Then there's this peculiar Nazi association:
Pierre Gemayel lexicorient.com
(1905- 84) Lebanese politician and founder of the Phalange Party. He was respectfully known as Shaykh Pierre.
His politics were based upon a profound belief that Muslims and Christians of Lebanon could coexist. But his main political act was inspired by a distinctly non-tolerant organization: the Nazi Youth Movement that he had seen in Hitler's Germany. During the first 10 years, the Phalange Party grew from a handful of members to nearly 40,000, both men and women. . . .
1976: The Phalange Party turns to its secret ally Israel for support against the Syrian-backed groups.
— Forms the Lebanese Front, an alliance of Christian parties. Chamoun was one of the participants in this.
1978 May: Gemayel visits Israel to sign an arms and training agreement.
[ continuing that saga . . . ]
Phalangists lexicorient.com
In the beginning of the Lebanese Civil War they cooperated with Syria, but from 1982 Israel became their most important ally. This was also the year that they performed the act for which they always will be remembered: the massacre of Sabra and Chatila. This was a retaliation for the murder on their leader Bashir Gemayel, and from this year the Phalange gradually lost its momentum and importance. . . .
1976: The Phalangists support Syrian intervention in the conflict, as they were losing ground to the Muslim troops.
1980: The Phalange destroys the militia of the National Liberal Party of Chamoun, which was another member of the Lebanese Front.
1982: The Phalangists cooperates with Israel, in planning an attack on Lebanon.
— June 6: Israel invades Lebanon from its southern border, and its forces start advancing north, reaching Beirut in short time.
— September: The Phalangists have become the strongest party in Lebanon, thanks to the aid of Israel.
— September 13: Bashir Gemayel is killed few days before he is to be sworn in as president of Lebanon.
— September 16: As a way of retaliating the killing of Gemayel, the Phalange militia gets help from the Israeli army to close off the Palestinian quarters of Sabra and Chatila. Then a campaign of killing 2,000 Palestinian civilians over the next 3 days. This stands as one of the most dramatic moments from the 16 year long civil war.
— September 21: Bashir's brother, Amin, also a Phalange member, is elected president. |
