Operation Countenance
Most ASL players are pretty knowledgeable about the Second World War, but one of the forgotten theatres is the Middle East. Not Africa, but Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran.
In 1940, after France surrendered and Great Britain was hard pressed in North Africa, events occurred in this region that could well have raised serious problems for the Allies, but never coalesced into the threat that some in the Foreign Office might well have feared.
After the first World War, the League of Nations broke up the Ottoman Empire and divided its holdings among the English and the French. Outside of this arrangement was Persia. The rump of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, remained independent but lacked a great deal of control in Kurdish areas in its Northeast. In fact, much of the Middle East was an artificial collection of tribes and sub-national interests.
Palestine and Lebanon were pretty firmly under British control. Iraq, while nominally independent, could best be identified by a British protectorate, governed independently with the input of a British Governor.
Syria was a French protectorate but was, in fact, a colony. Both the British and the French had a military presence in each of these proto-national places. However, after the fall of France in 1940, Syria falls under the influence of the Vichy government. This is important because it blocks rail lines between Baghdad and Beirut. The direct route between Lebanon and Iraq crosses what is generally considered an impassable desert. Instead, communications must be routed through the Suez canal, across the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Arabia and finally through the Persian Gulf.
Persia (the use of the moniker Iran was just beginning) was in a process of modernizing. Obviously, the Allies had no interest in seeing a militarily strong Iran and other countries gladly filled the role in providing exports. Iran enjoyed modern equipment like the Czechoslovak LT-35, 105mm artillery and the M1315 Czech Mauser--a very fine rifle for its day which continued in use as late as the Iran Iraq War.
Baghdad, after the fall of France, became a hotbed of political intrigue. Spies and political plotting became common place, as the British found themselves occupied elsewhere. Italy, in particular, found Iraq an tremendous possibility to open a second front on the British behind the Suez Canal. In 1941, a group called the "Golden Square," mostly military men but with a touch of Islamic fundamentalism, staged a coup with an attempt to throw the English out. The British responded successfully, with an attack from India as well as a daring cross-desert attack. The coup ends with Islamic fundamentalists heading out to Germany to learn about anti-antisemitism and the Generals founding the secular Bathist movement.
Golden Square.
In Iran, the rapid material modernization was not matched with a social modernization and cronies bought their way into the ranks of the military. Training rounds were never expended and the Imperial cavalry was so powerful and respected that the new Czech tanks sat in an autopark untouched.
After Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in June, Churchill approached Stalin with an idea to "keep communications open in the winter months." The British would attack from the west and south and the USSR would attack into the Northwest at Tabriz. It was to be called Operation Countenance.
After years of broken promises to share the oil wealth of Iran by improving working and living standards, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company was in danger of being nationalized by the Persian monarchy. The chief reason for Operation Countenance was to prevent this from happening. Persia appealed to the US for help in coming up with a diplomatic solution, but the corrupt status of the Peacock Throne prevented the US from taking an interest until after Operation Countenance was a fait accompli.
Namesake
Persian Carpet
Dangerous Pai Tak Pass
The rail line between Basra and Tabriz proved an important link for Lend Lease between the US and the USSR for the war years.
The Soviet Union helped establish a Kurdish People's Republic in Northeastern Iran, which for a short time became independent. However, with the help of US weapons and training, Iran re-established dominance over the breakaway republic shortly after the war. The Soviet Union, in accordance with the Tehran Accords, withdrew from Northern Iran and Iran destroyed Kurdistan.
Kurdish Way
Namesake, Persian Carpet and Dangerous Pai Tak Pass were used in a mini-tournament in Chelmsford, UK in 2017. Kurdish Way appeared in A View from the Trenches in 2018. All of these scenarios have been playtested using the Catanzaro Balance System--which may take a little bit of getting used to. So take a look at them and let me know what you think.
In 1940, after France surrendered and Great Britain was hard pressed in North Africa, events occurred in this region that could well have raised serious problems for the Allies, but never coalesced into the threat that some in the Foreign Office might well have feared.
After the first World War, the League of Nations broke up the Ottoman Empire and divided its holdings among the English and the French. Outside of this arrangement was Persia. The rump of the Ottoman Empire, Turkey, remained independent but lacked a great deal of control in Kurdish areas in its Northeast. In fact, much of the Middle East was an artificial collection of tribes and sub-national interests.
Palestine and Lebanon were pretty firmly under British control. Iraq, while nominally independent, could best be identified by a British protectorate, governed independently with the input of a British Governor.
Syria was a French protectorate but was, in fact, a colony. Both the British and the French had a military presence in each of these proto-national places. However, after the fall of France in 1940, Syria falls under the influence of the Vichy government. This is important because it blocks rail lines between Baghdad and Beirut. The direct route between Lebanon and Iraq crosses what is generally considered an impassable desert. Instead, communications must be routed through the Suez canal, across the Red Sea, through the Gulf of Arabia and finally through the Persian Gulf.
Persia (the use of the moniker Iran was just beginning) was in a process of modernizing. Obviously, the Allies had no interest in seeing a militarily strong Iran and other countries gladly filled the role in providing exports. Iran enjoyed modern equipment like the Czechoslovak LT-35, 105mm artillery and the M1315 Czech Mauser--a very fine rifle for its day which continued in use as late as the Iran Iraq War.
Baghdad, after the fall of France, became a hotbed of political intrigue. Spies and political plotting became common place, as the British found themselves occupied elsewhere. Italy, in particular, found Iraq an tremendous possibility to open a second front on the British behind the Suez Canal. In 1941, a group called the "Golden Square," mostly military men but with a touch of Islamic fundamentalism, staged a coup with an attempt to throw the English out. The British responded successfully, with an attack from India as well as a daring cross-desert attack. The coup ends with Islamic fundamentalists heading out to Germany to learn about anti-antisemitism and the Generals founding the secular Bathist movement.
Golden Square.
In Iran, the rapid material modernization was not matched with a social modernization and cronies bought their way into the ranks of the military. Training rounds were never expended and the Imperial cavalry was so powerful and respected that the new Czech tanks sat in an autopark untouched.
After Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union in June, Churchill approached Stalin with an idea to "keep communications open in the winter months." The British would attack from the west and south and the USSR would attack into the Northwest at Tabriz. It was to be called Operation Countenance.
After years of broken promises to share the oil wealth of Iran by improving working and living standards, the Anglo-Persian Oil Company was in danger of being nationalized by the Persian monarchy. The chief reason for Operation Countenance was to prevent this from happening. Persia appealed to the US for help in coming up with a diplomatic solution, but the corrupt status of the Peacock Throne prevented the US from taking an interest until after Operation Countenance was a fait accompli.
Namesake
Persian Carpet
Dangerous Pai Tak Pass
The rail line between Basra and Tabriz proved an important link for Lend Lease between the US and the USSR for the war years.
The Soviet Union helped establish a Kurdish People's Republic in Northeastern Iran, which for a short time became independent. However, with the help of US weapons and training, Iran re-established dominance over the breakaway republic shortly after the war. The Soviet Union, in accordance with the Tehran Accords, withdrew from Northern Iran and Iran destroyed Kurdistan.
Kurdish Way
Namesake, Persian Carpet and Dangerous Pai Tak Pass were used in a mini-tournament in Chelmsford, UK in 2017. Kurdish Way appeared in A View from the Trenches in 2018. All of these scenarios have been playtested using the Catanzaro Balance System--which may take a little bit of getting used to. So take a look at them and let me know what you think.
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