Table Of ContentFrom the Foreword Advance Praise for
Aboul-Enein Although often overlooked in studies of
“Commander Aboul-Enein and his The Secret War for the Middle East Aboul-Enein
World War II, the Middle East was actually a
younger brother Basil have written a book
key theater for the Allies. Though the threat of
that exposes America’s military leaders to
“For us to truly understand the Middle East it is vital that we explore how European direct Axis invasion by Rommel’s Afrika Corps
key aspects of this underground war of diplo-
competition in both World Wars shaped the region. This book provides a fresh per- never materialized beyond the Egyptian West-
macy, intrigue, and propaganda. Their work T
spective on how the British, Germans, and Italians in World War II competed for ern Desert, this did not limit the Axis from
examines the impact this battleground had h
popular support of their respective governments. It links how the saturation of fascist probing the Middle East and cultivating poten-
on the evolution of Arab nationalist move- e
propaganda by the Nazis and Italians created a condition ripe for exploitation and the tial collaborators and sympathizers. The Secret
ments in the twentieth century and militant
undermining of the British and French in the Near East. You will understand why a S War for the Middle East explores the infusion of
Islamist groups in the twenty-first century.”
young Captain Anwar Sadat would have pro-Nazi sympathies not for his understand- e the political language of anti-Semitism, national-
ED MORNSTON, former director, Joint ing of Hitler’s ideology, but as a means to attain Egyptian independence. Under the c ism, fascism, and Marxism that was among the
Intelligence Task Force for Combating pressures of World War II, democracies would be put to the test, and the British would r ideological by products of Axis and Allied inter-
e
Terrorism, Defense Intelligence Agency set aside their democratic ideals and dictate governments in Egypt, Iraq, and Iran. vention in the Arab world. The status of the
t
Youssef and Basil Aboul-Enein have written a book that allows us to ponder these British-dominated Middle East was tailor-made
W
difficult questions using World War II as a case study. How far should we sacrifice our for exploitation by Axis intelligence and propa-
CDR. YOUSSEF H. ABOUL-ENEIN, USN, is
an officer in the U.S. Navy Medical Service democratic ideals in the name of regional security? One such repercussion was the a ganda. German and Italian intelligence efforts
introduction of fascist ideas into popular Arab political discourse. A powerful read!” r fueled anti-British resentments; their influence
Corps and a Middle East foreign officer. He
shaped the course of Arab nationalist sentiments
currently is the adjunct military professor f
VANCE SKARSTEDT, dean of faculty,
o throughout the Middle East. These actions left
and chair of Islamic studies at the National
National Intelligence University
r an indelible mark on the sociopolitical evolu-
Defense University’s Dwight D. Eisenhower
tion of the modern states of the Middle East,
t
School for Resource Strategy and National
“Cdr. Youssef Aboul-Enein is an officer who remains an integral part of the education h and their effects continue to be felt today.
Security. He holds a master’s degree in stra-
of our International Fellows at the National Intelligence University. His ability to engage e
tegic intelligence from the National Defense A relevant parallel to the pan-Arab cause was
allied Arab officers is unparalleled, and it is a sight to watch as he lapses between
Intelligence College and is stationed in the M Hitler’s attempt to bring ethnic Germans into
Arabic and English on issues ranging from Islamic history, colonial policy, and various
Washington, D.C., area. conflicts in the region. This book uncovers the importance of the human and mental i the fold of a greater German state. In theory,
d
as the Sudeten German stood on par with the
BASIL ABOUL-ENEIN is a former captain of landscape of the Middle East, as the Axis and Allies competed with one another for
d
Carpathian German, so, too, according to doc-
the U.S. Air Force, where he held the posi- popular support.”
l
trinal theory, did the Yemeni stand in union
tion of public health commander and medical e
LORENZO HIPONIA, director, Center for International with the Syrian in the imagination of those
intelligence officer at Columbus AFB. He has
E
Engagement, National Intelligence University espousing pan-Arabism. As historic evidence
a master’s degree in military history through
a demonstrates, this very commonality proved to
Norwich University. He currently teaches
s
be a major factor in the development of relations
undergraduate nutrition courses at San Jacin- t
between Arab and fascist leaders. The Arab
to College and East Mississippi Community
nationalist movement amounted to little more
College and lives in Starkville, MS.
than a shapeless, fragmented counter- position
Jacket image: Eastward Ho or the Blazed Trail, Bernard For more information on this and other great books, to British imperialism, imported to the Arab
Naval
Partridge. (Reproduced with permission of Punch Limited, visit www.nip.org.
East via Berlin for Nazi aspirations.
www.punch.co.uk) HISTORY • WWII Institute
Jacket design: Matthew Simmons, www.myselfincluded.com eBook edition also available. PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Press
Secret
The
War
for the
Middle East
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 1 8/29/13 8:10 AM
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 2 8/29/13 8:10 AM
Secret
The
War
for the
Middle East
The Influence of Axis and Allied Intelligence
Operations during World War II
XXX
Youssef Aboul-Enein
and Basil Aboul-Enein
Naval Institute Press
Annapolis, Maryland
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 3 8/29/13 8:10 AM
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
© 2013 by Youssef H. Aboul-Enein and Basil H. Aboul-Enein
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by
any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Aboul-Enein, Youssef H.
The secret war for the Middle East : the influence of Axis and Allied intelligence operations
during World War II / Cdr. Youssef H. Aboul-Enein, USN and Basil H. Aboul-Enein.
1 online resource.
Summary: “It can be argued that the Middle East during the World War II has been regarded
as that conflict’s most overlooked theater of operations. Though the threat of direct Axis
invasion never materialized beyond the Egyptian Western Desert with Rommel’s Afrika
Korps, this did not limit the Axis from probing the Middle East and cultivating potential
collaborators and sympathizers. These actions left an indelible mark in the socio-political
evolution of the modern states of the Middle East. This book explores the infusion of the
political language of anti-Semitism, nationalism, fascism, and Marxism that were among
the ideological byproducts of Axis and Allied intervention in the Arab world. The status
of British-dominated Middle East was tailor-made for exploitation by Axis intelligence and
propaganda. German and Italian intelligence efforts fueled anti-British resentments; their
influence shaped the course of Arab nationalist sentiments throughout the Middle East. A
relevant parallel to the pan-Arab cause was Hitler’s attempt to bring ethnic Germans into
the fold of a greater German state. In theory, as the Sudeten German stood on par with the
Carpathian German, so too, according to doctrinal theory, did the Yemeni stand in union
with the Syrian in the imagination of those espousing pan-Arabism. As historic evidence
demonstrates, this very commonality proved to be a major factor in the development of
relations between Arab and Fascist leaders. The Arab nationalist movement amounted
to nothing more than a shapeless, fragmented, counter position to British imperialism,
imported to the Arab East via Berlin for Nazi aspirations”— Provided by publisher.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource
not viewed.
ISBN 978-1-61251-336-2 (epub) — ISBN 978-1-61251-336-2 (mobi) — ISBN 978-1-61251-
309-6 (hardback) 1. World War, 1939-1945—Middle East. 2. World War, 1939-1945—
Secret service—Middle East. 3. World War, 1939-1945—Influence. 4. Middle East—Politics
and government—1914-1945. I. Aboul-Enein, Basil H. II. Title.
D754.N34
940.54’24—dc23
2013030012
∞ Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper).
Printed in the United States of America.
21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First printing
The statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in this book are those of the authors
and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S.
government. Review of the material does not imply Department of Defense or U.S. government
endorsement of factual accuracy or opinion.
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 4 8/29/13 8:10 AM
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
First and foremost, this volume is dedicated to the men and women of Section
60 at Arlington National Cemetery; it is we who are humbled when stand-
ing in your presence. We also dedicate our work to military families, who
enable us to serve our country. On a personal level, we dedicate this book to
our parents, Nagla and Hassan, who worked hard to give us the gift of an
education and critical thinking, and introduced us to a wider world. We also
thank our late grandparents, Mousa, Youssef, Saadia, and Fawkiah. Before
their passing, they bequeathed to us a love for the Arabic language as well
as the oral histories of Arabia, the Ottoman Empire, Southwest Asia, Egypt,
and the Sudan, that formed our earliest memories of the political and mili-
tary history of the Near East. Finally, Youssef wishes to remember Maj. Gen.
Joe Brown, USAF, my Commandant at the National Defense University’s
Eisenhower School and his wife (as well as my student), Sue. We lost you
both much too soon, as this volume was being delivered to the publisher.
I will miss both of you and our conversations.
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 5 8/29/13 8:10 AM
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 6 8/29/13 8:10 AM
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
conTenTS
List of Maps ix
Foreword xi
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xvii
List of Abbreviations xix
Background xxi
Chapter 1. Introduction 1
Chapter 2. The Palestine Question 4
Chapter 3. Hashemite Iraq 39
Chapter 4. Vichy French Syria: Operation Exporter 85
Chapter 5. Iran: Operation Countenance 100
Chapter 6. Turkey: Balancing Neutrality 117
Chapter 7. Axis Efforts in the Arabian Peninsula 126
Chapter 8. Afghanistan and the Third Reich: Fomenting Rebellions 148
Chapter 9. Egypt’s Internal Struggle: To Declare War or Not? 160
Chapter 10. Conclusion 183
Appendix 1. Excerpts from The Goebbels Diaries 1942–1943 193
Appendix 2. Lessons from the 1941 Anglo-Iraqi Revolt 195
Notes 205
Selected Bibliography 237
Index 249
vii
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 7 8/29/13 8:10 AM
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 8 8/29/13 8:10 AM
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
MapS
Map 1. War of the Radio Waves 37
Map 2. Allies in Disarray in the Near East 99
Map 3. Allies Strike Back 159
ix
Aboul-Enein_P5.indd 9 8/29/13 8:10 AM
Description:It can be argued that the Middle East during the World War II has been regarded as that conflictOCOs most overlooked theater of operations. Though the threat of direct Axis invasion never materialized beyond the Egyptian Western Desert with RommelOCOs Afrika Korps, this did not limit the Axis from p
