Battle of Damascus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Damascus |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Map of Syria and the Lebanon during World War II |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Free France Australia |
|
||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Henry Wilson Wilfrid Lloyd Paul Legentilhomme |
 Henri Dentz |
||||||
The Battle of Damascus happened between June 18 and 21, 1941. It was the last big fight in the Syria–Lebanon Campaign during World War II. This battle was about capturing the city of Damascus in Syria.
The battle was fought between the Allies and the Vichy French forces. The Allies included soldiers from the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and Free France. Free France was a group of French soldiers who kept fighting against Germany, even after France was mostly taken over. The Vichy French were French forces who worked with Germany at that time.
The Start of the Battle
The Allied plan was to capture two important places near Damascus. Indian troops were given the job of taking a town called Mezzeh. At the same time, Free French soldiers were supposed to capture Qadam.
The Free French forces faced strong resistance and were held up. However, the Indian troops managed to capture Mezzeh. After taking the town, they found themselves surrounded. The Vichy French launched a strong counterattack, cutting off the Indian soldiers.
Holding Out at Mezzeh
For two days, June 19 and 20, the Indian troops in Mezzeh bravely held their ground. They were running low on food and ammunition, but they kept fighting.
British and Australian soldiers were sent to help. Late on June 20, Australian troops tried to reach Mezzeh to relieve the trapped Indian soldiers. When they entered the town, they found it empty. The remaining Indian troops had been captured by the Vichy French earlier that day and moved out of the town.
Capturing Damascus
The next day, June 21, the Free French forces, with help from British and Australian troops, finally captured Qadam. More fighting took place around the Quneitra road and the Barada Gorge.
By the middle of the morning on June 21, the Vichy French soldiers defending Damascus gave up. They surrendered to the Allied forces. This meant the Allies had won the Battle of Damascus and taken control of the city.
Images for kids
-
Sketch map of the area of the Battle of Damascus, June 1941
-
Free French Circassian Cavalry outside the railway station in Damascus, 26 June 1941
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Damasco para niños
