Tears in the Desert: Story of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

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Tears in the Desert: Story of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

My Austrian AAR is hitting some rough roads, and as I continue to play out an Empire or Nothing, I will continue until the "Nothing" I've decided to play as the Kingdom of Jordan in an alternative history where T.E. Lawrence of "Arabia" was able to secure freedom for the Arab people after WW1 when the Ottoman Empire was run out of the Arabian Pennisula. This AAR will be centered more of a "story-type" telling out the gameplay.

The Jordanian Coat of Arms and the personal standard of King Abdullah I.

The tiny Hashemite Kingdom, the haven for the Hashemite Arab people, the long oppressed people finally have a free state. But with a small economy and small population, mostly relagated to individual farming and life living, just how long will these people be free from the ambition of the imperialists in London and Paris?

Introduction

The Ottoman Empire ruled over the Arabian Pennisula since the late 1600's. Over this time the Ottoman Empire oppressed the Arab people in this region, most notably the Hashemite Arabs. Over the course of time the Ottoman Empire grew into one of the largest empires the world had ever seen, stretching from Iraq to Algeria to Hungaria and the Ukraine. However the Ottoman nation slowly began a decline in comparision to their European rivals. The Russians, Italians and Austrians took the most advantage over the dying Ottoman Empire and took control of territory for their own empires.

In 1908 the Young Turk Revolution signaled the days the of the Sultan were numbered, and when the Ottoman's sided with the Central Powers in WW1, the Entente Powers: most notably the British Empire moved into the Arabian Pennisula and began to destroy the Ottoman Army in Palestine and moved south into the Saudi Arabia. The most famous of these British leaders was T.E. Lawrence, a brash young captain who had sympathy for the Hashemite people and fought for their freedom. The world came to know this hero as "Lawrence of Arabia" as he rided the Arabian people of Ottoman tyranny. At the end of the the Great War and support of the Arab Revolution against the Turks, he approached London with a map of the Middle-East with the new nations of the Arab people and Imperial gains.

The British rejected the ideas of T.E. Lawrence and decided to carve up the Ottoman state for themselves. In 1921, he met a young man named King Abdullah, the King of the Hashemite Arab people. He again approached the British government with the drawings of an Hashemite state, he called it Trans-Jordan. The British accepted since the territory for the Kingdom had no strategic value for the Empire. When Abdullah was crowned King he asked T.E. Lawrence to serve as his "Prime Minister," Lawrence accepted. The people of this land suffered hardships and wars in the years to follow, this is their story...

 

[germanpeon]

You must unite all Arabs! It would be quite interesting.

 

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Chapter One: The Arabian Light

Muhammed al-Sein looked out at the skies above his family's farm. The sky was black and alluminating by streaking purple and blue streams scaning across the sky. His father, a member of the Royal Jordanian Militia came outside to watch over his son. The al-Sein family is like many of the people in the Kingdom, with few resources in the nation must people fend for themselves in loose collections of villages. The Kingdom is rater unable to supply its people with the goods they need, despite reform efforts with the help of the British Empire.

"Dad, what are those lights up in the sky?"

"It's a sign from Allah and Muhammed, the god and his disciple watch over their people. They make sure that we live on in this world."

"Is god speaking to us then?"

"Yes, god is speaking to us, no run off to bed like your sister, I have to report to Amman tomorrow, the militia is being called up by the King. I don't know when I'll be back, so give me a hug good-bye."

Muhammed ran off to his small house in the center of a small village only having seven other families. His father mounted a camel with several other of the village fathers and they moved east towards the capital of the Hashemite people, Amman.

In the shadows a man in black totally unseen by the Arab men glances at them and continues to move into the Jordanian highlands. The moon is out bright and the men are suddenly surrounded by about 100 others heading out for Amman. The Jordanian Army is unable to maintain a professional force of regulars except for the small Arab Legion Calvary of only 200 men, the army is comprised of entirely militia conscripts called up in times of need, is this a time of need though?

The man in black is a Nazi officer, Col. Heinrich. He and a small group of German soldiers are sent by Hitler to uncover the "Ark of the Covenent" believing if they find it the world will bow down to Hitler as their leader. According to the Germans in Berlin the Ark lies somewhere in the hills of Jordan and the Nazi's don't waste anytime at beginning their search. The archelogy team is led by Rudolf Ghanz, he may have other plans when he finds the Ark. As the German team continues to "look for historic artifacts," the Arab Militia comprising of 4 rag-tag battalions reach Amman to hear their King or their beloved hero, "Lawrence of Arabia."

T.E. Lawrence, the Prime Minister of Jordan steps out of the upper patio of the Arab Palace with Lt. General Thomas Cox Pasha to his left and King Abdullah I to his right.

"My people," says the King, "the Saudi people are strangling our economy even more. British and French supplies that are entering the docks at Medina are being confiscated by the Saud King. Now is the moment of survival for our families. The Saudis ought to be tought a lesson."

"We have issued that the Saudis lift their embargo or the Royal Jordanian Army will invade and seize to port at Medina and Mecca which are important trading posts for Jordian foreign aid. If they decline we shall invade to ensure our freedom and survival," T.E. Lawrence tells the crowd of soldiers. " General, begin your march to the border."

"Yes sir."

The Saudi King, making a fortune of the embargo as all the money is now his declines the Jordanian offer, the next day the to kingdoms of Arabia declare war on each other and the Jordian-Saudi War begins. The Saudi Army is quickly overrun at the border but begin to dig-in infront of the main Jordian targets, Medina and Mecca. Surely Allah doesn't smile on Arab vs Arab bloodshed.

The Jordian Army advances into Saudi Arabia, the unifaction of Arabia has begun unde Hashemite rule.

 

[Edzako]

Aggressive start, wish you to unite all Arabs under your rule before infidels destroy your sacred kingdom (and I mean UK ).

 

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two aars at once. a brave move this looks interesting.

 

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Chapter One continued

Just to state it, I will be attempting to have a united Arab Kingdom led by the Hashemites.

Shairiff looked into the blinding desert, nothing was in his way but sand, sand and more sand. The Major was leading a platoon of 24 camel militia into the Saudi Desert. General Cox Pasha and General Ahti had spread their forces all across the desert advancing not as an army but as individual squads, towns, villages and tribes. Shairiff looked over at Kokt, Muhammed's father and began to speak to his second-in command.

"I hate this place, nothing but sand and rocks. This desert is a grave if we don't find a well to replace our water supply."

Kokt replied, "Major, look at the ridge ahead, Berbers."

"Berbers?" questioned Shairiff. "Are they friendly or are they fighting for the Saudi Army?"

"I wouldn't know sir, hold up the white flag and find out."

Major Shairiff and Kokt advanced on their camels toward the small group of nine Berber men on horseback. The Berber leader rode out to meet them at the base of the desert ridge. The Berber leader unmasked himself from his black robes.

"I'm Markoff, leader of these Berber men, the Saudi Army has a small group of men pillaging and louting my peoples' village. We've been waiting for you guys for three days now. You're Hashemites, right?"

"Yes, I'm Major Shairiff of the Hashemite Army, these are my men you see behind me. How many men are there?"

"The last I checked and counted before leaving this morning there were 21 Saudi soldiers."

Kokt whispered to Shairiff, "Nine plus twenty-four, that's thirty-seven men."

"Thirty-eight," said Shairiff. "We shall aid you if you give my men enough water for two weeks."

"It will be done, follow me good Hashemite."

The Berbers and Jordanians entered the village surprising the Saudi soldiers. The Saudi's attempted to organize but many of the men were too busy to heed the call. of the 21 soldiers, 5 were killed and the rest were captured in the raid. The Berber leader Markoff however approached the Saudi commander with a vengeance. He pulled out his sabor and placed it on the throat of the Saud officer.

"You hurt my family, you hurt my people. Now I shall hurt you," Markoff sliced the throat of the Saud and he fell to ground drowning in a pool of blood. Markoff led Shairiff to the village well where he replenished his water supply, the Berber men decided to join the Jordanian Militia and continued south. After nine days of march they met the main collumn of General Cox Pasha's men preparing for the attack on Medina.

The Suads had moved two divisions mostly badly armed infantry and militia Berber to defend the trenches outside of Medina. General Pasha ordered his men to form ranks into four lines. A traditional 1 by 1 by 1 horse and camel line with the others supporting the flank. On July 11, he ordered his men to simply charge and overrun the Sauds.

"Charge, forward! For ALLAH!"

Hashemite Berbers overlooking the Suad defenses at Medina.

Some 50,000 men on camels and horses charged forward against some 10,000 Sauds badly spaced out over 7 forts and 10 miles. The Suads panic began the moment the Jordanians reached the trenches and the fort walls. Within in few minutes the Sauds were on the run from Medina and in four hours the city of Medina welcomed the Hashemite Jordanians as liberators. New from Jawf arrived that the smaller Jordanian and Berber force had captured the major Suad Armory in Jawf.

Shairiff and Kokt looked at the massive city of Arabs, larger than any city they've seen in Trans-Jordan. The Medina docks where theirs and the men recieved orders from a colonel.

"We're taking the holy city of Mecca next. We need to *send a message to the Suadi King."

"Well Kokt, it looks like Allah has smiled upon us today and now we move to save the home of Muhammed from the traitor Arabs that no longer believe in the sacred Coran. Arabs shall finally join the right Islamic people, rather than be pagens saying 'I believe in Allah.' "

They men marched into Mecca which was undefended, the Muslims would never wage war over such a holy place, would they? Days after the capture of Mecca, the Sauds realized they've underestimated the Hashemite people. King Abdullah I sent T.E. Lawrence to meet with the King of the Saudi people. The men agreed on the Treaty of Ridyah. Allah surely smiles upon the Hashemite people this day, but what off the infidels in the West Bank?

The Hashemite hold Medina and move to seize Mecca from the Pagen Suads.

The outcome of the First Hashemite-Saudi War. The Arabs are coming together, Faisil and Muhammed would be proud.

 

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ummm... 24+9=37?

cool though, bring islam to everyone

 

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ummm... 24+9=37?

cool though, bring islam to everyone

My mistake I wasn't doing math clearly in my head

Funny because I'm in honors math?

 

[Jape]

Ooh, the creation of a rational Arab state under Hashemites and Lawrence, interesting premise indeed.

 

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Chapter Two: From Guns to Hammers Back to Guns

The end of the First Hashemite-Saud War ended the Hashemite rally around the army of the King. Lawrence then laid out a new plan for the kingdom and Abdullah quickly approved of it. The Hashemite Royal Army and the people of Amman would embark on a great work of art, the creation of a self-reliant industry for the kingdom so they would move away from foreign aid.

"My king, we need to lay out the plans for the Anglo-Jordanian Oil Line and the Amman Industrial Complex."

"Lawrence, you are right, the Royal Army will aid us in this project, the rifles will be put down for hammers and bricks."

"We still don't have the manpower and technology to complete the project on schedule as if we were a European nation, but it will be completed before the end of September of next year."

"Well Lawrence, we have no time to waste then. Do we?"

The Hashemite people united together to build an oil pipeline leading from the capital city of Amman into Iraq to feed off of the Iraqi oil. The military embarked on constructing an industrial complex in the heart of Amman to turn the crude oil in gasoline and began building factories to help bring machinery to the poor farmes along the Jordan River.

The sun shined bright above the deserts of Jordan, the people labored with passion to prove to the king they could match that of European skill, rather to say it, it was a fruitless effort. The Royal Jordanian Oil Plant was finished on New Year's 1937 and was the the pride of the modernization effort of the Hashemite Kingdom. Now production on the industrial factories began to pick up. Meanwhile Shairiff and Kokt were working on the final stages of the oil line, now only miles from Iraq.

"Bloody heat, bloody sand, bloody land."

"Shairiff, surely Allah has a reason for blasting us with this heat wave. Allah always has a way of things." Clang, clang, clang went the tools as the Jordanian peoples continued their work on the pipeline.

"Allah, if you have a reason for this heat please tell me?" questioned Shairiff as he looked to the skies.

A Hashemite construction leader searches for the best place for the pipeline to be built.

"Just remember Shairiff, the Iraqi people are kind enough to extend their oil line to meet ours at the border. Otherwise we would have to build it into Iraq another 100 or so miles, I wouldn't want that."

Allah watched from the heavens and smiled upon the Hashemite people. The oil line was completed and the people moved to aid the industry in Amman. Oil moved from Iraq to Jordan with ease and no longer being transported by caravans that moved ever so slowly. The sun was turning into the moon and the Hashemite people knew what was the next step to bring the prophecy of Muhammed to the four corners of the world.

"Mein gott! The Ark is not here Rudolf."

"I realize that Colonel Smith, but we can't move from one place to the next in rapid succession or the Arabs would think something is wrong."

"Arabs can't think, they only listen and do. Look, none of these worker Arabs think, they only listen to what we say and do. We must find the Ark. The world we be Hitler and may the Führer live and rule this world for all eternity."

The Nazi expedition for the ark has gone badly for the leaders Rudolf Ghanz and Col. Smith. The SS colonel and Nazi proffessor have witnessed the horrors of the desert. Many men have died as they've been overworked. None of the German SS soldiers or officers in the group do any work, all done by Arab people taken from their homes or people sent by the Nazi's to do their handy work.

The Ark of the Covenant, rumor says he who places it to its rightful resting place in Bethlehem shall be granted eternal life, a life that Hitler and the Nazi members want.

"Celebrate my children," begins Lawrence of Arabia, "for the days of complete foreign aid is behind us. Now we have an industry of our own, one that we can be proud of and one that we lead to the sons of Allah being forever free of Imperial tyranny. We open the first industrial complex in our beloved kingdom, oh proud children of Allah, today Allah surely smiles upon his children and the ways of the Coran will be spread to the four corners of the earth."

With the pride of the Hashemite people complete, the Arab Legion moves their eyes to the heathen infidels of Saudi Arabia. They once tried to kill off all of gods' children in Jordan, they will definatley do it again if they do not submit to the rule of Allah and the Hashemite destiny to bring Islam and the ways of Allah back to all the Arab people. From guns to hammers now back to guns the Hashemite people prepare for the final war with the Saudi people.

The Sauds offer peace, Allah and Muhammed will never accept this from pagen infidels like the Sauds!

"For the will of Allah! FORWARD UNTIL DEATH!"

The Hashemite calvary and miltia charged the Saud stronghold in the center of Ridyah and the Saud Royal Family barricades itself inside the imperial palace. The Suad army fights hard for their pagen gods and infidel king. The true sons of Allah will never let the pagens have their own nation in the home of Muhammed. Never will Allah allow these people to be independent.

"Drop the rifle, and no one gets hurt," says Kokt al-Sein to a Saud soldier in the center of Ridyah. The Saud drops his rifle and begs for mercy, Kokt moves over to the soldier.

"Spare no infidel, take no prisoners! Kill all enemy's of Allah."

"Please no... I ha..." Kokt emptied his last bullet into the heart of the Saud soldier.

Hours later the Hashemite soldiers broke into the Saud Palace and arrested the Saud Royal Family. The Royals were deported to England, an insult to any Arab, believer or not. The Hashemite people looked upon their kingdom, it now encompased the former pagens in Saudi Arabia. Now the Saud's are believers in the faith and part of the glorious empire of all Allah's children. No longer will any Arab have to suffer tryanny from foreign Imperialists or from pagen Arabs, all will be free by King Abdullah and Lawrence of Arabia. God save Allah's Empire.

The Arabian Pennisula is coming together under the true rule of Allah and his favorite children, surely the infidels in Paris and London can see this.

"Rudolf, great news from Berlin, Austria is German once again and the Fuhrer will stop at nothing to bring those terrible Czechs from oppressing the German people in the Sudetenland. Any luck with the Ark?"

"Sadly, no colonel, another Arab has died from the heat, I guess Allah didn't like this man. Hahahha!"

 

[Yumo]

Great idea!

I'll read this = )

 

[Edzako]

I like new color, pity that your newborn empire is literally encircled by allies, maybe you could build some TP and conquer Persia though.

 

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Chapter Two continued

"Can Hitler marvol at its beauty? Can he taste the bread and wine that Jesus oh so made with his hands. Can he see his life flashing before his eyes. Rudofl, we're getting closer. I can feel it, and this cup can only be the Holy Grail or a golden cup used by the worlds' savior."

"And do we not worry about Lawrence and his growing empire of Allah and Islam, it will only be a matter of time before..."

"And do you Rudolf remember what I told you about Arab people, these Hashemites listen only to Lawrence and his plans, cut off the head of the snake and the body dies. Poisen Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab people have no home and Hitler takes control of the Hashemite Kingdom for himself."

"But what if we don't fing the covenant, we've been here near three years and this is the first time we find something interesting."

"My dear Rudolf, when God, Fuhrer and Fatherland sends you to do something that will make the world ours you do not question, you accept with honor. My dear professor make the Fatherland and the Fuhrer proud for Austria and Czechoslovakia no longer exist, soon this Arid hellish lands of the Hashemites will be German once Lawrence is dead."

Inside the Imperial Palace at Amman.

"What is it my king?"

"Lawrence, move the Arab Legion and Jordanian Army to Yemen, I have assurance from the British that they will not intervene in an armed invasion of these poor oppressed Arabs. No longer will they suffer the hardships of the British Empire and their puppet government."

"The United Arab Navy will transport the men to and from. We have the British to thank for their old fashioned destroyer and their old transports. A good deal if you ask me for some oil. Damman is rich in it."

"Excuse me your majesty, the German ambassador is here to see you," says a palace maid.

"Lawrence, if you excuse me I need to know why those German architects are all over the place. Allah will lead us to victory over the Yemen people just as he's done with us against the Sauds."

The Royal Jordanian Army and Arab Legion borded their ships that would deport to bring them to the Yemen Front, no longer will these poor Arab people suffer Imperial tyranny from London or from the British pet who 'rules' the nation and it's people. Pvt. Amir Nehdez entered the United Arabia Transport ship and soon the Army was off in the Red Sea heading for Yemen.

The ships were cramped and damp with moisture and water, several of the ships were poorly repaired and were slowly taking on water at an astounishingly slow rate. The destroy al-Faisil was the lone escort for the entire transport fleet, luckily the Hashemites are the only with a navy and the British Royal Navy is too far spread to care if the United Arab Navy moves into the vaunted British Red Sea.


Muhammed al-Sein is now six years-old and with his father away at war he and his mother tend the family garden which is what the family leaves off of. He, his little sister and mother only have two meals a day if lucky, usually only one a day. In the middle of nowhere and the village fathers off at war the women and children tend to the family farms and patches to keep the family alive.

Off ports near Yemen.

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"Come on you sea dogs off the boats and take up your positions! Come on you lazy sailors you call yourselfs soldiers of Islam, Allah frowns at your patheitc state of being. Come on, get a move on it! We have a schedule to keep to. The British have minor militia at Palestine and these Yemenite people need to be free of Imperial rule and their Imperial pet in Sanna."

"Allah wills it!"

The soldiers took their position with the local militias that were called up for the invasion. The Yemenite Army moved out to meet the Hashemite forces. Although greatly outnumbered the Yemenite Army is better trained and equipped by the British Empire than the local militias and Berbers that make up the Hashemite Army. Truly a nation with such a small industry is unable to maintain a professional standing army of regulars, can it?

The Yemenite General rides forth to talk to General Cox Pasha and General Mercit Pasha, the commanders of the Royal Jordanian Army and Arab Legion respectively.

"London does not smile upon your barbaric moves. Surely the wrath of the British Empire will come down upon your pathetic state of Arabs."

"With what nerve do you dare talk to the sons of Allah as such. Why would the Imperial pigs in London care at all about you and your infidel state you call 'Arab'. You submit to foreign infidels, that Allah and Muhammed surely do not smile upon."

"General Cox, when did a man like you swich allegiances from the crown to the desert infidels and the Hashemite people."

"You were not with us in the Great War with Lawrenec."

"Ah yes, Lawrence of Arabia. He is the true father of your kingdom not Abdullah. If you ask me I say the Imperials rule over you in the man of Lawrence of Arabia. He is not Islam, but rather Christian. Tell me a man like you and the Arab people would listen to a..."

The Yemenite general was shot down by a Hashemite Berber, the Jordanian gernerals fled to cover and the Jordanian forces charged out from their trenches and hills down upon the Yemenite Army. The Yemenite Army put up a valiant defense but afte nine days of tough fighting where, 15,000 Hashemites were killed and wounded the Jordanians entered the city of Sanna and held it against a Yemenite counter-attack.

In the West Bank, the Hashemites crossed over into Jerusalem and Eilat and freed the long oppressed Palestinian people from British rule. The British Empire was shocked at the outcome of the Arabian Crisis. And ordered a peace agreement to be settle, it was. The annexation of Yemen and the transfer of the southern pennisula and West Bank over to the warriors of Allah.

After the end of the "Arabian Crisis." The British send troops into the Mandate of Palestine to ensure Arabian Ambitions are crushed forever.

The British Middle East Army is ordered to keep the Hashemite dream of a united Arabia from ever happening as it threatens the Empire and its strangle hold over the poor people of Kuwait and Iraq.

Hashemite Militia man postions against the Imperial Ambition in the West Bank. The Capitalists in London will never understand the hopes that the Hashemite Kingdom brings to the long oppressed Arab people.

 

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sweet. hopefully you will not be steamrollered by the british. should be a good boost to your rather small ic levels.

 

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I see Lawrence's full plans were not carried out. Just as well... a new Armenian Cilicia would not be too viable.

I like Arab AARs, don't see too many of 'em. Good luck.

 

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Jordanian AAR, this is a first. Goodluck. May Allah smile down upon you.

 

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When Lawrence and the Arab Militia went to war once again to bring Oman into their country of Islam the British Middle East Army wasted no time in declaring an unofficial war against the Hashemites. The British were stunned when the Arabs counter-attacked in northern Palestine and held Jerusalem and Eilat from Imperial attacks, the Omani Army didn't stand long so the main Hashemite forces were concentrated on the British. After the destruction and annexation of Oman, peace was concluded in the West Bank with the British, Lawrence's empire now encompased the entire Arabian Pennisula, and Allah was happy from his clouds in heaven. And the British learned not to underestimate the Hashemite People and their will to fight.

The Jordanian Army was now looking to Syria and Lebanon, with WW2 occuring in Europe the Hashemites had a decision, remain neutral, join axis or attack Franch Syria as a third party candidate. Only Allah and Lawrence know what the Hashemite Kingdom will do in this clash of the Titans. The Nazi's in Jordan were now on full alert to find the Ark. And with the Fall of France imenant the decision is coming sooner than expected, Surely all Arab people most be united to survive in this New World Order.

 

[Mico94]

can you post a screenshot of your ministers?
nice AAR, Unite Arab people

 

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Interesting choice, and a nice story to it as well. I'll be following this. I suggest that you wait until the Axis starts their campaign in North Africa to attack the British forces. You could, of course, wait until Vichy France is created and just take down their puppets in the Middle East. I'd suggest waiting a while though, build up your forces, industry and maybe infrastructure and then strike the allies. You also have the option of waiting till Iraq turns Axis and then declaring war on it and seizing the land for yourself.
Either way, your choice and good luck.

 

[Admiral Yamamot]

And still the story is well told!
Good work!