The Suez Crisis 1956

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.

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The Battle of Tel El Kebir (1882) - Britain gains control of Egypt.
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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.

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