IRQ - Iracká armáda [1932 -1958]

Iraqi Army
After the end of World War I, Great Britain, together with France, acquired large territories in the Middle East that had previously belonged to the Ottoman Empire.On January 10, 1919, Britain formed a new state, Iraq, from the former Ottoman provinces of Basra, Baghdad, and Mosul. The population of these provinces was a mixture of different religious and ethnic groups. For several months after the creation of Iraq, the British were already listening to the discontent of the population for their presence in the country. The territory of the newly created state (under British occupation) was placed under the administration of Great Britain by a decision of the League of Nations on 25.04.1920. In the month of May 1920, another uprising broke out in Iraq, similar to the Arab uprisings during World War I. In its suppression, the British army suffered heavy casualties, which eventually forced the government in London to agree to declare Iraq a kingdom under British control. After the experience of the Arab uprisings, and because of the need to reduce the size of its forces, Britain decided to give greater support to a national armed force loyal to the British government.


The history of the Iraqi Army, as the army of an independent state (at that time a British dominion), began on 21 January 1921 (some sources give 21 June 1921) when the first battalion began to be formed from volunteers. On 28 July 1921 the construction of the battalion was completed in the city of al-Kadhmia, where the first army headquarters was also established.


On 23.08.1921, the royal government was officially established in Iraq and Iraq became a monarchy. King Faisal, a member of the Hashemite dynasty, the former ruler of Syria, who had to leave the country at the insistence of France, the new administrator of the territory, became king.


Iraq was not a natural state formation. The only border of the state that was historically declared was the border with Persia (Iran). The border with Turkey in restive Kurdistan was set at the Lausanne Peace Conference in 1923, the desert borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia were drawn on a map by the European powers, and the unrecognized border (on Iraq's side) with Kuwait (a British protectorate since 1899) was determined by Great Britain and was never quite accepted by Iraq.


After the establishment of the monarchy, the headquarters of the newly formed army is moved to the city of Hilla, where Iraqi soldiers replace the British garrison. Just as the British arrests its military presence in Iraq, so the Iraqi army is reinforced. The existing battalion is reorganised into the 1st Cavalry Battalion and the Royal Guards Battalion. Between November 1921 and April 1922, the 2nd Battalion is formed. The total strength of the Iraqi Army reaches 4,000 volunteers and three Army units form garrisons in the cities of Mosul, Baghdad and Hilla. Each unit also has medical capabilities.


The emergence of a new state under the British protectorate has not brought peace to the country. In 1922-1924, Kurds led by Sheikh Mahmoud rebelled in the north of the country. The most intense fighting between 19.03 and 18.06.1923, in addition to the formed Iraqi militias, British (120 Battery Royal Artillery, 2nd Battalion, The Prince of Wales′s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment), 2nd Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)) and colonial troops - in addition to the Assyrian Levies (a unit of Iraqi origin), also Indian (14th Sikh Regiment) and Australian units (mountain artillery), for example.


In 1926, the Mosa Al-Khadum Battalion joined the Iraqi Army and the army's numbers continued to grow. By the end of 1929, it reaches 10,446 personnel (582 officers, 9,864 non-commissioned officers and men).


Between 1927 and 1931, the germ of the Iraqi Air Force is formed, which officially begins its operations on 22.04.1931 with the arrival of the first trained Iraqi pilots including aircraft from Great Britain.


In 1928 (08.01 - 03.06.1928) another insurgency was crushed in the desert areas of southern Iraq. The Iraqi Army was already fully involved in its suppression, supported by RAF aircraft and Australian Imperial Force officers and non-commissioned officers in an advisory role.


Another riot and armed uprising broke out in 1932 (15.03.-21.06.1938) in northern Kurdistan. Iraqi forces participated in its suppression, along with RAF aircraft and Iraqi Levies.


On 03.10.1932, Iraq gained independence, became a member of the Commonwealth and remained a member of the Commonwealth. Independence is conditional on Britain's continued military presence in Iraq (including the free movement of troops). Among other things, three air bases remain in use by Britain in Iraq.


In 1934, compulsory military service was introduced. The growing army (military leaders) felt the need to get involved in political life, which resulted in the first military coup in the country - on 29 October 1936 Gen. Bakr Sidqi. The coup was recognized by the King which resulted in even greater intervention of the army in politics. In 1939, King Ghazi of Iraq attempted to annex the former province of Kuwait (then under British administration) to Iraq, but his efforts ended with his death on 03.04.1939 in an automobile accident. The effort to take control of Kuwait stretches throughout Iraq's modern history, culminating in the 1991 occupation of the territory.


In 1941, the army strength reached 41,000. At the beginning of World War II, the Iraqi government supported the Axis powers; in 1941, open fighting broke out between the Iraqi and British armies, leading to the Allied occupation of Iraq (Baghdad fell on 30 May 1941 and the Iraqi army formally surrendered on 31 May 1941).
In 1943, occupied Iraq declared formal war on Germany, and other Allied troops (including Polish troops evacuated from the USSR) began to form on its territory.


After the end of World War II, the Iraqi army was reduced in size, reaching 20,000 men in 1948, including the gendarmerie.


On October 26, 1947, the occupation of Iraq ended and Allied troops withdrew from the territory. Britain was left to use the two air bases of Habbaniya and Shaibah.



Reduction did not prevent the Iraqi army from participating in the 1st Arab-Israeli War in 1948-1949.


02.05.1955 Britain ended its military presence in Iraq and handed over its bases to the Iraqi army.



On April 17, 1958, a group of Iraqi army officers staged a successful military coup, overthrowing the king and declaring a republic in Iraq.



Source:
http://www.regiments.org/nations/mideast/iraq.htm

www.globalsecurity.org

orbat.com
orbat.com
Hubert Krolikowsky, Czeslaw Marcinkowsky - Irak 2003, Dom Wydavniczny Bellona, 2003
URL : https://www.valka.cz/IRQ-Iracka-armada-1932-1958-t51228#195522 Version : 0

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Zloženie Irackej armády 15.04.1941


1st Division - Bagdad
2nd Division - Kirkúk
3rd Division - Bagdad
4th Division - Diwanija
Mechanized Force - Bagdad
Mountain Battery (3,7" húfnice) - Zubeila
Mountain Battery (2,75" húfnice) - Amara
Mountain Brigade
Field Battery 18 pounder - Zubair
Mountain Battery (3.7" húfnice)


Iraq Air Force


River Flotilla Iraq Navy
URL : https://www.valka.cz/IRQ-Iracka-armada-1932-1958-t51228#195564 Version : 0
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