Lebanon - The 1941 Invasion

[@SnoopReddogg]

Australian units involved in this campaign had the unique distinction of having fought the Germans, Italians, Vichy French and Japanese by wars end.

[@simonkevnorris]

There was also brawls with the American MPs in Australia.

[@mikepette4422]

you make them sound like war mongers 😉😉

[@28ebdh3udnav]

I mean, the Americans did too but Australia and the UK were fighting them longer than the U.S

[@frankgesuele6298]

The Grand Tour.

[@xgford94]

@@simonkevnorris are you referring to The Battle of Brisbane?

[@gattingbowledwarne]

My grandfather was one of those Australians… except he was an Englishman who as a 19 year old deserted the merchant marine, jumping ship in Melbourne. Many years later he met my grandmother in rural Victoria. He passed away in 54, my gran moved to tweed heads, where I grew up. There was a room in her house that was filled with photos of him in North Africa and Palestine.

[@KingLyrizzz]

That’s crazy 😂

[@homebrandrules]

@@KingLyrizzz your comment exhibits the type of generic lexicon by those deficient in original self-expression.

[@gattingbowledwarne]

@@homebrandrulesyou must be a hoot at parties.

[@benwilson6145]

He cannot have served in the Merchant Marine and been British. The Merchant Marine is for ships and crews from the USA

[@KingLyrizzz]

@@homebrandrules ah sorry my senior excuse my poor language, I presume you sit in your dwelling typing three comments in frustration.

[@Physiker17]

My uncle was there and helped the Australians. He was born in Southern Lebanon and at the outbreak of the war went to Palestine and lied about his age. He dug trenches, carried stuff for the Australians and came with them when they "liberated" Lebanon. After the war he went to Australia and because he could prove that he was in the Australian Army he got the citizenship.

[@michaelbread5906]

200 IQ maneuver.

[@larsrons7937]

Very interesting. Thank you for sharing his story.

[@oldmanriver1955]

My father was in the 2nd/33rd Battalion, 25th Brigade, 7th Division, 2nd AIF - Australian in the campaign.

[@aeliusromanus9338]

Ah, the French! The allies saving the French again. This time from themselves. Go figure.

[@MezzaLoey]

@@Physiker17 what a wonderful story, love from Mez, South Australia.🇦🇺

[@RobofGabriola]

I just learned that the Australians fought the French in Lebanon. What a fabulous video!

[@johnwatters6922]

Yeah, a Pacific Island nation fighting an European nation in the Middle East. Not only that, directly contributing to the formation of the country of Lebanon and not only that, during WW1 the charge of Australian Light Horse cavalry at the battle of Beersheba expelled the Turks from Palestine leading to the Balfour Declaration and the creation of Israel after WW2.

[@MezzaLoey]

Good to see the Australians recognised here! 🇦🇺🇱🇧🇦🇺🇱🇧🇦🇺

[@ronti2492]

Thanks for covering an 'Australian heavy' campaign that has also been largely overlooked in Australia. Another VC won in this campaign was by LT Roden Cutler, who went on to a public service career and being the Governor of NSW. There is/ was a Jezzine barracks in Townsville, North Queensland. Lest we forget.

[@malalexander3515]

Cutler was Governor, not LT Governor.

[@bushranger51]

@@malalexander3515 He did say GOVERNOR not Lt Governor as there is, and has been, no such position in any Australian State. Roden Cutler V.C. was a Lieutenant in the Army during WW2 and lost a leg in Lebanon during that campaign.

[@HarryP457]

Jezzine Barracks still exist, I trained there back in the early 80's. It's a military museum these days.

[@AlexusMagnum]

Thank you Mark for bringing attention to my country Lebanon. I hope we will someday know peace.

[@grandaddyoe1434]

no peace - know them know peace - no them

[@homebrandrules]

if only the Christians had remained a majority there and NOT been so blindly welcoming to the cultists of the religion of "peace"

[@melikecomedy]

​@@homebrandrulesright thats the only reason

[@Prosper_Dean]

Sorry buddy you are within the borders of "Greater Israel" ....

[@SiPakRubah]

​​​@@homebrandrulesYou said like there's no Christian in the PLO themselves

[@navypti]

As an Australian, I found this video fascinating. The middle east is now, as in the past, a very complex political area. Thanks Mark for explaining this complexity in such a clear & concise way. I had no idea what the campaign was all about as far as our forces were concerned. Keep up the good work mate!!

[@Jarkoz_ez]

This is an intresting campaign which is not well known, great video explaining it

[@Farseer1993]

My Australian great uncle was killed in fighting against Vichy French forces in Syria in early June 1941. Thanks for highlighting this largely overlooked part of the war. It shouldn't be forgotten.

[@basilj3949]

Thank you for this video! My grandmother would sew blankets for the Australians passing through her village

[@epiccheese911]

I'm Lebanese, from the North. My grandfather used to tell me on how happy they were with the Aussies that liberated them from the Vichy French. He told me on how the Vichy troops would steal their food and make them starve, and how when the Aussies came, they would give them their own food and their own blankets. We have a monument for the fallen Australian soldiers in Nahr El Kalb Also a funny story was from when he told me that he was once bullied by an Indian soldier and my great grandfather whipped the soldier which caused a scuffle between the locals and the Indian troops, but was then resolved by some officers.

[@andrewstrongman305]

From the beginning, Australian soldiers have befriended local people wherever they go. That's just the way we are, and the practice was recognised as being beneficial so it became official policy. I'm pleased that we are remembered with fondness for our actions, and had no idea that there were any monuments for our Fallen in that region.

[@WanderlustZero]

The Syrians had it even worse, with the French shooting protestors and trying to snuff out Syria's independence in 1945, to say nothing of Vietnam and Algeria. France really shamed herself after the war.

[@maxwellschneiter]

They're like the opposite of Canadians

[@blokeabouttown2490]

Another Australian, Sir Roden Cutler also won the Victoria Cross in the Lebanon-Syria Campaign. He went on the become the longest serving Governor of New South Wales. He had an artificial leg because he was badly wounded in the action for which he won the VC.

[@hillbillyscholar8126]

BEST history channel on this platform. Thank you MFP!

[@M1903a4]

"on this platform"?? How about best history channel, FULL STOP!!

[@otaku1524]

Dr. Felton goes the 'extra mile' illuminating the obscure clashes that dont get any attention from all the other documentarians

[@thecommoner544]

Another great video Dr Felton! Thank you!

[@mattsa]

My friend’s father fought the Vichy in Lebanon then was shipped to Java to fight the Japanese. He was captured and spent over 3 years as a POW, including on the Thai-Burma railway. He was a real gentleman and died in his 80s.

[@maxfan1591]

Same as my uncle.

[@rickyp6815]

He was in the British Army?

[@mattsa]

@@rickyp6815 Australian Army. My father fought the Japanese in New Guinea. He was on the first convoy to Port Moresby late December 1941.

[@downunderrob]

The Lebanese had thirty years of relative Peace and Prosperity. Would that they could today. Respect from Australia. 🇦🇺🇱🇧

[@robertmansfield7656]

I didn't know that so many Aussies played such a big role in modern Lebanese history.

[@dwaynekoblitz6032]

I don't remember which video of yours was the first one I watched, but I do remember that I subscribed within a couple minutes of watching. I already knew that this was a channel I'd be watching for as long as I can. Always superb and so well spoken and explained. The best history channel available. And I watch a lot of history channels.

[@Mr.Haveaword]

Astonishing as ever. Your efforts in the collection of contemporary imagery are second to none - you’re the real man in the high castle!

[@rileyernst9086]

The Australian habit of stealing as much enemy equipment as possible meant that when M3 Grant tanks initially arrived in North Africa and it became apparent that there was an issue with the fuses on the 75mm shells, the 8th Army could swap the US fuses for those of French 75mm field guns. They also swapped AP the initial batches of US made projectiles, which had a knack for shattering on impact, out for captured German 75mm AP projectiles, which not only did not shatter on impact with enemy armour, but penetrated and burst inside it as they had an explosive bursting charge.

[@billk7541]

Shows wisdom.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Yep same country that had the Type 14 torpedo - interesting read about that dud

[@rileyernst9086]

@@Rusty_Gold85 To their credit though unlike the navy, the arny ordinance board actually tended to try to solve their problems, as they were reported. Although shattering AP shot would continue to be an issue for the 3', and 76mm AP shot, including the much vaunted by modern US historians 76mm HVAP round. Which... well having access to a very limited number of AP shot that can knock out a panther at combat ranges, IF it does not shatter on impact by winter 1944... just sign me up for His Majesty's service, the 17 pdr is not such a fickle creature.

[@overworlder]

Using captured equipment isn't stealing

[@rileyernst9086]

Capturing equipment is stealing. All hail Meiphisto the thrice stolen tank of the great war, sole survivor of it's rare make. Stolen from the Germans by the Queensland Regiment, stolen from Queensland by Canberra, stolen back by Queensland when Canberra made the mistake of unloading it in Brisbane.

[@tadeusz1]

Excellent and concise review. Many thanks Dr. Felton for your continuing revelations.

[@mackenshaw8169]

Growing up in Melbourne in the 70's a lot of 7th Div men were still of working age. They really resented the French for making the campaign necessary.

[@michaelbayer5094]

I don't blame those 7th Div men. And I'm really starting to hate these Vichy guys. I thought they were either weasals like the captain in Casablanca or trying to walk the fine line of maintaining French colonies while keeping the Nazis out. Apparently, many French were pro-Nazi collaborators.

[@TheRobbex]

These men also went on to fight down the Kokoda track from Port Moresby to Lae a tremendous feat of arms I daresay few young Aussies know anything about?

[@patrickmaguire6622]

The Australian 7th Division destroyed the French Foreign Legion troops in a magnificent campaign… Fighting over the same ground that the Australian Light Horse fought over in WW1. A sadly forgotten magnificent action by the 2nd A.I.F. Thank you Mark for posting this for those to learn about. From a proud Aussie!

[@raymondtonns2521]

William Philpott 's "three armies on the Somme" has a number of accounts of Aussies dstinguishng themselves in that ungodly battle. .

[@MarquisVincentBissetdeGramont]

Watching the video, you get the impression that the Foreign Legion gave the proud Aussies a run for their money. By the way, the Legion was so "destroyed" that it successfully covered the British retreat at Bir Hakeim the following year, fighting one against ten. Show some respect.

[@danlinnell9359]

Not to mention seeing off the french navy at the battle of litani river...... with field artillery.

[@COLINJELY]

Sir Roden Cutler was awarded the VC during the campaign. He later became the Governor of New South Wales.

[@mvl9591]

Thank you for your videos. Sad to see Lebanon today. ❤

[@GenericYoutubeGuy]

France, in its radicalism and neocolonialism, is plotting to return to it and fight/supply against Israel

[@gertvanniekerk46]

Again, very interesting, informative and perfectly narrated Thanking you-From South Africa.

[@AlexusMagnum]

Thanks

[@kleverich]

I love it when Mark creates videos about historic analogues to modern-day events.

[@multicoloredwiz]

Sometimes it makes me wonder.. what's the point of learning history, when our leaders learn nothing from it?

[@lucdeluc6577]

Thank you for this outstanding content. It’s an indictment on the Australian education system that they learn nothing of this history at school.

[@seanlander9321]

Really? In NSW in the 70’s, when I was a lad, this episode was standard history education. The awareness was helped of course by Cutler being the governor. He came to our school once and we all tried to get a peek at his mechanical leg which clicked into place when he sat down. The education emphasis then was that Australia had given the Lebanese their country and was helping again by taking in tens of thousands of refugees due to their civil war.

[@presidentxijinpingspoxdoct9756]

all they are taught today, is the black armband view of history, with a big dose of cultural Marxism

[@downunderrob]

Perhaps nowadays. But when I was in school from '71 to '82, we learned about this. In passing, if not directly. All for ANZAC Glory. 🇦🇺🦘

[@simonkevnorris]

Do you expect schools to teach you all history? If that was the case you may finish high school in your 30s.

[@seanlander9321]

@@simonkevnorris Teaching which countries defeated which in WWII takes all of 30 seconds.

[@danielchinn3536]

I started reading about this campaign last year after diving the wreck of the St Didier off Antalya. She was a Vichy French Merchant vessel en route to resupply their forces in The Levant but was intercepted by the Fleet Air Arm who sank her there. Today she presents a fascinating dive into history (much like a French Thistlegorm) and this article has served to answer some of the questions which I still had about this campaign; thank you Mark.

[@maxfan1591]

My dad and uncle were involved in this campaign as part of the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion in the Australian 7th Division. After starting the campaign doing road and bridge repairs, their company was involved in an unsupported attack against Fort Merdjayoun, which was a costly failure. My uncle was captured by the defenders, but freed again when the defenders withdrew. (The battalion was then captured by the Japanese in Java in March 1942.)

[@warrenmilford6848]

Thats actually quite a unique scenario that your uncle experienced in the war. Being captured as a POW twice in two different campaigns by two different enemies.

[@deanbuss1678]

Thanks!

[@glennschwartz3435]

Amazing, never heard of this. Thanks Mark, another winner!

[@seanlander9321]

The French commander was General Dentz who had surrendered Paris to the Germans. His utter humiliation at being forced by the Australians to surrender Syria and Lebanon on Bastille Day 1941 ruined his reputation forever; the Australian sense of humour was something the Gaullists never got over either as their embarrassment at refusing to fight and being unable to contribute anything to the financing and logistics left them with a reputation as cowards. By the way, this was the second time the Australians had captured Damascus in two world wars.

[@Wolfen443]

Poor French military, totally out of shape f and divided in WWII.

[@francisebbecke2727]

This guy had a talent for surrendering.

[@Britbikerss]

Tes ~ WWI and the Light Horse ~ They were supposed to leave the Damascus surrender to the glory of "Lawrence" of Arabia~ Proposed as Another moment of personal victory to take the city centre ~ But as Aussies, we all know what really happened ~ when the Australians supposedly 'got lost "~ suddenly finding themselves in the heart the city centre ~ to take the surrender! Opps! Yeah Right! Got lost!

[@shawngilliland243]

Paris had been declared an open city prior to the arrival of German troops there, so how could Gen. Dantz have surrendered Paris to the Germans? At the end of the war, Gen. Henri Dentz was sentenced to death for collaboration with the enemy. Gen. Degaulle commuted his sentence to life in prison. The Gaullists did not refuse to fight, they were the Free French, who fought against Vichy French units in Africa and Syria.

[@Heike--]

So the French had stopped fighting with a legal armistice and the Allies kept attacking them? Doesn't that make you the bad guys when you keep doing that?

[@ColinH1973]

Fascinating stuff, Mark. Thanks.

[@JasonDouglasRalph67]

My grandfather fought in Lebanon with the 2/5 AIF, he said Lebanon and Syria were some of the most beautiful country he'd ever seen and he would have liked to go back and visit as a tourist.

[@johnfisk811]

Excellent thank you. Trivial but you referred to British cavalry as using armoured cars etc. In fact it was the last actual use of formal horse cavalry by two Yeomanry regiments who were very active is using their superior tactical mobility. Literally the ‘spear point’ of the regiments in active patrolling was a horseman with drawn sword to immediately react to contact with the enemy, two mounted riflemen to pin down the nemesis whilst the Hotchkiss Portable machine gun was brought forward to dominate the action and a general attack or withdrawal was actioned.

[@primosquash3741]

Pins and needles waiting for the next video. Thank you Mark

[@d.c.8828]

Important, relevant historical context. Thank you.

[@snowscapephile4709]

What a beautiful profile pic. 😍

[@gertgilich3508]

Thank you Mark. Fascinating as allways. It would be an honour to meet you one day! ☝️🇿🇦🇬🇧🇩🇪🇳🇦🇺🇸

[@GenericYoutubeGuy]

Those are a lot of flags. Looks like you are related to Elon Musk and Rip Van Winkle.

[@ahmadkhatiblb]

As a Lebanese Citizen I can confirm that the Lebanese Leaders of that period (pre-independence of Lebanon 🇱🇧) were working with the Allied forces & with the French General Charles de Gaulle under the table to get rid of the Vichy Regime under the French Mandate over Lebanon for their promise of a free independent Lebanon 🇱🇧 which eventually happened in 1943, then in 1944 the Free Independent Lebanon 🇱🇧 declared war on Nazi Germany & opened its sea, air & land territories plus its airfields to allied forces (Allied forces, US/Brits/French used the Lebanese Reyak Military Airbase in the Bekaa Valley for example in its various air campaigns till end of WW2), the Australian troops opened new roads & railways between Beirut City & the Bekaa Valley, etc

[@dickyt1318]

much of this I didn't know but do now thanks to Professor Felton !

[@S_M_360]

I learn so much, but also reminded of stories I’ve lost track of, too. Thanks from the US, Mark

[@videoman10]

Dr. Felton once again makes history videos that are relevant to the current situation. Well done, sir!

[@David-yo5ws]

It adds some 'insight' to the current situation, but I would think a history of the later civil war, that Dr Felton mentioned, would be of more relevance historically, to the current situation.

[@hgtrad7655]

Very interesting Dr Felton, keep up your good work. The Levant is probably one of the most intetesting region from a historical point of view.

[@Chris-te3ce]

Best ww2 channel and please never change the intro!

[@aussiviking604]

My grandfather got to liberate Damascus twice in his military career. Once in the first world war from the Ottomans. The second time in the second world war from the French.

[@minuteman4199]

Do you know any more details of his service? That would be an interesting story!!

[@thekraken1173]

Liberate? Lol more like occupation under new management.

[@unkownhistory7660]

Yes he probably met some famous people

[@alice_in_pains]

One hell of a resume!

[@aussiviking604]

@alice_in_pains There were plenty of service people with interesting service histories. They were extraordinary times. I knew an old ferry skipper who, during his service in the Merchant Marine during ww2. Had seven ships sunk beneath him!!!

[@Fishinpro322]

Mark, would love for you to make a video on the British invasion of Madagascar. My great grandfather (from my previous comment) was KIA in Madagascar fighting the Vichy French. It's another campaign few know about!

[@gardnep]

I recall he has covered this campaign in a previous video. Churchill said it would be over in two weeks and it took a year.

[@jtabet010]

Lebanese here, thank you Dr felton. It is very sad the towns you mentioned are still a battleground till now. I suspect they always amd have been and will remain at least in the near future.

[@darrencooper6511]

The famous ‘Devil’s Island’ in South America was a Vichy outpost.

[@gertgilich3508]

@@darrencooper6511 a Morpho Menelaus 'Papillon' adourns my wall. Thank you for placing a further piece in my puzzle! Much appreciated.

[@robertlevine2827]

It's part of French Guiana.

[@CedarsMountainsMan]

Thanks to you Mark and your remarkable work, I am learning - for the ever first time - a chapter of my country’s history!

[@Britbikerss]

I found an ID tag locally ( as this area was a massive raining region 1942-1945) owned by a Aust digger and I found his son, and he was glad to talk to me about his Dad who died in 2001. When I asked him about his Dad being listed as a POW, he explained that his Dad was captured by the Vichy French in that campaign ~ When I suggested that may have been a easy term , he retorted that the French totally brutalised the Australians ! His Dad struggled all his life with the stress ~ (PTSD.) And as there was no recognition of the disorder then, he was merely returned to Australia and retrained in jungle warfare and went onto the Pacific campaigns~

[@ResellingHistory]

Another little known WW2 chapter. I hope sometime you can talk about the battle of Madagascar! You’re the best Mr Felton!

[@oldtop4682]

The first time I was exposed to these battles was from reading a book about the French Foreign Legion. Some of the Legion were Vichy, others Free French, and these units actually fought against each other in the Middle East on a couple of occasions. Americans (and I am one) focus their interest on Europe and the Pacific - maybe No. Africa (thanks Hollywood). Many aren't familiar with other areas where fighting was going on, and how much the British Empire contributed (one could say more than the US) to victory. Thank you for this good sir!

[@MicMc539]

Having been shamefully late to the last two World Wars the Yanks do seem eager to be early for the next one. Freedumb!

[@ovethompson9611]

Fantastic backstory of “Casablanca”. I never understood the Vichy thing in the movie. Thanks again for another great production.

[@guyh9992]

The Australians called themselves the silent 7th because the 9th Division in Tobruk received all the press. This campaign was heavlly censored because the British and Australian governments thought it would be bad for public morale to know the AIF were fighting the French. De Gaulle and British general Wilson were condescending towards the Australians in Beirut who afterwards remained in northern Syria as part of Blamey's Australian Corps sidelined from the action in Egypt and Lybia. Richard James book Australia's war with France is a good source.

[@Brendan-dv2cp]

Thank you, Cobber. Much appreciated.

[@cia6264]

I never knew bout this thank you again Dr Felton! ❤

[@jotarokujo9164]

I am from Norway and I love this chapter. It's gold. Man, the Canadians are beasts but the Aussies are staunch travellers.

[@iskra1234]

Any chance of something on the role of Cyprus in WWII please? Not a topic you hear much about, but given it’s location it must have had an impact

[@guyh9992]

Australian 7th division cavalry regiment and a British battalion were sent to Cyprus in mid 1941.

[@markraffety3246]

An immensely fascinating video on a piece of history I knew nothing about. Exceptionally well done. Thank you.

[@archstanton6102]

There is an excellent book on the Brotish war v Vichy French.

[@thomaswoodman6332]

A fantastic video highlighting a often forgotten front in the second world war.

[@robertvermaat2124]

@Mark Felton Productions - I'm surprised you did not mention Roald Dahl, who operated as a British Hurricane pilot in the invasion. In his book 'Going Solo' he mentioned downing two French aircraft and attacking an airfield in the Beqaa Valley on June 15th, 1941. Yes, I havethe blog of my friend Jona Lendering to thank for this nugget of wisdom. ;)

[@MaxPower-11]

Kudos to Dr. Felton for correctly pronouncing the name of the city of Acre (AH-k’r, frequently mispronounced as AY-ker; Arabic pronunciation: Akka, Hebrew: Akko).

[@haithamal-hashmi7135]

Just for correction during second world war there was no country called UAE this area part of Oman.

[@victorocallaghan6791]

This a really well timed video

[@yellowcommunity647]

I just came across this channel! thank you Mark ! My grand father , a Lebanese, worked with the French in Nahr El Kalb ( dog's river) in the 1940's He told us the the French had dug inside the mountain a small entrance, and inside it is a huge world, hospital, ammunition, people, food, all of these inside the mountain. I live next to this place, you can barely find the entrance now but it is still there.

[@skydiverclassc2031]

0:45 I'm sure Mr. De Gaulle was more of the opinion that "the British, and later the Americans" fought on the side of the Free French.😀

[@Duke-v6l]

👃👃👃

[@theenigmaticgamer]

Yes indeed and he never could bring himself to show gratitude to the British, American and other allied nations for the ultimate sacrifice made by their servicemen and women. I rate him as a thoroughly nasty piece of work, who was more of a hindrance than help to the allied cause. His ego was even bigger than his nose 🤣

[@wackadakka3134]

Churchill famously said of De Gaulle , i dont know wether to give him an army , or throw him in prison

[@larryjohnson7591]

Now that was some great information. Thanks Mark!

[@amingaz]

excellent documentary . i was born there 7 years later . i remember as a child passing by stone engraved memorials engraved against stone rocks above Dog river by the allies . There is Allenby , Foch and Petain street in Beirut but i dont recall any Australian names .

[@Theseus9-cl7ol]

Love your vids Mark Felton, thanks for doing what you do! 👍

[@thomasdarwin6174]

Another part of WW2 I knew nothing about - Wow

[@shawnharrington9548]

Your documentaries remind me of the old Time-Life books. Thank you.

[@joebombero1]

Maybe he is only reading them for us! LOL

[@danielkneebone4412]

Proud of Australia’s influence to generate peace in the Middle East throughout the 20th century. Thank you for this Dr Felton. Most of my countrymen would not know how much the Aussies did in WWI and II in this part of the world. Ironic to say the least considering what is happening today.

[@michaelkinsey4649]

Churchill said something along the lines of "If you do not understand your history, you have no future" Thank you for your work illuminating (what we rather patronisingly call) the Middle East.

[@simonkevnorris]

I've been reading Richard Jamse's book Australia's War With France which covers this. The initial fighting was fairly close.

[@simonkevnorris]

Richard James. Autocorrect again.

[@DYXH0RN]

Thank you, Mark Felton. I enjoy watching your content.

[@dillonf8652]

Posted 45min ago? What a treat

[@PortlandsTransport]

You always put out interesting stuff on this channel. Impressive

[@beckster181]

my Dad was in the 7th Div Cav Regt and was in lebanon during the war and it was always interesting to me as a kid that in many of the pics from his time there there was snow on the ground. At the time i was young and considered the whle area as hot like Australia and that they would never know what snow was. This is the first time I have heard about the reason he was there as it was always almost impossible to get him to talk about his time in the war and usually I had to find out the places and battles he was in some other way before he would talk about it at all. Like when i learnet about Sanananda Track in New Gunea and how out of a regiment of over 1000 troops that was sent there within months when they were officially withdrawn from there and sent home to Australia only 60 personnel were on the boat as all the rest were either KIA MIA or in hospital back in Aussie already, due to illness and i think if i remember the time line correctly that was the only 6 moths in the whole war that his unit fought as a unit instead of sub unit detachments. After that they were removed from the orbat and broken up into commando indipendant rifle companies and the units title was changed prior to going to New Gunea to 7th Div Cav (CDO) Regt.and they only used their bren gun carriers in Lebanon as the rest of the war they fought as dismounted infantry. I beleive as late as 1946 their carriers were still chained t trees outside Port Morsby as they were officially all grounded as un repairable since their time in Egypt.

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Thank you, much appreciated.

[@harryruzgerian4855]

I remember reading, in Rick Atkinson’s “An Army At Dawn”, of an incident when the Americans invaded North Africa. An American warship entered a harbor and was badly damaged by a French Destroyer.

[@kennethwood2089]

Best research on the web--Dr. Felton!

[@matthieuperry]

Thanks Mark. It’s great to see such an overlooked part of the Second World War. I’ve had the privilege of visiting Lebanon three times, before the current economic crisis started in 2019. For a country of its size, it’s incredible to see the diversity of the people who live there and there are so many fascinating historical sites from different era. The people there are all incredibly welcoming. I hope the country can return to peace and stability soon

[@tylerjohnson9949]

Very interesting. Thank you Dr. Felton.

[@Kingsland7]

Thanks for crediting the Australian 2nd/AIF as being a relatively independent force rather than simply British or Commonwealth. Australia & Lebanon now share a great respect for each other to this day.

[@soloc83]

Another excellent video from Dr. Felton. The withdrawal of French forces from Syria is commemorated as "Evacuation Day" on April 17th. One minor note regarding Lebanon being relatively stable until 1975: there was a U.S. military intervention in 1958 during the Eisenhower administration to support President Chamoun's government in Beirut against Pan-Arab rebels. Shortly afterward, there was also a coup attempt on New Year's Eve in 1961, which led to a nationwide crackdown against the SSNP in Lebanon.

[@tomjones7593]

Thank you- my late father was in the Cheshire Yeomanry which did a deal of cavalry reconnaissance and some fighting against the Vichy forces-he told me that Vichy machine guns were manned usually by French 'settlers' who were very hard to dislodge and had to be killed. Oddly the French persons don't talk much about this conflict...

[@Otto9393]

Hello From Lebanon 🙏🏻 thank you Mark

[@borgognosimon5719]

Fun fact, it was one of the first major engagement of the french foreign legion since 1940, but they were divided between the free french and the vichy french, in several instance the french foreign legion fought each other. Now, both the vichy french and the free french who died during the campaign rest in the same cemetery, as brother of the legion.

[@BruceK10032]

Wow! Great stuff! I confess to having known only a very little bit about this whole campaign until now.

[@brianbilling8940]

Interesting to hear about the war in this under reported campaign. My father was a radar mechanic and his unit left Cairo in lorries with their markings painted out and drove up through Syria where they exchanged uniforms for civvies and had civilian passports before being met at the Turkish border by a Turkish colonel and they set up in central Turkey while German units were in bases around the coast. This was in 1944 and at one point my dad was in Istanbul walking down the street when German soldiers passed him going the other way. Turkey was still on the Axis side. More please on this campaign.

[@argunaut]

As an Australian I was unaware of this major role that Aussie diggers played in Lebanon in WWII. Thanks for the insights and great content as always.

[@jokodihaynes419]

The 13th demi and the 6th foreign legion fought each other in this battle after the campaign they were buried side by side regardless of which side they fought on

[@javiertisera355]

Yes, 13 demi Brigade de la legion etrangere against 6 rei

[@boali476]

Dr Felton is a legend thx for another awesome documentary

[@swenhtet2861]

Among the British commandos that fought at the Litani River was Paddy Mayne who would become the most famous member of the Special Air Service Brigade.

[@michaelw2288]

Moshe Dayan lost his eye in that action.

[@Engelhafen]

Thanks for being concise and organized

[@rtyrsson]

Very insightful. I would have appreciated any information you might have come across of the Palmach's actions in Lebanon, if it was of any significance. I continue to be amazed at the difficulties with France during World War II.

[@112233eeeful]

Thank you for this video Dr. Felton. Can you please make a video on the key Vichy France ministers and what became if them?