Wilson occupied both Lebanon
and Syria by 08/06/1941.
The Arab Legion, [Arabic Al-jaish Al-'arabi] police force was raised in 1921
by British Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Gerard Peake in what was then the
British protectorate of Transjordan, to keep order among Transjordanian
tribes and to safeguard Transjordanian villagers from Bedouins. In 1939
Major Glubb Pasha, became the legion's commander and transformed it into a
military unit (approx 700 people), which took part in re-occupation of
Syria.
We need not forget also the formation of the Bosnian Muslim 23rd Waffen SS
("Kama") Division; the formation of the Bosnian Muslim 13th Waffen SS
("Handjar") Division; review of the formation of the Albanian 21st Waffen SS
("Skanderbeg") Division; collaboration of Balkan Muslims with the Croatian
Ustachi; the composition and combat operations of joint Croatian/Muslim
Wehrmacht units; an overview of the many Muslim units that fought with the
Axis powers; discussion the Waffengruppe-Der SS "Krim" (composed of Chechen
Muslims and the forebearers of the Chechen rebels currently active in
Russia.)
- Islam Under the Swastika and its Implications for Today,
http://www.spitfirelist.com/f414.html (be careful though: this site
sometimes makes crazy assumptions - when they depart from historical facts
and launch into speculations about modern connections.)
You will find more information in these 2 books by the same author:
Title: Lions of the Desert: Arab Volunteers in the German Army 1941 - 1945
Author: Antonio J. Munoz
Price: $18.00
Publisher: Axis Europa Books
Basics: Soft cover, color covers, 8.5"x11", 36 pages, numerous maps and
drawings, plus 21 extremely rare photos, 2nd Edition
ISBN: 1-891227-03-3
Title: The East Came West: Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist Volunteers in the
German Armed Forces 1941 - 1945
Author: Antonio J. Munoz, Editor
Price: $50.00
Publisher: Axis Europa Books
Basics: Hard cover, dust jacket, 8.5"x11", 332 pages, numerous black & white
photographs, charts and illustrations
ISBN: 1-891227-39-4
Description: This book presents the complete history of Muslim, Hindu and
Buddhist volunteers in service of the German armed forces. Just like
volunteer units composed of men from the countries of Western Europe, the
Wehrmacht made extensive use of volunteers from Eastern European, Middle
Eastern, and Southeast Asian countries. Muslims from Eastern Europe, the
Soviet republics, and even India and the Middle East all served in the
Wehrmacht, as did Hindu and Buddhist soldiers from Southeast Asia. Such
units served with the Germans on all fronts of the war - from North Africa,
to the Eastern Front, to the hedgerows of Normandy and the final defense of
Germany itself. This book provides a complete history of these units, from
their recruitment and reasons for serving in the Wehrmacht, to their
training, unit organization and operational history. All major units are
covered, including units from both the German Army and Waffen-SS. The
detailed text is accompanied by numerous photographs, orders of battle,
charts and illustrations.
Regards,
TK9
