Bread, Freedom, Independence: Opposition to Nazi Germany in Lebanon and Syria and the Struggle for a Just Order

The rise of the Nazi regime in Germany left clear marks on the Lebanese and Syrian publics. While some were fascinated by the strength of the Nazi movement and its political visions, others vehemently questioned its ideological premises and repressive policies. This article reconstructs the political and ideological reasoning of this spectrum opposed to Nazism in the period from early 1933 until the end of World War II. Represented by various groupings actively engaged in local political and cultural debates, these circles represented a relevant part of contemporary Syrian and Lebanese society. However, hardly any research exists about these ideological currents. The aim of this article is to uncover the political activities of these circles and to highlight their role in local political culture.