[The Tragedy of the Assyrians By R. S. Stafford - Page 59] ]The Assyrian Levies distinguished themselves in the fighting to overcome the Rashid Ali revolt of May 1941. The force thereafter grew and survived until the final British military withdrawal from Iraq in 1955. [Minorities in the Middle East: a history of struggle and self-expression By Mordechai Nisan]
History
The original Levies were not Assyrians until 1928 when the levies became entirely Assyrian. The force expanded rapidly and became known as "Shabanas", a Turkish word meaning a semi-military gendarmerie.
As they became more disciplined they rendered excellent service; during the Arab rebellion of 1920 they displayed, under conditions of the greatest trial, steadfast loyalty to their British officers. [The Tragedy of the Assyrians By R. S. Stafford - Page - 59] ]In 1920 the Assyrians had given proof of their fighting qualities when the camps at Mindan and Baquba were attacked by the Arab rebels. [The Tragedy of the Assyrians By R. S. Stafford - Page - 59] ]1930's
In 1931 Assyrian levies and Iraqi army units were patrolling Barzan district. Government troops implied government control, which Shaykh Ahmad still wanted to avoid. [A Modern History of the Kurds - Page 178 by David MacDowall - 2004]
On June 1, 1932 the Assyrian levies presented a signed memorial to their Commanding Officer stating that "all the men had decided to cease serving as from 1st July." The reason was Britain had "failed adequately to ensure the future of the Assyrian nation after the termination of their mandate over Iraq." [Britain, Iraq and the Assyrians: The Nine Demands By Stavros T. Stavridis]
"They had dug trenches and were determined on destroying the Assyrians and taking their properties and possessions. Assyrians painfully remembered the massacre of 1933 in Simele and the surrounding villages and pledged "Never Again!". They remembered the raping and pillaging of defenseless Assyrian villagers." [ [http://www.nineveh.com/levies/ The biography of brave Assyrians in Habbanyia] ]
References
External links
* [http://www.edessa.com/history/solmn1.htm The Assyrian Levies, The Final Chapter]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUE5XDEXzmk Assyrian battle of Albania] at YouTube
* [http://assyrianlevies.com a comprehensive website on the Assyrian RAF Levies]
