Shiraz expedition explained

Conflict:Shiraz expedition
Partof:the Swedish volunteers in Persia
Place:Shiraz, Persia
Date:1913-1915
Result:Gendarmerie victory
  • The gendarmerie reaches Shiraz
  • Victory at Kazerun
Combatant1:Persian gendarmerie
Commander1:Josef Pousette
Commander2:Mohammed Ali and other insurgent leaders
Combatant2:Insurgents
Casualties1:At least 1 Swede and several gendarmes
Casualties2:Unknown

The Shiraz expedition (Swedish: Shiraz-expeditionen) was an expedition led by Josef Pousette to link up with the third regiment of the Persian gendarmerie which was stationed in Shiraz.[1]

Background

Shortly after the arrival of the Swedish officers during the Swedish intervention in Persia, general Harald Hjalmarson chose to split up the gendarmerie into different regiments, one being stationed in Shiraz. Captain Josef Pousette would be the one chosen to be in charge of the regiment in Shiraz, though Shiraz was 800 kilometers away which would be cleared on horseback.[2] [3]

Road to Shiraz

Not much is known about the actual journey to Shiraz, though Pousette stated that at an overnight stay, he became "lifelong" friends with an insurgent.[4]

Operations in Shiraz and the battles of Kazerun

While at Shiraz, Pousette was to patrol an important stretch of road to the town of Bushir, where they would engage several insurgents under Mohammed Ali in the Battles of Kazerun. The battles were bloody but it did end up being a costly gendarmerie victory, losing several gendarmes and at least one Swede.[5] [6] However Kazerun was not the only battle fought while at Shiraz, as some of the bloodiest battles during the Swedish intervention in Persia occurred in and around Shiraz.[7]

Besides military actions, Pousette did meet up with German leadership in Shiraz.[8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Farmors kusin stred i Persien . 23 October 2020 .
  2. Web site: Farmors kusin stred i Persien . 23 October 2020 .
  3. Web site: "Gendarmer till häst". "Från Chiraz-expeditionen [Shiraz] i mars 1913" - kanske det ska vara 1912? Samling vid ett vattendrag .
  4. Web site: Farmors kusin stred i Persien . 23 October 2020 .
  5. Web site: Farmors kusin stred i Persien . 23 October 2020 .
  6. Web site: Svenskar stred i persiska gendarmeriet . 4 June 2021 .
  7. Web site: Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica .
  8. Web site: "Svenska officerare och tyske mil. Attachén Klein under Chiraz-expeditionen (Morgonkostym, kallat, en gång 18 [grader]". "Från Chiraz-expeditionen [Shiraz] i mars 1913" - kanske det ska vara 1912? Fyra män i pälskläder och med solglasögon .