Why were British soldiers in Tripoli, Lebanon in 1941?

Question

I recently met an elderly Greek lady whose family fled to Syria/Lebanon around 1941. She says that British soldiers helped them, taking them safely from Syria/Lebanon even to Africa! But what is the context of those Brits being stationed in Tripoli at the time (the WW2 context)? Thank you!

? · Accepted Answer

After the fall of France in 1940, Lebanon, was under the control of the Vichy Government which allowed Germans to move aircraft and troops through Lebanon and Syria to Iraq.  There was an additional danger that the Vichy would allow Italian Navy and German submarines access to the Lebanese and Syrian ports and even cede control of Syria and Lebanon to the Germans.  Such move would threaten the Egypt and Suez Canal from both West and the North.  To prevent this the British moved its troops into Lebanon where they defeated the Vichy troops and occupied the two countries until the end of the World War 2.

Anonymous · Answer

Tripoli isn't in Lebanon

Ludwig · Answer

The Vichy French in Syria and places were on the side of the Nazis and had to be winkled out.

Anonymous · Answer

British soldiers were stationed in Lebanon during WWII to counter the Vichy government. Lebanon was a French mandate after WWI, but when the Germans occupied France in 1940, the British came into Lebanon

Why were British soldiers in Tripoli, Lebanon in 1941?

4 Answers