The 1956 Suez Crisis saw a British/French attempt to seize the Suez Canal, in Egypt, end in humiliation.
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When Egyptian leader, Gamal Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal in July 1956, Britain and France determined to oust him from power and restore their control over the canal which they had run for over 70 years..
In 7 short days it looked like they might achieve military success but Britain’s relationship with the United States was strained to breaking point, and she and her French ally they were forced into a humiliating climbdown.
This is the story of the Suez Canal Crisis in 1956.
Related videos:
The Bombardment of Alexandria (1882) – the Suez Canal & the start of Britain’s involvement in Egypt.
The Battle of Tel El Kebir (1882) – Britain gains control of Egypt.
A joint British / French military operation (Operation Musketeer) added a third ally, Israel.
In a pre-planned strategy the Israeli’s invaded Sinai in Egypt heading towards the Suez Canal.
The British & French then issued an ultimatum for the two sides to stop[ fighting and withdrew from the canal otherwise they would send in troops to protect the canal for international commerce.
When neither the Egyptians or Israelis agreed, Operation Musketeer swung into action.
The first phase saw bombers from the RAF and Fleet Air Arm destroy most of the Egyptian airforce and then. attack military targets at the northern end of the canal.
The second phase began on the 5th November 1956 with airborne landings by French & British paratroops.
The next day Royal Marine commandos stormed ashore supported by British tanks.
Despite heavy fighting in Port Said, the British and French were able to break through Egyptian defences and now started to race towards the other end of the canal.
But, whilst the wheels of the armoured vehicles were racing down the Suez Canal, the wheels were falling off the Diplomatic initiative.
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution demanding that the British & French withdraw.
The Soviet leader, threatened to send missiles at London and Paris.
But, it was US economic pressure that drove the final nail into the coffin.
Refusing to sell Britain oil, threatening to sell their British government bonds and pressurising the IMF to withhold funds for Britain, the pound plummeted and Britain stared into the economic abyss.
British Prime Minister, Anthony Eden, was forced into a humiliating climbdown.
He ordered his troops racing down the canal to stop.
The British lost 22 men killed and 96 wounded (8 of those deaths were after the ceasefire had been declared but before the British evacuation).
The French had lost even fewer men – 10 killed and 33 injured.
Britain was humiliated and her prestige took a major blow.
The diplomatic failure of the venture confirmed what many had suspected. That the UK, whilst an unconquered victor in the Second World War, was no longer in the same league as the USA or the Soviet Union.
Any future UK operations would need American support and approval.
The age of the British Empire was rapidly drawing to a close.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
1:19 British in Egypt
2:49 Egyptian Independence
4:10 WW2
4:35 Tensions Rise
5:32 Nasser
7:29 Suez Canal Nationalised
8:47 Anthony Eden
11:22 French Involvement
12:34 Operation Musketeer
14:26 Israeli Involvement
16:19 Suez Crisis
18:12 International Condemnation
19:05 Eisenhower’s Response
20:45 Humiliation
22:11 Consequences of Suez Crisis
25:12 The History Chap
Sources include: Imperial War Museum, National Army Museum, British Empire Magazine, Wikipedia, Anglotopia.net
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My name is Chris Green and I love to share stories from British history. Not just because they are interesting but because, good or bad, they have shaped the world we live in today.
My aim is to be chat as if I were having a coffee or meal with you. Jean in Maryland, USA recently wrote: “Chris, is the history teacher I wish I had at school!”
For the record, I do have a history degree from the University of Birmingham.
Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the ‘Comments’ section do not reflect the opinions of Chris Green Communication Ltd t/a The History Chap. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Chris Green Communication Ltd does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the ‘Comments’ section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
35 Comments
Well done. An unmitigated disaster and an adventurist blind folly based upon that greatest of human weaknesses: hubris. I commend you on linking up the Suez crisis with the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary. If there was one event until the Vietnam war that generated a cascade of deleterious international consequences it was the 1956 Suez disaster. It fed into Hungary (1956), the fall of the French 4th Republic, the loss of Algeria (1960), the withdrawal from Cyprus (1960), the fall of the monarchy in Iraq, the expulsion of the Europeans(British, French, Greeks, Italians, Maltese, etc) from Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, the 1967 War, the 1969 Libyan coup against King Idris, etc. Without the 1956 Suez crisis the whole Middle East would have been less turbulent and possibly a rapprochement between Israel and the Arab world would have emerged.
Remember seeing this so well at the time
As with so many of his (or John Foster Dulles') decisions, Ike did everything to make things worse. Eden was right down the line.
Thanks. I finally have a sense of understanding this….
Wonder if Nasser ever paid the Suez Canal shareholders? Secondly Mark Steyn has pointed out that China will be doing a Suez moment on the US one of these days. I hope it's long away but I doubt it.
Excellent historical narrative.
Americans yet again show their disregard for anyone else’s wellbeing ,and also show a amazingly amateurish attitude to foreign affairs ,Britain and France had a right to protect their interests as the USA would have done and for the Americans to withdraw their support for their strongest and most loyal Allie was shameful to say the least .Just like in Vietnam when Britain could have defeated the Viet Min but the Americans pulled the plug on funding Britains bankrupt forces and then payed with the lives of their own men
Eisenhower was not a good politician and one of the reasons for not including him was that he wanted nothing to do with anything that might impact him politically. The main reason for America's response was to elevate them as the only power in NATO and diminishing both Britain and France was a key part of that they wanted NATO completely reliant on them.
The only time the US took an open opposition to Britain and Israel. It may interest you to know there is a completed screenplay about this subject which was put on hold when covid hit. It is owned by a major production company but may be sold. Could be the last epic.
Yeah! Another story!
Thank you for a great video! I always look forward to your videos!😊
And Canadians say 3 cheers for Lester Pearson. He solved the Suez Crisis. Got a Nobel Prize for it. We got a Prime Minister. A new flag. And socialized medicine.
All this led to Pierre Trudeau (Justin's dad) becoming PM.
Got to take the good with the bad, I guess.
Great video as always!
Another example of American flawed foreign policy. Ike admitted his mistake on his deathbed,
This was so interesting. We learned a little about this in my high school World History class, but with no in depth analysis. Thank you for covering this incident, and for covering the ramifications of the actions.
Kudos Sir, I was at the edge of my seat. So to speak! I enjoyed the video lecture. The narrative was at times quite exiting. But as you so eloquently pointed out. It was Suez Canal Crisis! Brilliant video as usual and looking forward to your next offering. 👊👍
What a blunder
Last combat jump of the paras
You make history sound so interesting. I think your voice has something to do with it, the way you speak also. Being disabled, it's the highlight of my week. Could you start doing American battles, now?
Good content mate. Very informative
Lying cut throat…6 day war he also lied to Jordan so their military was thrashed by Israeli forces
Always balanced, always excellent. Great content. Upvoted. Subscribed. Thanks Chris.
Really well researched and delivered, and an often overlooked part of history.
I will never forget doing A Level history and getting into an argument (and later a low mark in my essay) because all the teacher wanted to discuss was that Suez was simply the last nail in the coffin for the British Empire. I argued that it was militarily a success, and near flawless as the first use of new tactics involving helicopters, and a political failure, but that first experience shouldn't be forgotten. That one teacher stopped me going to pursue a military history degree, which I still regret not doing to this day.
DECENDENT IMPERIAL COUNTRY'S AND JUST WHAT TOOK OVER THERE PLACES A BIG CLUSTER FU K .😅
Thanks for posting that, great explanation of the crisis, my dad was with the 3rd carribineers based in oznobrook Germany and was on standby to go when it was announced it was over
Thank you Chris for this concise summery of the Suez Crisis. I have known the basic details for years, I used to argue with my Dad about it. You have filled in a lot of background details both of us were unaware of. My supported
Although, if the US had supported the venture and the Anglo French alliance had maintained control for a few years, we would have been politically obliged to provide support to the US invasion of Vietnam a few years later. On the whole, a bullet well dodged.
Another absolutely brilliant presentation 👍
Excellent and Outstanding Analysis!!!! Thank You!!!!!
The United states stab in the back, if the Suez crisis had been sorted out then , perhaps there would have been no Iraq war, or Israeli six day war, but America proved itself a bad enemy and a even worse friend sometimes ,The USA is completely imperialist , And between the world wars and certainly before world war one ,had plans to attack UK ,in order to gain dominance of the world's sea lanes
Excellent analysis
Brilliant work.
Probably the first instance of the US exerting it’s financial dominance over its European “allies”. At that point in time it would have been wise to double down on the Anglo-French partnership and extend the franchise to Belgium, Holland, Portugal and Spain (all colonial powers with trouble brewing in the colonies for very similar reasons). At a later date, other European countries could have been incorporated, once proof of concept was there. The Americans would have backed off, eventually, for fear of Soviet encroachment. An equilibrium might have been restored, rather than hegemony, which was arguably what the Americans wanted most of all – if one considers the American “war”, European “peace” economic symbiosis during the Cold War era.
Very interesting? I would have to do more research on this because the French and British has accused the us the US for being imperialistic. I wonder why?
Excellent
Very clear and well explained