And that could mean anything from 20,000 to 99,999. That's a broad range, and suggests that somebody is playing fast and loose with the numbers to disguise a less flattering yet more specific number.
In fact, some quick research online reveals that the main sub-saharan FFL unit contained about 15,000 troops, not all of which were muslim. Perhaps there were others elsewhere, but barring more specific numbers I'll remain in doubt of your intentions. And how many divisions did the Mufti have?
I already told you. He had at least one that he directly raised - A Waffen-SS unit fighting in the middle of Europe and composed of over 20,000 muslims from the Balkans. Their uniform badge consisted of a crescent-shaped islamic sword and a swastika on black.
I suppose you could also count troops that were loyal to Husseini, in which case there were a bunch of Iraqis under the government of the pro-Nazi PM of Iraq, Rashid Ali al-Kaylani. When the Brits retook Iraq in 1941 they captured or killed about 10,000 of al-Kaylani's troops, which means he had many more than that in his army...so let's say "tens of thousands."
No, they came up the Italian peninsula and crossed into France.
Numbers please.
Inasmuch as they had their sites on the whole world, yes.
No. It was a little more direct than that. Or did you forget about Rommel's Romp through North Africa, Mussolini's Abyssinian and Somali campaigns, and even a joint Vichy-Japanese stand on Madagascar in 1942.
The 20,000 Muslim troops he helped recruit still pale in comparison to the tens of thousands of Muslim troops in the FFL.
You're gonna have to do better than "tens of thousands" in substantiating your numbers if you wish to make that comparison. I'd also contend that a handful of colonial troops fighting on the war's periphery in Africa is far less significant to the war than a Waffen-SS division fighting smack in the middle of Europe.
It might have something to do with the fact that it's 4 AM. Try readingDes tranchées de Verdun à l'église Saint-Bernard: 80000 combattants maliens au secours de la France, 1914-18 et 1939-45 by Bakari Kamian. Happy hunting!
. He had at least one that he directly raised - A Waffen-SS unit fighting in the middle of Europe and composed of over 20,000 muslims from the Balkans.
I find it hard to believe that this Arab from Jerusalem was sufficiently comfortable in Serbo-Croatian to personally convince 20,000+ Bosnian Muslims to take up arms.
I suppose you could also count troops that were loyal to Husseini,
So he was at the top of the chain of command? Interesting.
there were a bunch of Iraqis under the government of the pro-Nazi PM of Iraq, Rashid Ali al-Kaylani. When the Brits retook Iraq in 1941 they captured or killed about 10,000 of al-Kaylani's troops, which means he had many more than that in his army...so let's say "tens of thousands."
Of course, 1941 was well before Husseini's European tour, so lets say there were 21,065 Bosnians he helped recruit and some 10,000 dead and an unspecified number of remaining troops once commanded by the deposed anti-Semitic Iraqi PM on the fringes of the War.
No. It was a little more direct than that. Or did you forget about Rommel's Romp through North Africa, Mussolini's Abyssinian and Somali campaigns, and even a joint Vichy-Japanese stand on Madagascar in 1942.
Show me where Rommel's North African campaign crossed the desert. Show me where Ethiopia and Somalia were near any French colony save Djibouti (then called the Territory of the Afars and the Issas). Show me where Madagascar's burgeoning Muslim population lived in the Island in 1942. You can't.
I'd also contend that a handful of colonial troops fighting on the war's periphery in Africa is far less significant to the war than a Waffen-SS division fighting smack in the middle of Europe.
Well, who won the war? Those are usually the more "significant" forces.