Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran

Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
Part of the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II

Soviet and Indian forces meet in late August.
Date25–31 August 1941
Location
Result Allied victory
Belligerents

 Soviet Union
 British Empire

 Iran

The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran was a joint invasion by the British Empire and the Soviet Union against the neutral Imperial State of Iran in World War II.

A few months earlier, the Axis powers invaded the USSR and a supply line was made in the Middle East to the USSR. But the line went through Iran who had German influence in the area. This was a threat to the Allied powers and so in August the invasion began. Commonwealth forces attacked from Iraq at the western borders and attacked from India at the eastern borders while the Red Army attacked from the northern borders. In less than a month, the Shah of Iran abdicated and Iran was put under Allied occupation until 1946.

References

  1. ↑ Immortal : A Military History of Iran and Its Armed Forces, Steven R. Ward, Georgetown University Press, 2009, p. 169