Four Colonels

The Four Colonels (Arabic: أربعة عقداء) were a cabal of pro-Nazi Iraqi army officers who conspired to overthrow the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq and expel British forces. In 1941, they briefly seized power and instituted the Golden Square 'National Defense Government' regime before the British intervened. Three of the plotters and many of their supporters were put to death.

The members of the Golden Square were Colonel Salah al-Din al-Sabbagh, Colonel Kamil Shabib, Colonel Fahmi Said, and Colonel Mahmud Salman. During the Anglo-Iraqi War, the four members of the Golden Square commanded units located in the Baghdad area. Salah ad-Din al-Sabbagh was commander of the Iraqi 3rd Infantry Division. Kamal Shabib commanded the 1st Infantry Division. Fahmi Said commanded the Independent Mechanized Brigade. Mahmud Salman, the one non-Army officer, was the Chief of the Air Force.^[1]

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