Libyan Arab Force

The Libyan Arab Force, also known as the Sanusi Army^[1], consisting of five infantry battalions made up of volunteers, was established to aid the British war effort. With the exception of one military engagement near to Benghazi, this force's role did not extend beyond support and gendarmerie duties.^[2] It was initially known as the British Arab Force and was renamed the Cyrenaica Defence Force in March 26, 1943.^[3]

Background

Following the outbreak of World War II in August 31, 1939, Idris of Libya supported the United Kingdom—which was now at war with Italy—in the hope of ridding his country of Italian occupation. He argued that even if the Italians were victorious, the situation for the Libyan people would be no different than it had been before the war. Delegates from both the Cyrenaicans and Tripolitanians agreed that Idris should conclude agreements with the British that they would gain independence in return for support during the war.^[2] Vladimir Peniakoff was commissioned as a second lieutenant served in the Libyan Arab Force.^[4] before creating a unit known as Popski's Private Army.

Shortly after Italy entered the war, a number of Libyan leaders living in exile in Egypt called on their compatriots to organise themselves into military units and join the British in the war against the Axis powers.^{[citation needed]} Five battalions, which were initially designed for guerrilla warfare in the Jabal al Akhdar region of Cyrenaica, were established under British command.^{[citation needed]} Because the high mobility of the desert campaigns required a considerable degree of technical and mechanical expertise, the Libyan forces were used primarily as auxiliaries, guarding military installations and prisoners.^{[citation needed]} One battalion participated in the fighting at the Siege of Tobruk (April 10 – November 27 1941).^{[citation needed]}

After the British retreat from Cyrenaica during Operation Sonnenblume (February 6 – May 25 1941) the military administration of Cyrenaica lapsed. In the autumn preparations were made for the administration of Cyrenaica again once it had been reoccupied. On October 14th, GHQ Middle East revived a small military administration for Cyrenaica commanded by Brigadier Stephen Longrigg. A small number of people were transferred to 102 Military Mission which had trained the British Sanusi Army, later called the Libyan Arab Force. The new establishment began on December 19th at the fall of Derna.^[5]

After Britain occupied Cyrenaica, the need for the British-trained and equipped Sanusi troops appeared to be over. The Sanusi Army was reluctant to disband and the majority of its members arranged to be transferred to the local police force in Cyrenaica under the British military administration. It was finally disbanded in August and September 1943.^{[citation needed]} When Libya gained its independence in December 24, 1951, veterans of the original Sanusi Army formed the nucleus of the Royal Libyan Army.^{[citation needed]}

The roots of the 1951–2011 Libyan armed forces can be traced to the Libyan Arab Force (popularly).^[6]

References

Bibliography

• Metz, Helen Chapin, ed. (1989). Libya: A Country Study. Area Handbook. Library of Congress. Federal Research Division.
• Rodd, F. (1970) [1948]. British Military Administration of Occupied Territories in Africa during the Years 1941–1947 (repr. Greenwood Press, CT ed.). London: HMSO. OCLC 1056143039.
• Vandewalle, Dirk (2006). A History of Modern Libya. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521615549.

Further reading

• Baldinetti, Anna (2010). The Origins of the Libyan Nation: Colonial Legacy, Exile and the Emergence of a New Nation-State. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781135245023.
• Kelly, Saul (2010). War & Politics in the Desert: Britain and Libya during the Second World War. London: Silphium Press. ISBN 9781900971096.

External links

• The Libyan Arab Force during the Second World War at The National Archives (United Kingdom)

This page was last edited on 25 May 2024, at 20:48