Italian bombings on Palestine in World War II
Encyclopedia
The Italian bombing of Palestine in World War II
was part of an effort by the Italian Royal Air Force
(Regia Aeronautica) to strike at the United Kingdom
and the Commonwealth of Nations
wherever possible in the Middle East
.
by the time Italy joined the war. The Italian invasion of France
was short-lived and the French signed an armistice with the Italians on 25 June. This left the British and the forces of the Commonwealth of Nations for the Italians to contend with in the Middle East.
were primarily centered on Tel Aviv
and Haifa
. However, many other coastal towns such as Acre
and Jaffa
also suffered.
reaches tidewater, "Ten big Italian bombers, flying at great altitude from the Dodecanese Islands, giving the British bases at Cyprus
a wide berth, dumped 50 bombs on the Haifa oil terminal and refinery." The bombing started fires which burned for days afterward. British pursuit fighters from a base on Mt. Carmel were too late to overtake the Italians.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
was part of an effort by the Italian Royal Air Force
Regia Aeronautica
The Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
(Regia Aeronautica) to strike at the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Commonwealth of Nations
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
wherever possible in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Background
On 10 June 1940, the Kingdom of Italy declared war on the French Republic and the United Kingdom. During the Battle for France, the French had already been beaten by the GermansNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
by the time Italy joined the war. The Italian invasion of France
Italian invasion of France
The Italian invasion of France in June 1940 was a small-scale invasion that started near the end of the Battle of France during World War II. The goal of the Italian offensive was to take control of the Alps mountain range and the region around Nice, and to win the colonies in North Africa...
was short-lived and the French signed an armistice with the Italians on 25 June. This left the British and the forces of the Commonwealth of Nations for the Italians to contend with in the Middle East.
Bombing campaign
Starting in July 1940, the Italian bombings in the British Mandate of PalestineMandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
were primarily centered on Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. However, many other coastal towns such as Acre
Acre, Israel
Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....
and Jaffa
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
also suffered.
Bombing of Haifa
The 29 July 1940 issue of Time Magazine reported a bombing at Haifa during the previous week. According to Time Magazine, the Italians claimed a success which the British did not deny. Where the British oil pipeline from MosulMosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
reaches tidewater, "Ten big Italian bombers, flying at great altitude from the Dodecanese Islands, giving the British bases at Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
a wide berth, dumped 50 bombs on the Haifa oil terminal and refinery." The bombing started fires which burned for days afterward. British pursuit fighters from a base on Mt. Carmel were too late to overtake the Italians.
See also
- Italian Royal Air ForceRegia AeronauticaThe Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
(Regia AeronauticaRegia AeronauticaThe Italian Royal Air Force was the name of the air force of the Kingdom of Italy. It was established as a service independent of the Royal Italian Army from 1923 until 1946...
) - Bombing of Bahrain in World War IIBombing of Bahrain in World War IIThe bombing of Bahrain in World War II was part of an effort by the Italian Royal Air Force to strike at the British interests wherever possible in the Middle East.-Background:...
- Israel casualties of warIsrael casualties of war-Israeli casualties:Casualties suffered by Israel in war or conflict. Bold indicates conflicts considered wars by the Israeli Ministry of Defense :Note: Table is not comprehensive-Israel casualties since 1948:...