The documents and supporting maps in this collection explore the central role of Iraq in both the politics of the Middle East and the formation of government policy in the West from 1920-1973. The volumes cover Iraq's strategic and military history from the beginning of the British Mandate in 1920, through independence in 1932, the death of King Feisal and accession of King Ghazi, the Second World War, the overthrow of the monarchy and the death of King Feisal II and his Prime Minister Nuri Al-Said, the regimes of Qasim and then Aref, and through to the 'bloodless coup' of 1968 which consolidated the Ba'ath Party in power. Saddam Hussein, Vice President of the Revolutionary Command Council, appears in the final documents of this collection.