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The Most Overlooked Campaign of World War II
The Forgotten Syria-Lebanon Campaign
Unlike World War I, World War II isn’t known for its Middle Eastern theaters. In fact, the Middle East is one of the least recognized places in the grand scheme of the conflict. It is greatly overshadowed by the events that took place in North Africa and the Caucasus. Despite that, there were many important developments and fierce battles that took place in the Levant that have been largely forgotten — even by the countries that fought these battles.
The Middle East was a vital region for the British Empire during World War II. It was the critical linkage between the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean. Egypt was critical to keeping the supply lines open that connected east and west. (These supply lines were also critical for the Soviet Union’s later war effort.)
The Germans knew that the Middle East was a potential weak point for the expansive British Empire. This is why Rommel was attempting to seize bases in North Africa from which to try and dislodge the British from Egypt or capture the Suez Canal. It is also the reason why Germany and Vichy France welcomed the rise of a nationalist, anti-British government in Iraq in 1941. (That was short-lived. The British immediately waged war on Iraq and deposed this new upstart ruler.)
