Lebanon during WW2

Allied-vs-Axis · Jun 8, 2016

Can you guys please tell what ever you can about Lebanon during the second world war. I did try to find my information on that place but a lot of the facts I got seemed a bit unorganized and left me confused. Was Lebanon allied or apart of the axis? Who were their allies? Where their enemies? What battles did they fight in? What was the gear they wore? What was their standard rifles?

Owen · Jun 9, 2016

see my answer on your other thread.
http://www.ww2f.com/topic/58413-what-gear-did-the-lebanese-in-the-middle-east-wear/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanese_Armed_Forces
During World War II, Lebanese troops fought in Lebanon with the Vichy French forces against Free French and British forces. After the Vichy forces in the Middle East surrendered in July 1941, volunteers from the Troupes Spéciales du Levant enlisted in the Free French forces and participated in combat in Italy, North Africa, and southern France.[11] In 1943, prior to the declaration of Lebanese independence, all the military units were combined in one brigade, the Fifth Brigade, under the command of General Fouad Chehab. On the day Lebanon declared independence, the Lebanese Third Sharp Shooters Regiment was placed at the disposal of the Lebanese government in order to maintain security. In June of the same year, the French reconstituted units of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant, which were then attached to the British forces in the Middle East. The majority of the Lebanese Armed Forces remained a part of the French Army in Lebanon.[11]
After gaining independence in 1943, the Lebanese government formed an official delegation in 1944 to negotiate with the French the terms related to handing over the LAF. After nearly three weeks of talks, the joint French-British Command decreed that responsibility for armed units under French control were to be handed over to the Independent Government of Lebanon.[10] These units were part of the Troupes Spéciales du Levant and totaled about 3,000 men.[11] On August 1, 1945 at 00:00 hours, the LAF was placed under full authority of the Lebanese National Government; this day is commemorated annually as Lebanese Army Day.
Click to expand...

lwd · Jun 9, 2016

Looking at wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Lebanon#Republic_of_Lebanon and http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/lebanon/history-ww2.htm it looks like it was pretty complicated

Riter · Feb 13, 2020

I know the Vichy French fought when the British and Australians invaded from Palestine. The Wiki post is pretty good.

bronk7 · Feb 22, 2020

...it was a ''mess'' and boiling pot --like a lot of other countries/areas were ....the USMC went there in 1958 and again in 1982....like the Balkans, a mix-mash of groups/infighting etc ....
..if you ever read about Lebanon in the 70s/80s, you'll know what I mean = mess....this group that group...fighting within the groups/etc

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Lebanon during WW2

Allied-vs-Axis New Member

Owen O

lwd Ace

Riter Well-Known Member

bronk7 Well-Known Member

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