Iran during First World War - Large Photos

Zahra Abbassi

In 3rd Aug. 1914 when the First World War began, Iran was only an independent country superficially. Ahmad Shah Qajar who was now 18 years old and he had just held his coronation ceremony, had no power and authority of his own. About 7 thousand Russian soldiers were present in the northern provinces on various pretexts, and according to 1907 Anglo Russian agreement, they claimed special rights privileges in the north of Iran. The British ruled in the south and the orders of Iranian government were only effective in areas which were called buffer provinces. At threshold of the First World War, the Russian who were in fight with the Ottomans, brought their forces to Iran, regardless of the Iran’s protests. About late 1914, 70000 Russian soldiers occupied the western north Iran along the Ottoman frontiers. The British brought their forces from the South of the country to Khuzestan, and invaded the Ottoman territorial possessions in the Mesopotamia. Following the attack of the Ottoman forces to Iran and the battle between the Russian and the Ottoman troops, the Russians evacuated Tabriz and the city caught fire and the residents suffered heavy damages. The Russians who had retreated to Jolfa, upon the arrival of the aid forces, made a counteract and after defeating the Ottoman forces in 30th Jan. 1915, reoccupied Tabriz. Then they headed towards the west and in Spring 1915, they took Uremia back from Ottoman forces and advanced towards Lake Van.

Then the Russian forces moved towards Tehran from Qazvin, and in midway they entered Karaj. In the meanwhile many of the leading figures and dignitaries moved to Qom and instituted the Committee for National Defense. It was decided to change the capital. The meeting of the British and the Russian ministers with Ahmad Shah led him change his mind in making Isfahan the capital of the city. The outmost advance of the Russians was in Feb. 1917, because after that the outbreak of revolution in Russian and the fall of Tsarist government brought confusion among its troops in Iran.

The confusion in the army reached to its highest level and according to the peace treaty of Brest- Litovsk between the German and the Russians, the Russians undertook to evacuate Iran’s territory until the end of the spring. However, the British forces remained in Iran until 1921 coup.

Iran during First World War

The letter of Mosharolmolk from Account Department of the ministry of finance to the prime minister on damages suffered by the Iranian government due to the international war of the Russian troops and the expenses of the military and movements of the troops, and demand for the suspension of northern custom incomes, payment of outstanding debts and the installments of the Russian government subsequent to the end of war
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Iran during First World War

The letter of Qazvin government to the prime minister, Hassan Vossouq on General Baratov’s decision on not to carry out the order for evacuating the town immediately
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Iran during First World War

The Official letter of Bausch from the German ministry of foreign affairs to HosseinQoli Khan Navvab, Iranian minister to Germany about the terms of that country for complete support of Iran and its integrity on the condition that the military forces of the Great Britain and the Russia evacuate Iran
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Iran during First World War

Correspondence on the long term loans advanced by the Russian and the British for compensation of the damages of the first world war on the customs and tax incomes
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Iran during First World War

Correspondence on the long term loans advanced by the Russian and the British for compensation of the damages of the first world war on the customs and tax incomes
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Iran during First World War

A copy of the circular of Iran’s committee for national defense on the state of the “Islamic troops in Iranian Front” and the western troops in Zanjan, the arrival of reinforcements for the British camp and restoration of occupied lands from the Turkish troops, urgency of evacuating Hamadan, Malayer, Bijar and the possibility of occupying Kermanshah and Kurdistan by Turkish forces
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Iran during First World War

A copy of the prime minister, MohammadVali Khan Sepahsalar’s reply to the Russian and the British legations, announcing his acquiescence with their proposed suggestions in the joint note of the said governments for the formation of military forces under the instruction of the Russian and the British teachers, dispatch and employment of teachers, and payment of their expenditure by the said governments, deposit of Iran’s financial affairs and troops to them and extension of the authorities of a mixed commission
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Iran during First World War

A copy of Esmail Amir Mo’ayyed’s letter to the first translator of the Russian legation, denying the rumors of prohibition of the transfer of the Russian and the British subjects by their own orderlies in Mazandaran roads and criticizing the Russian attempts to break Iran’s neutrality in world war and occupation of Shirgah block and the lands of Savadkuh tribe by General Batanov
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Iran during First World War

Correspondence on the necessity of the return of Majlis members from Qom at the time of Iran’s occupation by the Anglo Russian forces
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Iran during First World War

Correspondence on the necessity of the return of Majlis members from Qom at the time of Iran’s occupation by the Anglo Russian forces
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Iran during First World War

The letter of Majliss to the prime minister, Hassan Mostofi, on expediency of obliging the majliss members to return to Tehran during the occupation of the country by the Anglo Russian troops
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Iran during First World War

The letter of prime minister to Majliss on the necessity of his presence in Tehran and discussing the matters at the time of Iran’s occupation by the Russo British forces
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Iran during First World War

A telegram by a group of Hamadan people to the speaker of Majliss, Reza Hekmat, announcing their dissatisfaction of the invasions of Iran’s cities by the Russo British forces despite Iran’s announcement of neutrality in the war, and asking for the endeavor of the cabinet to remove the invaders and restoring the independence of the country
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Iran during First World War

A telegram by a group of Bushire residents to Reza Hekmat, announcing their dissatisfaction of the attacks of the Russo British forces to Iran’s cities despite Iran’s announcement of neutrality in the war and asking for seeing into the affair
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Iran during First World War

The Official letter of the British acting consul in Shiraz, William Fredrick Travers O’Conner complimenting Iran on the new decisions of the government on taking neutral attitude in the war and avoiding the instigations of pro war and biased individuals
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Iran during First World War

A telegram by the committee for the national defense to the speaker of Majliss, Mo’tamenolmolk, expressing its anxiety over Iran’s agreement with the Russian and the British governments to join the war against the Ottomans
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Iran during First World War

The official letter of major Mohammad, the commandant of second battalion to the commandant of the seventh company to put the Hamadan forces in a state of alert against the Russian troops
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Iran during First World War

The letter of some members of the National Consultative Assembly (Majlis) to the speaker of Majliss, Hossein Pirnia, on his accompanying Ahmad Shah in his journey from Tehran
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