Occupation of Iran in World War 2

Despite this collapse, the soviets continued to move forces into the Baku region in March 1940.  These forces were formidable, five infantry divisions, one tank division, a cavalry division and two light tank divisions.  This new army group had about 200’000 men and nearly a thousand tanks.  The soviets used this force to intimidate Iran, which the Germans gleefully noted, and then tried to lure Iran into a German alliance.  However, the Germans soon had other problems, as their attack on France soon caused her collapse and with her, much of the remaining allied strategy.  Worse, soviet pressure on Iran intensified to a point in which Britain first considered breaking Iranian neutrality and occupying or destroying the oil refineries.