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Persian Gulf Command: A History of the Second World War in Iran and Iraq Kindle Edition

by Ashley Jackson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 32 ratings
“Offers us a fascinating new perspective on the Second World War—its impact on local societies in the Middle East.” (Richard J. Aldrich, author of The Black Door)
 
This dynamic history is the first to construct a total picture of the experience and impact of World War II in Iran and Iraq. Contending that these two countries were more important to the Allied forces’ war operations than has ever been acknowledged, historian Ashley Jackson investigates the grand strategy of the Allies and their operations in the region and the continuing legacy of Western intervention in the Middle East.
 
Iran and Iraq served as the first WWII theater in which the U.S., the U.K., and the U.S.S.R. fought alongside each other. Jackson charts the intense Allied military activity in Iran and Iraq and reveals how deeply the war impacted common people’s lives. He also provides revelations about the true nature of Anglo-American relations in the region, the beginnings of the Cold War, and the continuing corrosive legacy of Western influence in these lands.
 
“Skillfully brings together the complex range of developments that took place in Iraq and Iran during the Second World War.” —Evan Mawdsley, author of December 1941
 
“A brilliant book that confirms Ashley Jackson’s place among the preeminent scholars of the British empire.” —Joe Maiolo, author of Cry Havoc
 
“Consistently fascinating and thought-provoking.” —Simon Ball, author of The Bitter Sea
 
“In this lucid work, filled with telling details and well-crafted arguments, Jackson has finally revealed the undoubted significance of Iran and Iraq to the wider war.” —Niall Barr, author of Eisenhower's Armies
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  1. Print length
    668 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    June 26, 2018
  5. File size
    18.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Assiduously researched and sensitively written, Persian Gulf Command offers us a fascinating new perspective on the Second World War - its impact on local societies in the Middle East and the paths to post-war intervention by the West.”—Richard J. Aldrich, author of The Black Door

"Splendid… Ashley Jackson skilfully brings together the complex range of developments that took place in Iraq and Iran during the Second World War. His book combines thorough research, lucid analysis and colourful description.”—Evan Mawdsley, author of December 1941

“A brilliant book that confirms Ashley Jackson’s place among the preeminent scholars of the British empire. Deeply researched, comprehensive and incisive, it is the must-read account of Britain’s Second World War in Iran and Iraq and its enduring consequences.”—Joe Maiolo, author of Cry Havoc

“Consistently fascinating and thought-provoking… Iran and Iraq always struggle to gain centre stage in existing histories of the Second World War, yet they were not secondary theatres for those who lived or fought there. Ashley Jackson puts them unapologetically in the limelight.”—Simon Ball, author of The Bitter Sea

"In this lucid work, filled with telling details and well-crafted arguments, Jackson has finally revealed the undoubted significance of Iran and Iraq to the wider war."—Niall Barr, author of  Eisenhower's Armies

About the Author

Ashley Jackson is professor of imperial and military history at King's College, London, and visiting fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford. He has published extensively on the British Empire in times of war. He lives in Oxfordshire, UK.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07DVL2PX1
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; Illustrated edition (June 26, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 18.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 668 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • DH
    5.0 out of 5 stars A SAD STORY
    Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    My father served in the PGC., WWII. It was a rough tour, Blazing heat, sand, snakes, tooth aches. , What else could a soldier ask for?? These men and women, served their country with their blood, sweat and tears - as did all our Military Men and Women did in the wars that were to come afterward the PGC. WE SALUTE YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES.
    Dolores
    One person found this helpful
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  • jacob s.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Finally some recognition!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Thank you so much Ashley Jackson for finally writing a book about the Persian Gulf Command. My grandfather served in this little known part of WW2 . He took over 700 photographs during his service. Unfortunately I lost most of them in a house fire. I did put some on a Facebook page. I had collected all the information I could, from the treasure of the PGCVO website to a Russian soldier. I had a short article in WW2 History magazine and my grandfathers, Jake Parker, printed. He was in the 516th Quarter Master Truck Regiment. I was always so let down by the little recognition the men of the PGC received and how interesting the story was. With at least 30,000 Americans serving I know that I am not alone in being very grateful someone finally wrote a book on the subject. Thank you so much again for writing this book and I can’t wait to get started reading your book!
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Mark Braden
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024
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    Great book
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  • Charles A. Krohn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compared to our failure in Afghanistan, I wish giants still walked the earth as they did then.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The Brits and others anticipated the collapse of the USSR and took posivte and expensive action to keep the Nazis from capturing the large oil reserves under the soil of Iran and Iraq. Nothing was taken for granted, although the threat never materialized

    Compare this comprehensive planning to our cavalier withdrawal from Afghanistan where our leadership assumed the best case. What we got was the worst outcome that exposed our failure at the highest level of political and military responsibility.
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  • CSD
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book, Well-researched & well-written
    Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022
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    The Persian Gulf Command is a little known and vastly important group that supplied materiel to the Soviet Union and allowed them to continue their assault on the Nazis from the east with US and British forces attacked from the west. A fascinating story....
    One person found this helpful
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  • Russ Quimby
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good British Background History to WWII Iraq & Iran
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    For the most part, this is a very good and detailed history of British and allied involvement in Iraq and Iran during WWII. As a generally little known but critical part of WWII, it is enlightening and interesting. However, there are a few parts that makes one wonder about the accuracy of the story, such as saying (American) "Mikado" (aka "Mikes" or "MacArthur") steam locomotives came from Japan. Nitpicky, I know, but an obvious mistake that calls into question credibility.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Vincent Quaglia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
    Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2023
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    Highly recommended
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  • Sassy68
    2.0 out of 5 stars Good book
    Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2022
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    I liked the book, but bought it for someone else who likes more pictures. Had to send back
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gabriel Stein
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    And excellent and well informed, as well as well written, study of World War II in a crucial theatre of operations. The Iraqi-Iran area was no less important for being almost devoid of serious fighting. This book fills a gap in the history of World War II.
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  • Vigilantius
    4.0 out of 5 stars Authoritative British military perspective, albeit lacking the local viewpoint
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a scholarly account of a relatively quiet corner of the Second World War - unless you happened to be Iranian or Iraqi. The perspective is resolutely British, which is not surprising, though it would be fascinating to read a summary of contemporary Iranian or Iraqi views of this rather shameful episode (from the local point of view) in the region’s long history.

    Jackson writes well enough, if somewhat drily. He clearly has an excellent grasp of the very largely Western sources.

    The case is well made for how critical this region might have been in the war. Britain effectively took over Iran, with Soviet agreement, after narrowly managing to quell a serious uprising in Iraq, which was aided by Germany. This decisive action was partly to secure the supply route to the USSR and partly to keep Gulf oil in Allied hands. Hitler, fortunately, committed minimal resources as he did not sufficiently appreciate the immense value of the Gulf oilfields, loss of which would have gravely imperilled the British war effort and indeed the country’s survival.

    This strategic perspective is well described, as are the touch-and-go campaigns on the ground, crucially aided by complete air mastery. However, I would have liked more pen-portraits and anecdotes about some of the big personalities in the field, and perhaps some ground-level stories. The maps help, though there could have been many more of them. The photos are telling.
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  • Panda
    3.0 out of 5 stars WW2 Persian Gulf
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is good history of this little known campaign, BUT the narrator's voice is monotonous and everytime I tried to listen for more than 5mins he sent me to sleep!
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