October 3 - Iraq Achieves Independence

This Day in History: 3 October 2020

 

3 October 1932

 

88 years ago, today, Iraq gained independence when Britain terminated its mandate over the Arab nation. With the admission of the country into the League of Nations, Iraq was made independent after 17 years of British rule and centuries of Ottoman rule. During World War One, Iraq had been seized from Ottoman Turkey, and Britain was granted a mandate by the League of Nations to govern the nation in 1920. A Hashemite monarchy was organised under British protection in 1921, and in 1932, the kingdom was granted independence. The Iraqi government still maintained close economic and military ties with Britain, however.

 

Iraq's friendly relation with Britain sparked several anti-British revolts. A pro-Axis revolt in 1941 led to a British military intervention, and the Iraqi government agreed to support the Allied war effort. In 1958, the monarchy was overthrown, and for the next two decades, Iraq was ruled by a series of military and civilian governments. Over two decades later, General Saddam Hussein became Iraqi dictator, and held onto power with an iron first, until he disappeared and later died in an American-led coalition invasion of Iraq in 2003. Today, October 3 is celebrated as National Iraqi Day.

 

Want to find out more about the independence of Iraq? Click here for more information, or here for more about Iraqi Independence Day.