LEBANON, Republic of Lebanon, al-Djumhuriya al-Lubnaniya.
Contemporary National Flag: Not available.
Population: 855 000 (1938).
Borders (in 1939) with Palestine and Syria. It also has access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Area: 10 450 squared kilometers.
Capital City: Beirut
Overview: Since 23/05/1926, Lebanon was transformed into a constitutional republic under a French protectorate. In 1936 France concluded with Lebanon a pact of friendship and alliance, according to which, the French League of Nations mandate was supposed to expire in 1939. However, France took advantage of the international situation that occurred in that year to illegally nullify this agreement. The French commissioner established martial law, abolished the constitution, and disbanded Lebanese parliament. The French military initiated the formation of Lebanese units that were incorporated into the "Levante" Army. Following the capitulation of France in June of 1940, the local colonial administration became completely subordinated to the puppet French Vichy regime. An Allied invasion encountered resistance from local colonial garrisons between June and July of 1941, but by 14/07/1941, the whole country was occupied by British and Free French forces. On 26/11/1941 the local Free French Commander-in-Chief, General R. Catroux, formally confirmed the recognition of Lebanese independence. On 08/11/1943 the revived Lebanese parliament passed a resolution that abolished the French protectorate over the country, a move that met with massive support from other Arab nations (due to this occurrences the Free French Committee was forced to officially acknowledge Lebanon's sovereignty on 22/11/1943). On 27/02/1945 Lebanon declared war on Germany and Japan. In 1945 it was one of the co-founding members of U.N. as well as of the League of Arab Countries. As a result of the intensifying movement for total independence of Lebanon, Great Britain and France signed (in December of 1945) a bilateral agreement according to which both parties pledged to evacuate all their armed forces from Lebanese soil by the end of 1946.
Armed Forces: At the start of the war Lebanon created two infantry battalions (Bataillons de Chasseurs Libanois) and one cavalry squadron (these units formed an integral part of the French "Levante" Army that was stationed in Lebanon and Syria); in 1941 these units participated in military operations against British and Free French forces while fighting on behalf of the Vichy army. In the aftermath of Vichy surrender in Lebanon, they were placed under Free French command by the victorious Allies. These units formed the nucleus of the future new Lebanese national army. Following the liberation of Lebanon from Vichy control, the combat role of Lebanese military formations had practically ended. Nevertheless, three additional infantry battalions were raised, and collectively with Syria a number of special detachments were also established along with a military school (located at the town of Hims in western Syria) which was jointly maintained and used (to train the officer cadre) by both countries. In 1944 all Lebanese military units were separated from their French counterparts.
Main article: Lebanese Independence Day
See also: History of Lebanon
Lebanon, then under French rule, was controlled by the Vichy government after the fall of the French Third Republic. Most Lebanese people did not tolerate the Vichy government and the way it ruled, many Lebanese would mock and criticize the French soldiers for becoming Nazi Germany's ally. Lebanon was invaded and occupied by Allied forces from Palestine during the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. De Gaulle declared Lebanon independent on 22 November 1943. In 1945, Lebanon declared war on Germany and Japan.[citation needed]
Contemporary National Flag: Not available.
Population: 855 000 (1938).
Borders (in 1939) with Palestine and Syria. It also has access to the Mediterranean Sea.
Area: 10 450 squared kilometers.
Capital City: Beirut
Overview: Since 23/05/1926, Lebanon was transformed into a constitutional republic under a French protectorate. In 1936 France concluded with Lebanon a pact of friendship and alliance, according to which, the French League of Nations mandate was supposed to expire in 1939. However, France took advantage of the international situation that occurred in that year to illegally nullify this agreement. The French commissioner established martial law, abolished the constitution, and disbanded Lebanese parliament. The French military initiated the formation of Lebanese units that were incorporated into the "Levante" Army. Following the capitulation of France in June of 1940, the local colonial administration became completely subordinated to the puppet French Vichy regime. An Allied invasion encountered resistance from local colonial garrisons between June and July of 1941, but by 14/07/1941, the whole country was occupied by British and Free French forces. On 26/11/1941 the local Free French Commander-in-Chief, General R. Catroux, formally confirmed the recognition of Lebanese independence. On 08/11/1943 the revived Lebanese parliament passed a resolution that abolished the French protectorate over the country, a move that met with massive support from other Arab nations (due to this occurrences the Free French Committee was forced to officially acknowledge Lebanon's sovereignty on 22/11/1943). On 27/02/1945 Lebanon declared war on Germany and Japan. In 1945 it was one of the co-founding members of U.N. as well as of the League of Arab Countries. As a result of the intensifying movement for total independence of Lebanon, Great Britain and France signed (in December of 1945) a bilateral agreement according to which both parties pledged to evacuate all their armed forces from Lebanese soil by the end of 1946.
Armed Forces: At the start of the war Lebanon created two infantry battalions (Bataillons de Chasseurs Libanois) and one cavalry squadron (these units formed an integral part of the French "Levante" Army that was stationed in Lebanon and Syria); in 1941 these units participated in military operations against British and Free French forces while fighting on behalf of the Vichy army. In the aftermath of Vichy surrender in Lebanon, they were placed under Free French command by the victorious Allies. These units formed the nucleus of the future new Lebanese national army. Following the liberation of Lebanon from Vichy control, the combat role of Lebanese military formations had practically ended. Nevertheless, three additional infantry battalions were raised, and collectively with Syria a number of special detachments were also established along with a military school (located at the town of Hims in western Syria) which was jointly maintained and used (to train the officer cadre) by both countries. In 1944 all Lebanese military units were separated from their French counterparts.
Main article: Lebanese Independence Day
See also: History of Lebanon
Lebanon, then under French rule, was controlled by the Vichy government after the fall of the French Third Republic. Most Lebanese people did not tolerate the Vichy government and the way it ruled, many Lebanese would mock and criticize the French soldiers for becoming Nazi Germany's ally. Lebanon was invaded and occupied by Allied forces from Palestine during the Syria–Lebanon Campaign. De Gaulle declared Lebanon independent on 22 November 1943. In 1945, Lebanon declared war on Germany and Japan.[citation needed]