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Blood, Oil and the Axis: The Allied Resistance Against a Fascist State in Iraq and the Levant, 1941

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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Blood, Oil and the Axis: The Allied Resistance Against a Fascist State in Iraq and the Levant, 1941 by John Broich delves into a dramatic and lesser-known World War II episode where the Allies faced a strategic challenge in the Middle East. The book explores the geopolitical conflicts as British forces aimed to safeguard critical oil supplies and counter Axis ambitions in the region. Through a detailed narrative, it uncovers the complex military and political manoeuvres that defined this crucial confrontation.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This compelling historical narrative may appeal to you if you're interested in the dramatic and lesser-known fronts of World War II involving the Allied efforts in the Middle East. It offers fascinating insights into how geopolitical strategies and resource control shaped the struggle in Iraq and the Levant against Fascist forces. If you enjoy reading about complex military campaigns and the pivotal role of oil in wartime politics, this book is sure to engage you.

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The riveting story of the unlikely coalition of individuals who prevented the Axis from obtaining an abundant supply of oil and absorbing an army of 50,000 into their own, turning the tide of WWII in the Middle East

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Spring 1941 was a high point for the Axis war machine. Western Europe was conquered; southeastern Europe was falling, Great Britain on its heels; and Rommel's Afrika Korps was freshly arrived to drive on the all-important Suez Canal.

In Blood, Oil and the Axis, historian John Broich tells the story of Iraq and the Levant during this most pivotal time of the war. The browbeaten Allied forces had one last remaining hope for turning the war in their favour: the Axis running through its fuel supply. But when the Golden Squareβ€”four Iraqi generals allegiant to the Axis causeβ€”staged a coup in Iraq, elevating a pro-German junta and prompting military cooperation between Vichy French-occupied Syria and Lebanon and the Axis, disaster loomed.

Blood, Oil and the Axis follows those who participated in the Allies' frantic, improvised, and unlikely response to this dire threat: Palestinian and Jordanian Arabs, Australians, American and British soldiers, Free French Foreign Legionnaires, and Jewish Palestinians, all who shared a desperate, bloody purpose in quashing the formation of an Axis state in the Middle East. Memorable figures of this makeshift alliance include Jack Hasey, a young American who ran off to fight with the Free French Foreign Legion before his own country entered the war; Freya Stark, a famous travel-writer-turned-government-agent; and even Roald Dahl, a twenty-three-year-old Royal Air Force recruit (and future author of beloved children's books).

Taking the reader on a tour of cities and landscapes grimly familiar to today's readerβ€”from a bombed-out Fallujah, to Baghdad, to Damascusβ€”Blood, Oil and the Axis is poised to become the definitive chronicle of the Axis's menacing play for Iraq and the Levant in 1941 and the extraordinary alliance that confronted it.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The book is praised for its smart writing and deep research, offering a remarkable tale of courage and leadership. It effectively summarises complex historical events with enthusiasm, drawing parallels to classic films like Casablanca. The research is impressive, utilising personal accounts, and provides an engaging World War II narrative that connects the conflict to colonial influences and future Middle Eastern movements.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781468313994

Publisher: Overlook Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 07 May 2019

Country: United States

Imprint: Overlook Press

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 368

About the Author

John Broich holds a PhD in British History from Stanford University, and is a professor of British Empire history at Case Western Reserve University. His writing regularly appears in the Guardian, Smithsonian Magazine, and Newsweek. He is the author of Squadron: Ending the African Slave Trade. He lives in Ohio and Minnesota.

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