Blood, Oil and the Axis: The Allied Resistance Against a Fascist State in Iraq and the Levant, 1941

by John Broich

Spring 1941 was a high point for the Axis war machine. Western Europe was conquered; southeastern Europe was falling, Great Britain on its heels; and Rommel’s Afrika Korps was freshly arrived to drive on the all-important Suez Canal. In Blood, Oil and the Axis, historian John Broich tells the story of Iraq and the Levant during this most pivotal time of the war. The browbeaten Allied forces had one last remaining hope for turning the war in their favor: the Axis running through its fuel supply. But when the Golden Square—four Iraqi generals allegiant to the Axis cause—staged a coup in Iraq, elevating a pro-German junta and prompting military cooperation between Vichy French–occupied Syria and Lebanon and the Axis, disaster loomed. Blood, Oil and the Axis follows those who participated in the Allies’ frantic, improvised, and unlikely response to this dire threat: Palestinian and Jordanian Arabs, Australians, American and British soldiers, Free French Foreign Legionnaires, and Jewish Palestinians, all who shared a desperate, bloody purpose in quashing the formation of an Axis state in the Middle East. Memorable figures of this makeshift alliance include Jack Hasey, a young American who ran off to fight with the Free French Foreign Legion before his own country entered the war; Freya Stark, a famous travel-writer-turned-government-agent; and even Roald Dahl, a twenty-three-year-old Royal Air Force recruit (and future author of beloved children’s books). Taking the reader on a tour of cities and landscapes grimly familiar to today’s reader—from a bombed-out Fallujah, to Baghdad, to Damascus—Blood, Oil and the Axis is poised to become the definitive chronicle of the Axis’s menacing play for Iraq and the Levant in 1941 and the extraordinary alliance that confronted it.

Genres: History, World War II, Middle East, Nonfiction, World History, War, Military Fiction

456 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 7, 2019

Reviews

[munkchip]

This book is more about men and battles than the politics of the greater war; it provides a fascinating portrayal of the time and place, but largely neglects the behind-the-scenes aspects of the war. However, it was a good enough, and documented enough, book of the war on the ground and in the air. The attention to divided populations was the most interesting aspect; when we simplify the history of WWII to Allies and Axis, it is forgotten that Free French fought Vichy French forces, as well as the mixed allegiances of non-Europeans. My only real gripe was that the quotes at the start of the chapters were mostly from the 2000s rather than the 1940s, yet the link between these wars, if this was meant to suggest one, was never explored within the text.

I received an arc of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Zeb Kantrowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once the Axis had conquered most of Europe including Greece and Crete, and in North Africa was approaching the Suez Canal, Nazi eyes turned towards the oil fields in Iraq and Iran. With control of the Levant, the Nazis could attack the Canal from both sides, and up into Russia to capture the Caspian Sea oil fields.

The Vichy French refused to give the British or Free French access to Iraq, and they would fight to keep it. Here it gets very confusing, on the Axis side is the Vichy French, Luftwaffe planes and ground crews, local tribes that were working as mercenaries for the Germans, members of the Vichy Foreign Legion and the Royal Iraqi Army. On the side side with the British were a small contingent of the British Army (from Transjordan), the Arab Legion, the Free French, anti-Vichy Iraqis, what was call the Levies (who were local conscripts) and Indian Troops.

The one important point on the side of the Axis was their air force and tank corps. The British had few planes (many were Bi-Planes), little artillery and no armor. People changed sides constantly or just disappeared into the surrounding areas taking their weapons with them. The ingenuity that the British used, and the use of the Bedouin irregulars, allowed the British to force out the Axis troops and preserve the oil for the Allies.

Well writing and documented.

[Mark Levandoski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting blend of the telling of the strategic and personal stories related to the mid-east conflict early WW2. You will have a familiarity with most locations as they are prominent in current activities of history.

[Mike Kershaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting because it covers a portion of World War II known to few. Over reliant on secondary sources however so if you've read Slim or Masters, you'll be familiar with much of the story.

[Randall Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a very detailed, informative, interesting story about a thin slice of WW II history that is probably not familiar to many. I knew the general outline of this theater of operations in WW II, mostly through reading about ANZAC and Indian army activities during the war. Broich fills in the details with an easy-to-read narrative that focuses on a number of minor actors in the larger campaign. That style worked well for me, telling the big picture through the details of individual actors and military units. Others might not appreciate that micro level of detail about individuals and individual units engaged in the campaign. However, he seamlessly weaves their narrative into the larger story of the Brits unprepared and under-supplied units charged with fighting the well-prepared and well-supplied Vichy units in modern Syria and Lebanon.

Great read for WWII history buffs. Might not be interesting enough to hold the interest of the casual reader of WWII history.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting on several levels. It portrayed a part of World War II that most people are probably unfamiliar with. As an American, most of the books that I have read focus on events after 1941. Few, other than books about the Battle of Britain, focus on events prior to America's entry into the war. Even fewer concentrate on the smaller 'backwater' theaters of the war. I was surprised to find that the Iraqi government supported the Nazis. This book provides a refreshing British view of the early stages of the war and focuses on the men in the battles as opposed to the grand politics and skullduggery.

I recommend this book for anyone that is interested in the early phases of World War II or the 20th century history or the Middle East.

[Joe Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some interesting portions of this book, especially re British military activities in Iraq & the Levant early in WW2. But overall, not a great book. Worth a read if you're a WW2 buff like me.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book. Well researched and written it focuses on British actions in the levant. Fighting the Italians, Vichy French and the Iraqis the a cast of characters shows the power of the British and colonial Armies of WWII.

[Katlyn Bolingbroke · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok not great but ok

[wally walter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good account of a very little known part of the war