The Golden Square (Arabic: المربع الذهبي, al-Murabbaʿ al-dhahabī), also known as the Four Colonels (Arabic: العقداء الأربعة, al-ʿiqdā' al-arbaʿa), was a cabal of pro-Fascist and pro Nazi army officers of the Iraqi armed forces who played a part in Iraqi politics throughout the 1930s and early 1940s. They conspired to overthrow the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq and expel the British presence in Iraq. The activities of the Golden Square culminated in supporting Rashid Ali al-Gaylani in his overthrow of government in 1941,[2] briefly instituting the Golden Square National Defense Government. However, the Anglo-Iraqi War resulted in the disbandment of the Golden Square.
| Golden Square | |
|---|---|
| المربع الذهبي | |
| Leader | Salah al-Din al-Sabbagh Kamil Shabib Fahmi Said Mahmud Salman |
| Dates of operation | 1930–1941 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Iraq |
| Motives | Overthrow of the Kingdom of Iraq |
| Headquarters | Baghdad, Iraq |
| Ideology | Arab ultranationalism[1] Pan-Arabism Nazism Fascism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Notable attacks | 1941 Iraqi coup d'état |
| Part of | Axis Powers |
| Allies |  National Brotherhood Party Nazi Germany Fascist Italy Vichy France |
| Opponents |  British Empire Hashemites |
| Battles and wars | Anglo-Iraqi War |
The officers desired full independence from Britain, and the formation of a pan-Arab state from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine, and a settlement of the intercommunal conflict in Mandatory Palestine.[3]
Details
editThe Golden Square included the four most important leaders of the "Circle of Seven". The Circle of Seven was a group of Sunni Arab nationalist military officers who were greatly influenced by German Ambassador Fritz Grobba and, in turn, greatly influenced politics in Iraq during the 1930s and early 1940s.[4]
Members
editThe members of the Golden Square were Colonel Salah al-Din al-Sabbagh, Colonel Kamil Shabib, Colonel Fahmi Said, and Colonel Mahmud Salman. During the Anglo-Iraqi War, the four members of the Golden Square commanded units located in the Baghdad area. Salah ad-Din al-Sabbagh was commander of the Iraqi 3rd Infantry Division. Kamal Shabib commanded the 1st Infantry Division. Fahmi Said commanded the Independent Mechanized Brigade. Mahmud Salman, the one non-Army officer, was the chief of the Air Force.[5]
The members of the Golden Square were virulently anti-British. In time, these men represented real power as successive Iraqi governments sought the support of the military for survival. The members of the Golden Square looked to Nazi Germany to support them and, for his part, Grobba enthusiastically encouraged them to do so.[6]
Iraqi coup d'état
editOn 1 April 1941, Rashid Ali and the Golden Square launched a coup d'etat to topple the government of the regent, Prince 'Abd al-Ilah. The subsequent Anglo-Iraqi War ended disastrously for Rashid Ali and the members of the Golden Square who, for the most part, fled Iraq as the British closed in on Baghdad. Shabib, Said, Salman, Sabbagh were all eventually returned to Iraq and executed.[7]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The German Side of the War in the Middle East 1939-1942. Stanford University. 1962. p. 41.
the notorious "Golden Square", four young ultra-nationalist colonels
- ^ "Near East: Trouble in Paradise". Time. 21 April 1941.
- ^ "eARMOR Axis and Allied Strategic Posturing in Palestine: Hidden Lessons from World War II". www.moore.army.mil. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
- ^ Tripp, p. 99
- ^ Lyman, p. 21
- ^ Lyman, p. 11
- ^ "World War: Middle Eastern Theater: Everybody Loses". Time. 9 June 1941.
References
edit- Al-Marashi, Ibrahim; Salama, Sammy (2008). Iraq's armed forces: An analytical history. Oxon and New York: Routledge. pp. 254. ISBN 978-0-415-40078-7.
- Lyman, Robert (2006). Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Campaign. Oxford and New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 1-84176-991-6.
- Tarbush, Mohammad A. (1982). The Role of the Military in Politics: A Case Study of Iraq to 1941. Campaign. London and Boston: Kegan Paul. p. 285. ISBN 978-0-7103-0124-6.
- Tripp, Charles (2002). A History of Iraq. Cambridge: Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. p. 311. ISBN 978-0-521-52900-6.