Circassian Hero Jawad Anzor & His Circassian Cavalry, 1941

Rare footage of Circassian hero Jawad Anzor, Damascus, September 1941

Footage of Circassian military hero Jawad Anzor and his Circassian cavalry regiment near Damascus, Syria, in September 1941. The 14th Circassian Cavalry Squadron of the Free French Army are shown celebrating the liberation of Damascus, which was effected in June 1941. The Circassians had played an important role in this military success. A cavalry parade and a Circassian dance party were held on this propitious occasion. Anzor is shown leading his men during the parade and then celebrating with them in the dance party.

Jawad Talhosten Anzor [Анзор Талъостэн и къуэ Джэуад] was born in Anzorey, near Nalchik, Kabarda (Eastern Circassia), in 1901. His family, which belonged to the Circassian aristocracy, emigrated to Syria in 1907, and settled in the town of Raqqa. Jawad received his education in Istanbul, Turkey. In 1915 he enlisted as a cadet in the prestigious Ottoman Military Academy, and in 1923 joined the Circassian Cavalry Regiment in Beirut, eventually becoming its commander. He retired as a captain in 1945. In 1948 he was asked to reform the Circassian Cavalry Regiment, which took part in the Israeli-Arab War of 1948. He was given the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Anzor fell heroically in battle on 18 July 1948.

Australian War Memorial, Film ID number: F01141. Filmed by James Francis Hurley.

Видео Circassian Hero Jawad Anzor & His Circassian Cavalry, 1941 канала CircassianMinstrels