Arab Legion: Difference between revisions
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There was considerable embarrassment from the [[United Kingdom]] government that British officers were employed in the Legion during the conflict and regular British officers, including a [[brigade]] commander, were instructed to return to Transjordan. This led to the bizarre spectacle of British officers leaving their units to return to Transjordan before sneaking back across the border to rejoin the Arab Legion. Without exception all of the affected officers returned to their units. One British [[Member of Parliament|MP]] called for Glubb Pasha to be imprisoned for serving in a foreign army without the [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King]]'s permission. |
There was considerable embarrassment from the [[United Kingdom]] government that British officers were employed in the Legion during the conflict and regular British officers, including a [[brigade]] commander, were instructed to return to Transjordan. This led to the bizarre spectacle of British officers leaving their units to return to Transjordan before sneaking back across the border to rejoin the Arab Legion. Without exception all of the affected officers returned to their units. One British [[Member of Parliament|MP]] called for Glubb Pasha to be imprisoned for serving in a foreign army without the [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King]]'s permission. |
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At [[Latrun]], the Legion blockaded the [[highway 1 (Israel)|Jerusalem highway]]. Legion troops were involved in the [[Kfar Etzion massacre]]. On [[May 28]], [[1948]], aided by [[Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car]]s, they conquered the [[Jewish Quarter]] of [[Jerusalem's Old City]] (i.e. inside the walls of the Old City), expelled the Jews who lived there and took part in the destruction of the [[Synagogue]]s therein. The Legion also secured the [[West Bank]] for Transjordan.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} |
At [[Latrun]], the Legion blockaded the [[highway 1 (Israel)|Jerusalem highway]]. Legion troops were involved in the [[Kfar Etzion massacre]]. On [[May 28]], [[1948]], aided by [[Marmon-Herrington Armoured Car]]s, they conquered the [[Jewish Quarter]] of [[Jerusalem's Old City]] (i.e. inside the walls of the Old City), expelled the Jews who lived there{{Fact}} and took part in the destruction of the [[Synagogue]]s therein. The Legion also secured the [[West Bank]] for Transjordan.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} |
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==Aftermath== |
==Aftermath== |
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Revision as of 12:16, 18 December 2007
The Arab Legion (al-Jaysh al-Arabī) was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan. The Arab Legion is not to be confused with the "Transjordan Frontier Force."
Creation
In 1921, the Hashemite Emir Abdullah I of Transjordan raised an armed force of 1,000 men and called it the "Transjordan Frontier Force." The name changed to the "Arab Legion" in 1923. The force was formed by Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Gerard Peake as a police force to keep order among the tribes of Transjordan and to guard the important Jerusalem-Amman road. Originally, the Transjordan Frontier Force consisted of only 150 men and most of them were stationed along Transjordan's roads.
In 1939, John Bagot Glubb, better known as Glubb Pasha, became the Legion's commander and transformed it into the best trained Arab army.
World War II
During World War II, the Arab Legion took part in the British war effort against pro-Axis forces in the Middle East Theatre. By then the force had grown to 1,600 men. The Legion, part of Iraqforce, contributed significantly in the Anglo-Iraqi War and in the Syria-Lebanon campaign. These were two decisive early victories for the Allies.
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The Legion was the most successful of the Arab armies during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. It consisted of 4 battalions and several independent companies plus support troops. The Legion was initially removed to Transjordanian territory, under instruction from the United Nations, prior to the end of the British Mandate. With the commencement of hostilities the Legion re-entered Palestine.
There was considerable embarrassment from the United Kingdom government that British officers were employed in the Legion during the conflict and regular British officers, including a brigade commander, were instructed to return to Transjordan. This led to the bizarre spectacle of British officers leaving their units to return to Transjordan before sneaking back across the border to rejoin the Arab Legion. Without exception all of the affected officers returned to their units. One British MP called for Glubb Pasha to be imprisoned for serving in a foreign army without the King's permission.
At Latrun, the Legion blockaded the Jerusalem highway. Legion troops were involved in the Kfar Etzion massacre. On May 28, 1948, aided by Marmon-Herrington Armoured Cars, they conquered the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City (i.e. inside the walls of the Old City), expelled the Jews who lived there[citation needed] and took part in the destruction of the Synagogues therein. The Legion also secured the West Bank for Transjordan.[citation needed]
Aftermath
Following the war, the Legion was reformed as the army of Jordan.
See also
Books
- P.J. Vatikiotis, (1967). Politics and the Military in Jordan: A Study of the Arab Legion, 1921-1957, New York, Praeger Publishers. ISBN