Ramzi Nafi (1917–1949)
Ramzi Nafi Agha, was a Kurdish nationalist from Hewlêr (Hewlêr) who played a controversial role during World War II through his collaboration with Nazi Germany in an attempt to secure Kurdish independence.
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Early Life and Education:
Born into a prominent family in Hewlêr, then part of the Ottoman Empire, Ramzi Nafi received his early education locally before attending high school in Kerkûk, where he joined the right-wing Kurdish nationalist party Hîwa. He later studied at a science-oriented high school in Baghdad and, in 1939, enrolled at the American University of Beirut. There, he became involved with the Kurdish nationalist organization Xoybûn, advocating for an independent Kurdistan. His strong anti-British sentiments were well-known during his time in Beirut.
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Operation Mammoth: A Controversial Alliance
In 1942, while in Istanbul, Ramzi Nafi was approached by agents of the German military intelligence service, the Abwehr, to participate in Operation Mammoth. This mission aimed to incite a Kurdish uprising against British forces in Iraq, disrupt control over oil fields, and facilitate German advancement in the Middle East. In exchange, the Nazis promised support for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state. Ramzi’s role was pivotal, serving as a liaison between German operatives and Kurdish leaders, including efforts to contact Sheikh Mahmud Barzanji.
However, the operation failed almost immediately. The team parachuted into the wrong location, losing essential equipment, and was captured by British and Iraqi forces within days. Ramzi was sentenced to life imprisonment, during which he reportedly suffered severe mental health issues due to torture and confinement. He was released in 1947 and died in Hewlêr in 1949 at the age of 32.
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Legacy and Controversy:
Ramzi Nafi remains a contentious figure in Kurdish history. Some view him as a martyr who pursued Kurdish independence by any means necessary, while others criticize his alliance with Nazi Germany. Despite the controversy, his actions have left a lasting impact on Kurdish nationalist discourse.
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
At the scholarly work of Rosbeiani, Pherset Zuber Mohammed. Das Unternehmen “Mammut”. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Philosophische Fakultät III. 2012. you can get more detailed account of Operation Mammoth and Ramzi Nafi’s involvement.
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025
Posted by Zagrosian · 12 May 2025