The Suez Crisis of 1956
The Suez Crisis of 1956 took place in Egypt on October 29, 1956 (History.com). The Suez Crisis was sparked when the then Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, nationalized the Suez Canal on July 26, 1956 (Neely 2009). The canal was very important to many countries because it was the only passage way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, making it not only important for travel but for trade as well. The nationalization of the canal infuriated, already one of Egypt’s enemies: Israel, along with Britain. Some of the European countries, specifically the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Anthony Eden, wanted control of the canal because he saw a great opportunity, not just for trade, but for colonization, so the angry Britain sought help from France, because they knew they would support them along with their suspicion that President Nasser supported rebels in the French colony, Algeria. (History.com). Since the presence of the British military was banned from the canal zone two year before (Milner 2011), the three countries secretly joined forces and began to work together.
Once planning together, it was decided that the armed attack would take place on October 29, 1956. However, on the day of the attack, Israel was the only country to attack because Britain and France became delayed and were not able to make the attack with Israel. The Israelis were only able to invade Egypt and violently attack many Egyptians, causing many deaths, which is why this is seen as a proxy war. However, though delayed, Britain and France made it to Egypt and invaded Egypt the night of November 5, 1956. By the next morning their attack was seen as successful because they were able to take control of the canal itself along with the area around the canal. Though it seemed like victory, it did not last for long (Neely 2009).
Egypt had support from the Soviet Union, mainly because the Soviets wanted a position of power in the Mediterranean, so Khrushchev threatened to fire nuclear missiles into Western Europe if the Israeli-British-French military force did not withdraw from Egypt. The United States and Egypt were not on good terms since the U.S. refused to support the construction of the Aswan Dam on the Nile River, but President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Eden did communicate before the attacks (Simkin). Even though the United States was not even a part of the plan, President Eisenhower gave the British force a stern warning to withdraw. He even threatened the three nations with economic sanctions (i.e. domestic penalties, trade barriers and other financial restrictions). Even though the three nations were threatened and warned, they did not back down immediately. The British and French withdrew in December of 1956 and Israel withdrew in March of 1957 and power over the canal was returned to Egypt (History.com). Till this day the Suez Canal is controlled by Egypt and is used for travel and trade.
Sources: Neely, M. (2009, April 14). The Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from
Bodlein Library website: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/projects/
suez/suez.html
history.com (Ed.). (1996-2013). Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from
History.com website: http://www.history.com/topics/suez-crisis
Milner, L. (2011, March 3). The Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from
BBC- History website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/
suez_01.shtml
Simkin, J. (n.d.). Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from Spartacus
Educational website: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/
COLDsuez.htm#source
The Suez Crisis of 1956 took place in Egypt on October 29, 1956 (History.com). The Suez Crisis was sparked when the then Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, nationalized the Suez Canal on July 26, 1956 (Neely 2009). The canal was very important to many countries because it was the only passage way from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, making it not only important for travel but for trade as well. The nationalization of the canal infuriated, already one of Egypt’s enemies: Israel, along with Britain. Some of the European countries, specifically the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Anthony Eden, wanted control of the canal because he saw a great opportunity, not just for trade, but for colonization, so the angry Britain sought help from France, because they knew they would support them along with their suspicion that President Nasser supported rebels in the French colony, Algeria. (History.com). Since the presence of the British military was banned from the canal zone two year before (Milner 2011), the three countries secretly joined forces and began to work together.
Once planning together, it was decided that the armed attack would take place on October 29, 1956. However, on the day of the attack, Israel was the only country to attack because Britain and France became delayed and were not able to make the attack with Israel. The Israelis were only able to invade Egypt and violently attack many Egyptians, causing many deaths, which is why this is seen as a proxy war. However, though delayed, Britain and France made it to Egypt and invaded Egypt the night of November 5, 1956. By the next morning their attack was seen as successful because they were able to take control of the canal itself along with the area around the canal. Though it seemed like victory, it did not last for long (Neely 2009).
Egypt had support from the Soviet Union, mainly because the Soviets wanted a position of power in the Mediterranean, so Khrushchev threatened to fire nuclear missiles into Western Europe if the Israeli-British-French military force did not withdraw from Egypt. The United States and Egypt were not on good terms since the U.S. refused to support the construction of the Aswan Dam on the Nile River, but President Eisenhower and Prime Minister Eden did communicate before the attacks (Simkin). Even though the United States was not even a part of the plan, President Eisenhower gave the British force a stern warning to withdraw. He even threatened the three nations with economic sanctions (i.e. domestic penalties, trade barriers and other financial restrictions). Even though the three nations were threatened and warned, they did not back down immediately. The British and French withdrew in December of 1956 and Israel withdrew in March of 1957 and power over the canal was returned to Egypt (History.com). Till this day the Suez Canal is controlled by Egypt and is used for travel and trade.
Sources: Neely, M. (2009, April 14). The Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from
Bodlein Library website: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/projects/
suez/suez.html
history.com (Ed.). (1996-2013). Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from
History.com website: http://www.history.com/topics/suez-crisis
Milner, L. (2011, March 3). The Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 4, 2013, from
BBC- History website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/modern/
suez_01.shtml
Simkin, J. (n.d.). Suez Crisis. Retrieved December 11, 2013, from Spartacus
Educational website: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/
COLDsuez.htm#source