** World War II -- the Holocaust in Iran Persia








The Holocaust in Iran


Figure 1.--Here the first group of the Tehran Children, actially Jewish Polih children, finally reached British-controlled Mandatory Palestine and safety (1943). The photograph was taken at the children's train from Suez reaches Rehovoth in what is now central Israel. It was a rare nit of good news for the Polish Jews in Palestine that were beginning to learn why they were not hearing from theor families in NAZI-occuped Poland.

Iranian officials claim that their country was not involved in the Holcaust and now are involved in an effort to prove that the Holocaust necer occurred. Like much that comes out of Teheran, there is often some accurate statements mixed in with outlandish lies and convuluted reasoning. It is true that Iran was not involved in the Holocaust, but left unsaid is that this is because the Allies deposed the pro-NAZI Government at the beginning of the War. Persia which the country was called when Hitler seized power in Germany, developed links with the new NAZI regime. The basic factor here was the anti-British attitude of the Persian Government. Reza Shah Pahlavi proved to be an earlier admirer of Adolf Hitler and the NAZIs. The NAZIs were seen as a powerful rival to British colonialism. As in the Arab world, the Shah Prsian leaders do not seem to have considered what would have happened to their county in a NAZI-dominated world. The Shah was also attracted to the NAZI concept of a master race to which he included Persians. The Shah even renamed his country Iran, which in Farsi means Aryan. This was a pointed linkage to the Proto-Indo-European lineage that NAZI racial theorists and Persian ethnologists concocted. Persia admitted Gestapo agents and other German operatives who p[erated openly in Tehran. The NAZIs saw Persia as a potentially useful base to cause trouble for the British as well as to persue their campaign against Jews. The most notable NAZI agent was Fritz Grobba, Germany's primary spokesman in the Middle East. He is sometimes referred to the "the German Lawrence" because he proposed a new Caliphate state stretching from Casablanca to Tehran.

Iranian Jewish Community

Iran has one of the oldest Jewish communities outside Israel. Jews first appeared in Iran at the time of the destruction of the First Temple (6th century BC). The Jews had been conquered by the Babalonians and many were brought back to Babylon as slaves. Cyrus the Great who founded the Archemid dynasty, conquered Babylon (539 BC). Cyrus allowed the enslaved Jews to return to Israel. Not all the Jews returned. Scattered Jewish colonies were established in Babylon and various Persian provinces as well as Hamadan and Susa. The experiences of the Jews in Persia under the Achaemids are desctibed in the Bible (books of Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Daniel). Jews in Persia tended to lived in their own communities. Persia was a huge multi-national empire. Thus Persian Jewish communities existed not only in modern Iran, but also what is now Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, northwestern India, Kirgizstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Jews during Sassanid dynasty prospered and spread throughout Persia, albeit they experienced some persecution (226-642 AD). Arab Muslims conquered Persia (642 AD). Persia became part of the Caliphate. Persia was an extremly backward state (19th century). Persian Jews were persecuted and suffered descrimination. Some Jewish communities were forced to convert to Islam. Some Jews as Zionism developed, emigrated to Palesine which at the time was an Ottoman province.

Qajar Dynasty

The Qajar Dynasty ruled in Iran (1795-1925). A Constitutional Revolution occurred in Iran just before World War I (1906-09). Iranian reformers sought to curb the arbitary power of Shah Muzaffar ad Din and install a modern elected parliament. The first Majlis was elected (1906). Iran at the time was not a state with a population willing to operate undermocracy and the ballot box. The result was disorders in the pfrovinces. Some of the population was nomadic with very traditional outlook. Many were unwilling to support the new government. In prt because of the growing instability, Britain and Russia sign the Anglo-Russian Agreement (1907). This divided Iran into spheres of influence,. The Russians achieved exclusive right to the north along the Cauususes. The British claimed the south along the Persian Gulf nd the east along British India. The treaty detailed a neutral sphere in central Persia which was open to both signatories. Mohammad Ali Shah sought to restablish royal power (1908). A brigade loyal to the shah with Russian officers fired on the Majlis. The Brirish discovered important oil fields in Iran (1908). The British formed the Anglo-Persian Oil Company company (APOC--modern British Petroleum) to develop the resource. Military units loyal to the new constitution match on Tehran and depose the shah. Mohammad Ali Shah is forced into exile in Russia. Disputes develop between the constitutional government and the Russians over taxing rights. The Russians object to the government collecting takes in its sphere and Russian trops stationed in Oersia move on Teheran. Eventually the Majlis accepts the Russian demands, but then is again closed (1911). The new Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) begins to build an oil refinery at Abadan Island in the Persian Gulf. The political situation in Persia is further complicated by the War and foreign intervention. The urban middle classes and intelligentsia with the failure of democracy were more willing to accept a strong-man ruler. This was to create an opportunity for Reza Shah.

World War I (1914-18)

When World War I breaks out in Euope (August 1914), Persia declared its neutrality, but the presence of Russian, Turkish and British troops as well as the importance of the newly discovered oil resources makes this in practice impossible. The Royal Navy signs a long-term contract with the APOC to supply fuel oil for the fleet. The British Government purchases a majority of the company's stock. Persia bordered on the Ottoman Empire which had held Mesopotamia since 1534. The Britain needed the oil for its fleet. The most modern dreadnoughts had been converted from coal furnaces to clearn burning oil. The British after the Ottomans entered the War launched an offensive and took Basra (Mesopotamia/Iraq) with its oil wells (November 1914). The British also occupied the terminus of the oil pipeline and the refineries situated on Abadan Island (Persia) in the Shatt El Arab. This was the border between Ottoman Mesopotamia and Persia. Accross the border the British and Ottomons fought over Mesopotamia. Some Persian soldiers fought with the Ottomans. A Ottoman diversionary force crossed the Tigris (April 1915) as a threat to pro-British Persia, especially the refinery at Ahvaz. The British suffered a major defeat at El Kut in Mesopotamia (Iraq). The British Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force regrouped and launched another attack. They crossed the Tigris and captured Kut-el-Amara (December 1916). The British reached Baghdad (March 1917). Turkish offensives drove toward Baku in the Caususes supported by the Germans to tghe north. The Ottomons also moved into northeaster Iran (autumn 1918). The British responded with small mobile forces (Dunsteforce expedition). Ottomon military power is broken, however by a British drive from Bagdad toward Mosul and the British Arab drive toward Jeurusalem and Damascus and then as far noth as Alepo. With the outbreak of the Bolshevick Revolution, Russia was no longer an important player in Persia. Britain attemoted to establish a kind of protectorate under the terms of the Anglo-Persian Agreement. Iranian nationalists objected. Iranian Prime Minister Vosuq od-Dowleh supported the agreement because the Majlis refused to approve it. Vosuq od-Dowleh was forced out of office. Moshir al-Doleh replaces him. The elected government was again overthrown in a British-instigated military coup.

Pahlavi Dynasty

Reza Khan leading a force of Persian Cossacks seized control (1921). Reza Khan becomes prime ministership. Reza Khan formally deposes the royal Qajar Dynasty (1925). He then has himself crowned shah (1926) founding the Pahlavi Dynasty.

Pro-NAZI Orientation

Reza Shah Pahlavi proved to be an earlier admirer of Adolf Hitler anbd the NAZIs. The NAZIs were seen as a powerful rival to British colonialism. As in the Arab world, the Shah Prsian leaders do not seem to have considered what would have happened to their county in a NAZI-dominated world. The Shah was also attracted to the NAZI concept of a master race to which he included Persians. Persia admitted Gestapo agents and other German operatives who operated openly in Tehran.

Country's Name Changed to Iran

The Shah even renamed his country Iran, which in Farsi means Aryan. This was a pointed linage to the Proto-Indo-European lineage that NAZI racial theorists and Persian ethnologists concocted. The inspiration for the name change came from Persia's ambassador in Berlin. Yhe ambassador was influenced by Hitler's most important banker--Hjalmar Schacht. The Iranian Government after the change of name publicized their country's coomon bond with the Third Reich.

NAZI Operations in Teheran

The NAZIs saw Persia as a potentially useful base to cause trouble for the British as well as to persue their campaign against Jews. The most notable NAZI agent was Fritz Grobba, Germany's primary spokesman in the Middle East. He is sometimes referred to the "the German Lawrence" because he proposed a new Caliphate state stretching from Casablanca to Tehran.

The Grand Mufti in Jerusalem

The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem waged a campaign against both the Jews and the British in Palestine.

World War II

The NAZIs launched World War II by invading Poland (September 1939). Reza Shah's Government declared Iran neutral with the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Anti-British Arabs like the Grand Mufti were impressed with the power of the German Blitzkrieg and saw the NAZIs as potential force which could end British and French colonialism in the Middle East. The Grand Mufti who has launched a campaign against Jewish Zionists were also impressed with Hutler's anti-Semitism. The Grand Mufti began to see the possiblity of a Pam-Arab state which could end British rule in Palesine as sell as kill Jews in Europe and the Middle East. The Grand Mufti sought refuge from the British in Iran. The Shah made Iran a haven for NAZI agents operating in the Middle East.

Iraqi Coup (June 1941)

The Grand Mufti from Iran helped promote the abortive pro-Nazi coup (June 1941). The small British force in Iraq managed to hang on until reinforcenments reached them. The Luftwaffe cres supporting the coup eluded the British by fleeing to Iran. The Grand Mufti also sought refuge in Iran. From Iran he called for rge defeat of the British and the death of the Jews. His tirades were broadcast on Iranian radio and filled Iranian newspapers.

Pro-NAZI Plotting

The British suspected that the Shah was sympathetic with the NAZIs who were active diplomatically in Iran. Just as in Iraq, there was considerable sympathy for the NAZIs among the Shah, government circes, and military officers. The Grand Mufti actively promoted anti-Britiah actions. The Anglo-Iranian Oil Company succeeded in shipping some oil to the NAZIs. Once the NAZIs invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941), the Grand Mufti and some Iranians saw the possibility of the Wehrmacht smashing the Soviet Union. The Germans gained grea victories in the opening phase of Barbarossa. It seemed very possible that the Germans could drive into the Caucauses and drive the British out of the Middle East. The Grand Mufti called for ending oil deliveries to the British. The Iranians rejected British demands to expel Axis agents.

Allied Intervention (August 1941)

The British and Soviets invaded Iran to end NAZI activities. The British and Soviets launched a coordinated invasion (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 limitedd resistance. They forced Reza Shah to abdigate (September 16). His son who had a more Western orientation ascended the throne as Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. The British arrested pro-NAZI officials and generals. The Grand Mufti sought refuge in the Italian Embassy. The Italian diplomats were allowed to leave the country. The Grand Mufti desguised himself as one of the Italian diplomats.

Role in World War II

Iran eventually played a major role in World War II. It became a major route for transporting Lead Lease equipment to the Soviet Union. After the NAZI invasion of the Soviet Union it became vital to open supply lines to the Soviets. At the time of the War, Iran had just begun to develop its petroleum indutry. It did not play an important factor in the War. Britain fought the War largely with American oil, although the 8th Army fought the War in the Western Desert largely with Iraqi oil. Iran's importance in the War was largely as a conduit for American Lend Lease shipments to the Soviets. Iran in fact became the major conduit for American Lend Lease aid to the Soviets. Given the fact that the Wehrmacht was largely destroyed on the Eastern Front by the Red Army, these supplies delivered through Iran were very important indeed.

Grand Mufti in Germany

The Grand Mufti after escaping Teheran with the Italian diplomats, found refuge in Berlin. The NAZI capital became his base of operations during the War. With NAZI support he set up a diplomatic "bureau" in Berlin and broadcast to the Muslim world on Radio Berlin. He made appearances in other Fascist capitals. He gave vitriolic speeches against "international Jewry". His twin themes were the defeat of the British and the destruction of the Jews. He advocated a pan-Arab/pan-Islamic alliance with NAZI Germany. The Grand Mufti in his broadcasts exorted "good" Muslims to "kill the Jews wherever you see them." In Tehran's marketplace obe observer reports that it was common to see posters saying, "In heaven, Allah is your master. On Earth, it is Adolf Hitler." The Grand Mufti was no just involved in propaganda. He helped organize three Islamic Waffen SS divisions in occupied Yugoslavia.

SS Recruitment in Iran

Most of the 30,000 recruits for the Wafen SS units were from the Muslim population of occupied Yugoslavia (Kosovo and Bosnia). There was also a small volunteer contingents from Iran. The Iranian Government permitted the open recruitment for the "Handschar Divisions" in Iran.

Iranian Jews in France

Some Jews in Europe escaped death because of the passports they held. One group was Iranian Jews. A small number of Iranian Jews were in the Reich or European countries occupied by the Reich. Iranian Government officials met with NAZI race experts and insisted that Iranian Jews had lived in Iran for over 2,500 years and as a result were completely assimilated citizens of the Iran and must be regarded as such. [Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History] Much of this was due to the efforts of one man, Abdol Hossein Sardari, and not any major effort by the Iraniab\n Government. He was Iranian Consul in Paris. At the time the Germans occupied France (June 1940). The Iranian Goverment had cordial relations with Iran which was trying to use the NAZIs to play off the Soviets abnd British. The French police was monitoring the Consul’s personal life and diplomatic activities which included forging Iranian passports to help primarily, but not exclusively, Iranian Jews. Sardari at the time was ayoung, junior diplomat. Somehow he managed to persuade German officials in Paris that Iranian Jews were not the same as European Jews –- basically that they were not Jews at all. Sardari argued they should be afforded special protection. The same status as non-Jewish Iranians, who were considered 'pure-blooded Aryans' which fit in with NAZI diplomacy to develop close relations with Iran. He even created a word to convince the Germans that Iranian Jews were different--Djuguten. He prestended this was an established group with a long tradition in Iran. There is no meaning for that and there is no real word,” says Zardiny. “He tried to persuade the Germans that Iranian Jews were different. He told the Germans that they were the same as ther Iranians He insisted thast Iranian Jews did not speak Hebrew, only Farsi. And that they celebrated the same festivals. At first the Germans refused to exempt Iranian Jews from deportation. Adolf Eichmann, the architecht of the Holocaust, was having none of it. He rejected Sardari’s contention as 'the usual Jewish tricks and attempts at camouflage'. (December 1942). Sardariat first had diplomtic cover and the Germans wanted to msintin relations with Iran. This began to chsnge when Britsin and the Soviet Union intervened in Iran (August 1941). Sardari continued writing letters and meeting with German occupation officialsin Parisaswell as hosting lasvish parties at the Iranian consulate at Rue de Fortuny. While not immediately convincing the Germans, he did delay attempts to deport them to SS death camps. The inital deport orderswere for the foreign Jews living in France. He also issued blank passports to help give families thetravel dicuments to travel across German occupied Europe. Once they could get to Turkey they were safe. Sardari issued at least 500 passports. And authorized family groups to travel with a single passport. He issued at least 500 passports, although each passport could have been used for more than one person within a family – Much of his work was conducte deven after Iran signed a treaty with Britain and the Soviet Union. The new Iranian Government ordered him to come home. It also meant that he no longer had diplomatic immunity and status. Even so, he stayed in Paris to help his threatened countrymen. [Fariborz]

Polish Jewish Refugee Children

A small number of Jewish children managed to escape the NAZI Holocaust east through the Soviet Union. No other route was available. especially for children who could not go it alone. Some Polish Jews escaped through Lithuania to the north, but neither of the three Baltic countries were amrnable to Jewish refugees and the Soviets seized the Baltics (June 1940). To the south, Czechoslovakia was occupied by the Germans and Romania soon fell undeer German domination. The Soviets closed the border after seiezing eastern Poland. Soviet border guards fired on refugees, which were mostly Jews trying to escape the NAZIs. The Soviet NKVD carried out operatiins simikar to the German SS, although with outbthe focus on Jews. The NKVD shot substantial numbers and deported over 1 million Poles (early 1940 to mid-1941). There were mass arrests and expulsions of Polish citizens to Siberia and Soviet Central Asia. Poland was in Chaos. There was first the War, then epidemics, starvation, and various dislocations resulting from NKVD deportations. As a result, many Polish children were orphaned or otherwise separated from their parents. Soviet authorities placed many of these children in a variety of shelters throughout the Soviet Union. Then the Germans invaded the Soviet Union a first fighting in areas (the Baltics, eastern Poland, and Romania) tht the Sovits had seized (1940). Many Poles died because of the brutal NKVD deportment opertion. The children involved were deported as family groups. Many of the childrendied as did their parents. As a result many children were left orphaned. They were mostly Catholic childre, but some Jewish children were involved as well. Their situation changed when the Germans invaded the Soviet Union (June 1941). The Soviets signed an alliance with Poland (July 1941). This changed the status of the Polish deportees in the Soviet Union. Men were given the option of joining Polish Red Army units or British forces in Egypt. Transport was privided to Iran. No transport was provided to civilans. They were allowed to leave the Soviet Union, but had to do so on their own. This required in many cases a 1,000 mile trek. While the Soivietsprivided no assistance. The Polish soldiers moving toward Iran did whast they could. The childten involved that made it to Iran are known as the Tehran Children. [Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History] An Iranian diplomat in Paris issued hundreds of passports and visas to Iranian and other Jews fleeing the NAZIs. This was done as family groups and the route to safety went through Turkey so it is not to be confused with the Tehran Children. Polish general Wladyslaw Anders evacuated 74,000 Polish troops, including approximately 41,000 civilians, oncluding many children, to Iran. In total, over 116,000 refugees were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. Approximately 5,000–6,000 of the Polish refugees were Jewish. The children became known as the Tehran Children. Zionist representatives managed to identify and eparate the Jewish children. One report suggests Iranian diplomats in Poland reportedly issued passports to 1,388 Jews (including 871 children). We can not confirm this. And a special program to issue passports to Jews seems unlikely. The NAZIs after seizing Warsaw (September 1939) abolished the Polish Republic. Foreign diplomats had for the most part already fled the city. And after the arrival of the Germans, the fact that the Polish state no longer existed meant that the embassies no longer could function.

Post-War Refugees

Iran allowed Iranian and Arab Jews to emigrate to Israel. The Shah was personally responsible for Iranian refugee policies. [Ezry]

Sources

Black, Edwin. Banking on Baghdad. This is a detailed account of the Arab-NAZI alliance.

Black, Edwin. Persian Sphinx.

Center for Iranian Jewish Oral History, History of Contemporary Iranian Jews.

Ezry, Moir. Yadnameh.

Mokhtari, Fariborz. In the Lion’s Shadow: The Iranian Schindler and His Homeland in the Second World War.






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Created: 1:11 AM 12/13/2006
Last updated: 7:54 AM 1/27/2019