Arab Legion

See also: Legion

The Arab Légion is an Arab army belonging to emirates installed in the Eastern areas of the Transjordanie.

With its creation in 1920, it counts 100 soldiers under the orders of five British officers. In 1921, the number of soldiers passes to 1000. In 1926, at the time of the English consul Lord Plumer, following the reorganization of the security forces, the “Army corps of Transjordanie” is born and becomes a force integrated into the British imperial Army. The founder and officer of the Arab Legion until in 1939, Fik-Pasha, are an English officer who, during the First World War was useful in the rows of the army of the Sheriff, pulled by Lawrence of Arabia against the Turks. In 1939, it is Glub-Pasha (Abu-Hanik) which becomes officer of the Arab Legion. During the Second world war, the framework of the Arab Legion widens. The just latter in her rows of the volunteers of Arab countries bordering, it fulfills certain roles within the army, keeps the entry of military bases and deposits of weapons of the Middle East. Units of the Arab Legion take part in spring 1941, at the sides of the British forces, the hammering of the revolt fomented in Iraq by Rashid Ali Al Kaylani. They also take part in the invasion of the Syria, then under control of the France of Vichy.

The beginning of the Israeli-Arab War of 1948, the Arab Legion takes into account more than 6000 soldiers, and in 1949 the figure reaches the number of 12.000. The forces of the Arab Legion fill an important role at the time the decisive combat carried out against the young State of Israel.

Certain units of the Arab Legion, posted in the Jewish areas, took an active part more or less in the violent actions carried out against the Juifs. It is a force of the Arab Legion which, in May 1948, the day before the entry of the Arab armies, conquers Kfar-Etzion.

May 15th, shortly after the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, with the invasion of the Arab armies, the Arab Legion, under the control of its British officers, aspires to the catch of Jerusalem in its totality, it to offer to Abdallah, king of the Arab State of Palestine wanted by UNO in Transjordanie, which is still under British supervision. The forces of the Arab Legion also take part in the rédition of the Jewish Quartier of the old city of Jerusalem, fight in Shaar Hagaï, in Latrun, Lod and Ramleh. Thus they control the majority of the areas, which almost in accordance with the Council Decision of UNO, must then constitute the Arab State in Palestine under known British Mandat today under the name of Jordan, awaited the terms and the provisions of the British Mandate, and which will be, in 1950, despoiled in Israel to be integrated into the Jordanian kingdom of Abdallah. With the end of the war of 1948, the Arab Legion becomes the military force of the Jordanian kingdom, and counted already to 25.000 men. In March 1956, the Arab officers replace the British, whose king Hussein drives back of Jordan of tens of officers like their families.

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