British and Soviet invasion of Iran, 1941

[Kim Sung]

On August 25, 1941, allied British and Soviet forces invaded Iran because the neutral government denied to allow the allies to transport troops and material across the country from Pakistan to the Caucasian front. And there were some German intelligence networks in Iran.

Even if the transport was necessary, but did they have to invade a neutral country? Any opinions or additional infos?

[Bronsky]

Even if the transport was necessary, but did they have to invade a neutral country? Any opinions or additional infos?

This is strictly from memory and without looking anything up, but my understanding is that there had been a treaty between Britain and Persia giving the British transit rights in case they asked, or something like that.

Instead, there was a pro-German (or at least anti-British) coup in Persia and as a result the country reneged on the deal, also threatening to nationalize British-built railways or something like that. This provided the legal justification for the Allied invasion. Technically, what happened was that the Allies "restored" a "better" government which remained in charge of Persia until 1945 when Allied forces pulled out.

Iran didn't fare too badly under that deal, as the Allies essentially built up its rail infrastructure at their own expense. But obviously, had Persia not been in the way the British would probably have let the government change stand. The Germans had tried to stirr up unrest in the area during WWI already, without success.

[asiaticus]

There is a good book on this the operations of the Russians and British in Iran, Sunrise at Abadan by Richard A. Stewart, Praeger, ISBN 0-275-92793-8.

Somewhere in this archive is a discussion of the Soviet oob.
http://www.network54.com/Forum/116312

[Jeremy Chan]

Instead, there was a pro-German (or at least anti-British) coup in Persia and as a result the country reneged on the deal, also threatening to nationalize British-built railways or something like that.

Re the coup: you must be referring to the one in Iraq, 1941 launched by Gen Rashid Ali, against the pro-Allied emir?

Anyway, trying to be neutral, not to be biased, so here’s a snippet from Osprey Publishing's The British Army 1939-1945 vol.2: Middle East and Mediterranean by Martin J Brayley.

. . . and Germany was Persia’s biggest trading partner. The annual output of over 8, 400, 000 tonnes prompted the Allies to despatch an ultimatum to expel all German nationals; this was understandably rejected, giving the Allies a flimsy pretext to invade Persia on 25 August 1941. Resistance was easily overcome and the country occupied; Shah Reza Pahlevi was deposed in favour of his pro- Allied son, Mohammad Reza Pahlevi. A treaty was signed n January 1942 and ratified at the Tehran Conference . . .

In total, there shuld be about a page on Iran in that book.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jeremy

[asiaticus]

Jeremy

There is a lot in that book about the circumstances thal lead up to the operation. Basicly the Germans were a security worry to the Soviets and British that were desperate in August of 1941 to get a logistics link to each other thru Iran. British were in danger of loosing the Suez Canal and the Soviets were of course having their head handed to them by the Germans Barbarossa offensive.

When the Iranians did not comply with the demand to expell them the Soviets and British went in to secure that link. lt was not a total walkover there were several battles in the operation mostly with the British but some with the Soviets too. Iran being somewhat unprepared particularly for the Soviet attack, inexperienced and most of all outnumbered and outclassed lost. But several units especially when well lead gave a good account of themselves.

Their army was French trained including the officers, weapons fairly modern mostly Czech small arms, tanks and artillery, British Armored Cars, particularly in their guard units and their other divisions were being upgraded from their pre WWI armaments. Their airforce was made up of biplanes of recent design, Hawker Audax, Hinds.

They were building up a logisical base of ammo factories and such with German aid. It was definately a decent little army for its region and time.