Munoz, Antonio J. Lions of the Desert: Arab Volunteers in the German Army, 1941-1945. Bayside, NY: Axis Europa, 1997. 2nd (revised) edition

36 pages

Whether it be Germans in the French Foreign Legion fighting against Japanese in Indochina, Senegalese vs Senegalese during the Allied invasion of the Levant, or the Caribbean Regiment under British command in the Middle East, the history of the Second World War is awash with unlikely troops serving in unlikely theaters.

One of the most obscure stories belongs to the Arab volunteers who served in the Wehrmacht. Originally very few in number, many of them came by way of French and British combat and labor units and, subsequently, German POW camps. They tended to be very politically aware with loyalties to the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem or to his rival Rashid Ali (both of whom had been granted sanctuary in Germany).

The number of Arab volunteers grew as the war went on. Some Arabs were transferred to the Russian Front in anticipation of a breakthrough across the Caucasus into the Middle East, but never saw combat there. A few moved to Tunisia in 1943 where several weak Arab battalions were raised for garrison and labor duties. A handful were trained in sabotage in the Netherlands by Otto Skorzeny. The German-Arab 845th Infantry Battalion served in a security and anti-partisan role in Greece. A small number rallied to their old German officers and fought in defense of Berlin in the final weeks of the war.

Munoz quotes from a letter by one of their commanders, Major Schacht:

"...In November 1944, word got around that I had been entrusted with the activation of a Parachute Regiment for Special Employment. Before the month was over approximately 100 Arabs had deserted from their jobs with various staffs to volunteer for service in the new regiment. Under the leadership of the officers who had commanded them during the Tunisian campaign, they formed an extra company for the regiment. During the fighting in March and April 1945 in Pommerania [sic] and on the Oder marshes the Arab company fully proved its effectiveness. In at least two instances I owed my life to the Arabs. Their losses were in proportion to their courage."

This is a very interesting story, and one that must have taken some serious digging by Munoz to unearth. Unfortunately, he provides no scholarly apparatus whatsoever: no footnotes, no bibliography, and for many of the direct quotations in the text there is no attribution. Such supporting material would have been a welcome addition. Similarly, a spellchecker and a little more familiarity with page layout software would have been helpful.

Despite its limitations, this is an informative little publication for those interested in little-known Arab units of World War II.

Available through mail order booksellers, local bookstores, or directly from Axis Europa for $17.95.

Thanks to Axis Europa for providing this review copy.