The events in Iraq in 1941 had crucial strategic consequences. The country’s oil reserves were a highly coveted prize for the Axis powers, and its location provided a corridor in the defense of Palestine and the Suez Canal. Had Iraq fallen to the Axis powers, Britain could have lost its foothold in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and risked losing World War II. This book examines the strategy and tactics of the Iraq campaign, the role of the Indian Army and the Arab Legion, the nature of expeditionary warfare and the complementary roles of air and land power.

Contents:

• Origins of the Campaign: British colonial rule in Iraq and oil
• Chronology
• Opposing Commanders
• Opposing Forces: RAF Habbaniya, 10th Indian Division, 1st Cavalry Division and Arab Legion v. Iraqi Air Force, Iraqi Army, • Luftwaffe
• The Campaign
• Aftermath: occupation of Iraq
• Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Index