Figure 1.--This young Red Army soldier was part of the Soviet northern force that intervened in Iran. The wire service caption was, "Boy gunner of Soviet armored car: A boy gunner of a Soviet armored car peers from the turrent during the occupation of Teheran, Iran." The photograph ws dated December 5, 1941.

Reza Shah Pahlavi's central foreign policy of playing the Soviet Union off against the British worked for a while, especially when the Soviets and Germans as a result of the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (August 1939) became Worls War II allies. This changed abruptly after the NAZIs invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941). With the Soviets and British Allies, Reza Shah's neutral regime with pro-Axis leanings was isolated. Even with huge German advances in the Soviet Union and the Afrika Korps success in the Western Desert, Iran was exposed and had no way of receiving NAZI assistance. And also because of geography, Iran became critical to the Allied war effort. Getting war supplies to the beagered Red Army became a high priority for not only the Soviets and British, but the Americans as well who passed the Lend Lease program even before entering the War. The British had only limited aud to offer the the Soviets. The United States on the otyher hand was mobilizing its vast economy for war and massive shipments were being organized. The most direct route to the Soviet Union for both th British and the Americans was the Arctic convoys, but the Germans throuh U-boats, surface ships, and Norwegian air bases made that the deadliest run in the entire war. Shipping through Iran was longer and thus required more shipping per ton of supplies delivered. It was, however, much safer. And one of Reza Shah's development projects, the new Trans-Iranian Railroad, provided the means of getting war supplies to the Soviet Union. It connected Persian Gulf ports to the Soviet border. Shipping war supplies through Iran, however, would violate Iranian neutrality and Reza Shah refused to grant permission. This proved to be his undoing. The British issued another demand that Reza Shah expel German technicians. When he refused, this time they acted. The British and Soviets launched a coordinated intervention (August 26, 1941). The Soviets invaded from the north. The British from Iraq where they had defeated a pro-Axis rebellion and by troops landed along the Persian Gulf. There was only limited Iranian resistance. The Soviets and British quickly took control of Iran's communications and coveted railroad.

Reza Shah Pahlavi's Foreign Policy

Reza Shah Pahlavi's central foreign policy of playing the Soviet Union off against the British worked for a while, especially when the Soviets and Germans as a result of the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact (August 1939) became World War II allies.

Iraq

Rashid Ali strident anti-British and pro-Axis policies in Iraq brought British intervention. The Axis was unable to deliver effective assistance, even through Vichy-controlled Syria. This must have been noticed by Reza Shah.

Increased British Pressure

The British once in control of Iraq, increased the pressure on Reza Shah. Their primary concern was the substanyial number of German workers in Iran. The British suspected some were operating as NAZI agents which almost certainly was the case. The problem at the time was the security of Iraq which was the source of oil for the Btitish Middle Eastern army and naval forces in the eastern Mediterranean.

Soviet Policies

Stalin had convinced himself that Hitler would not strike in 1941, but would eventually. He thus was preparing for an eventual German invasion. Reza Shah in playing the British and Soviets off on one another was playing with fire. Hitler was Reza Shah admired and saw as a potential ally was attempting to convince Stalin to give up claims in the Balkans and instead move south into Itan nand British India. Molotov dismissed this offer. The Soviets, however, did have their eye on Iran. The Red Army completed plans to invade Iran (May 1941).

Barbarossa (June 1941)

Hitler to Stalin's complete surprise launched Operation Barbarossa (June 1941). Stalin had plenty of warning, but rejected them all. Barbarossa was the largest military action in history and was a huge initial success. Thre massive Axis armies struck deep into the western Soviet Union and smashed unprepared Red Army formations. The Red Air Force was almost completely destroyed. Many in Iran saw the German invasion as eliminating the Soviet threat to Iran. There was was even some public rejoicing. This was short lived because, the NAZI invasion essentially undid Reza Shah's foreign policy. With the Soviets and British Allies, Reza Shah's neutral regime with pro-Axis leanings was isolated. Even with huge German advances in the Soviet Union and the Afrika Korps success in the Western Desert, Iran was exposed and had no way of receiving NAZI assistance. Iran was even more isolated than Iraq had been.

Demands

The British had some restrints when they demande that Reza Shah oust German technicians. They were concened, with good reason, that if they intervened in Iran, the Soviets would also intervene. Now both Soviets and British demanded that Reza Shah expel the Germans to make sure an Iraq-style pro-Germancoup would not occur. Reza Shah resisted, both because of his pro-German leanings and because many ofthe Germans were specialisrt providing needed technical services. The Shah’s government was primarily to delay, hoping for a German victory over the Soviet Union. And the German reported great victories (June-July).

British Diplomacy

The NAZI invasion of the Siviet Union removed the primsry constraint on British intervention. Now not only were the Soviets not a threat, but the possibility of a joint intervention existed. Iran is a klarge country and British forces were bady streached. Thus there were two options for the British. The first owas an operation inthe southwest to sdeize the Iranian oilfields. The second was a joint operation with the Soviets, occupying a much larger area. British diplomats were still constrained by fear of the Turkish reaction which Churchill hoped to bring into theWar on the Allied side. Churchill also had to think about Roosevelt's reaction. It is not clear how Roosevelt responded, butvthere is no evidence he objected. Iranians diplomats did seek Turkish and American support.

Lend Lease

And also because of geography, Iran became critical to the Allied war effort. Getting war supplies to the beagered Red Army became a high priority for not only the Soviets and British, but the Americans as well who passed the Lend Lease program even before entering the War. The British had only limited aud to offer the the Soviets. The United States on the otyher hand was mobilizing its vast economy for war and massive shipments were being organized. The most direct route to the Soviet Union for both th British and the Americans was the Arctic convoys, but the Germans throuh U-boats, surface ships, and Norwegian air bases made that the deadliest run in the entire war. Shipping through Iran was longer and thus required more shipping per ton of supplies delivered. It was, however, much safer.

Negotiations

Shipping war supplies through Iran, however, would violate Iranian neutrality and Reza Shah refused to grant permission. This proved to be his undoing. With German armies advancing in the Soviet Union, Reza Shah's primary tactic was to delay. Today this seems foolish because we know what happened in Russia. But at the time, the NAZIs seemed unstopable and mant military analysts believed that the Germans were on the verge of victory. The British and Soviets understood very well what Reza Shah was doing. Negotiations were held with Reza Shah. Orders for the intervention were delayed several times. Reza Shadrefused, however, to compromise, attempting to drag out the negotiations. Finallt tiime ran out.

Intervention (August 1941)

The British and Soviets launched a coordinated intervention (August 26, 1941). The Soviets invaded from the north. The British from Iraq where they had defeated a pro-Axis rebellion and by troops landed along the Persian Gulf. There was only limited Iranian resistance. The Soviets and British quickly took control of Iran's communications and coveted railroad.

British Intervention: The South (August 1941)

The British intervention began as a naval action at Abadan on the Iraqi border. HMS Shoreham opened fire on the Iranian naval ship Palang (August 25). Both the British and soviet ambassadors presented what was essentially a declaration of war to the Iranian Prime Minister. The Royal Navy destroyed or captured most of the Iranian naval ships. There were also sone German merchant vessels. British and Indian forces seized the oil refineries at Abadan and Bander-I Shahpur. Iranian resistance was ineffective and uncoordunate. Iranian army units wereunprepared. Some units fought and others did not. The British quickly achieved their objectives around Abadan. RAF raids hit Iranian airbases and lines of communication. British and Indian ground forces struckn toward towards Qasr Shiekh.

Soviet Intervention: The North

The Soviets struck with even greater power in the north. The Red Air Force bombed Maku. Red Army ground troops attacked towards the city. The Iranian Army prepared to defend the city, but then withdrew south. The Sovuiets landed along the Capian coast at Bander-I Pahlavi.

Surrender

The Shah met with the ambassadors and orotested the action. He was apparently surprised, appareltlythinking his delaying tactics were working. He comparing the intervention to the German invasion of Poland which launched the War. He apparently did not mention the Soviet invasion of Poland. Iranians diplomats attempted to get the United States to mediate, without success. The Germans attempted to flee, but their options were limited. Iranian diplomats attempted to convince Turkey to assist them. The Iranian Army offered some resistance, but was not equipped or trained tio fight a modern war with the Soviets and British. Reza Shaf finally sued for peace and accepted the demands.

Reaction

There were street protests in Tehran to giving into the British and Soviets. There was also discontent in the Army, but as they were increasingly aware of the capabilities of the Soviets and British, there was no coup.

Abdication

Reza Shah was forced by the Soviets and British to abdicated in favour of his son.

Iranian Infrastructure

Muslim countries and preominately Muslim areas were some of the most backward areas on earth. Photograms taken in the late-19th century show societies that had changed littlde in a millenium. Most of the change that did occur was in the areas colonized by the Europens. There was almost no infrastructyre, technology, or medical science that was not European. It is interesting that Islamists today blwme their problems on the West and colonization. Never do they mention how backward the Muslim world or ever attempt to understand why that was. The most advanced state was the Ottoman Empire, but even the Ottomans were far behind the West. Iran or Persia at it was called until the 1930s was one of the Muslims countries that had virtually no modern infrastructure. Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925–41) set about developing the country's first modern ifrastructure bring the country for the fitst time into the modern world. He initiated a wide range of reforms, including founding an educational reform and legal system. He introduced modern industries. Some of the reforms andresulkting social change disturbed Persia's very conservative Islamic society which casued political stability. One of Reza Shah's most important development projects was the Trans-Iranian Railroad. It would play an important role in getting American Lend Lease supplies to the embattled Soviet Union. It connected Persian Gulf ports to the Soviet border. It was hardly sufficent for the quantity of supplies dlivered, but it provide a working railroad that could be expnded. Britain and the Soviets intervened in Iran to remove the NAZI-leabing Reza Shah and replace him with his son (1941). The United States set out to exppand Irans's infrastructure, including ports, roads and ard rail. As a result while most countries were devestated by World war II. Iran acquired the most modern ibfrastructure in the Middle East. Iran's mecrurial Islamicist president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-13), demanded reparations from the Unite States. The demand was soon dropped when Ahmadinejad could not point to any damage done, but a lot of modern ifrastructure that American built.

Sources

Stewart, Richard A. Sunrise at Abadan.

Created: 2:34 AM 3/28/2006
Last updated: 9:26 PM 9/6/2015