Role in WW IIThe Kingdom of Afghanistan maintained its neutrality. It was neither invaded nor sent an invasion force from or to a foreign nation and was relatively unaffected during the war.
Population: 7 000 000 (in 1938). Borders with (during WWII) British India, China, Soviet Union, and Iran. Area: 650 000 squared kilometers. Capital City: Kabul Overview: On 07/09/1939 Afghanistan declared total neutrality. During the German aggressions in the Balkans and against Soviet Union, Nazi Germany aggrandized the activities of its agents on Afghan territory, and inspired numerous acts of diversion and sabotage on Afghanistan's borders with Soviet Union and British India. As a consequence of sharp diplomatic protests of Soviet Union and U.K. (on 09/10/1941 and 11/10/1941 respectively) coupled with a military intervention by both of these countries in nearby Iran, the Afghan government was compelled (on 19/10/1941) to expell all Axis agents operating within its borders (over 200 of them), and simultaneously it gave official backing to the Anti-Axis Coalition; nevertheless, it confirmed its complete neutrality on 5-6/11/1941. In July of 1942 an American mission began operating in Kabul. On 19/11/1946 Afghanistan was admitted to U.N. In event of war, aside from the regular armed forces, the kingdom was also able to furnish 300 000 to 400 000 warlike tribal levies. By 1942 the Afghan army was composed of two corps (each of two mixed divisions), seven mixed provincial divisions, one mixed brigade of royal household bodyguards, and one independent mixed brigade. At the same time, the tiny air force was only suitable for recon and communications duties and it contained some 300 personnel (some of which had previously underwent training in India or Europe). The Supreme Commander-in-Chief was the King, while the main executive organ of the armed forces was the Ministry of the Military. The armed forces of Afghanistan did not participate in the Second World War. |