Suez Crisis Project - Cold War Unit
Pre-Suez Crisis:
On October 29, 1956 the Israeli armed forces went into Egypt toward the Suez Canal after the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) nationalized the canal in July that year, initiating the Suez Crisis. The Israelis were joined by the French and British forces which brought the Soviet Union into conflict, and damaged their relationships with the United States. The British, French, and Israeli governments withdrew their troops in late 1956 and early 1957.
The motivation for the joint Israeli-British-French attack on Egypt was the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt’s president. Two years earlier the Egyptian military had begun pressuring the British to end their military presence in the canal zone (which had been granted in the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty). Nasser’s armed forces also engaged in sporadic battles with Israeli soldiers along the border between two countries. The Egyptian leader did nothing to conceal his avoidance towards the Zionist nation.
Nasser ordered the Suez Canal seized and nationalized (supported by Soviet arms and money, furious with the United States for reverse on a promise to provide funds for construction of the Aswan Dam on the Nile river). The British were angry with the move and sought support of France (which believed that Nasser was supporting rebels in the French colony of Algeria) and Israel (which needed little provocation to strike at the enemy on its border) in an armed assault to retake the canal.
The First Battle:
The Israelis struck first on October 26, 1956. Two days later on October 28, 1956 the British and French military forces joined them. Forces from the three countries were set to strike at once, but the British and French troops were delayed. Their hesitation had given the Soviet Union time to respond, (also confronted with the growing crisis in Hungary). The Soviets were eager to exploit Arab nationalism and gain a foothold in the Middle East.
They supplied arms from Czechoslovakia to the Egyptian government beginning in 1955. Eventually, they helped Egypt construct the Aswan Dam on the Nile River after the United States refused to support the project. The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) railed against the invasion and threatened to rain down nuclear missiles on Western Europe if the Israeli-French-British force did not withdraw.
The response of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration warned the Soviets that reckless talk of nuclear conflict would only make things worse. It warned Khrushchev to refrain from direct intervention in the conflict. However, Eisenhower also issued stern warnings to the French, British and Israelis to give up their campaign and withdraw from Egyptian soil. Soon, the United States threatened all three nations with economic authorities if they persevered in their attack. The British and French forces withdrew by December, Israel finally gave up in March 1957.
Significance in the Cold War:
Both Russia and the United States had nuclear bombs, but we both realized it wouldn't make sense for us to drop bombs on each other. We also wanted to use the Suez Canal for oil, since there is a lot in the Middle East. But Egypt wouldn't let the Middle East use the Canal so they'd have to go all around Egypt to get it to Europe.
We didn't like Communism, since we are Capitalists. Russia was a Communist country, and Egypt supported Communism. The Israelis was against Communism. So we gave money to anyone who was against Communism. We had to make sure Israel won because of the Domino Theory. We thought if Israel lost, then other countries on our side would lost and eventually us. So we wanted Egypt to lose so eventually Russia would lose. We were afraid if Israel lost, soon we would become Communists, which is bad.
On October 29, 1956 the Israeli armed forces went into Egypt toward the Suez Canal after the Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser (1918-1970) nationalized the canal in July that year, initiating the Suez Crisis. The Israelis were joined by the French and British forces which brought the Soviet Union into conflict, and damaged their relationships with the United States. The British, French, and Israeli governments withdrew their troops in late 1956 and early 1957.
The motivation for the joint Israeli-British-French attack on Egypt was the nationalization of the Suez Canal by Egypt’s president. Two years earlier the Egyptian military had begun pressuring the British to end their military presence in the canal zone (which had been granted in the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty). Nasser’s armed forces also engaged in sporadic battles with Israeli soldiers along the border between two countries. The Egyptian leader did nothing to conceal his avoidance towards the Zionist nation.
Nasser ordered the Suez Canal seized and nationalized (supported by Soviet arms and money, furious with the United States for reverse on a promise to provide funds for construction of the Aswan Dam on the Nile river). The British were angry with the move and sought support of France (which believed that Nasser was supporting rebels in the French colony of Algeria) and Israel (which needed little provocation to strike at the enemy on its border) in an armed assault to retake the canal.
The First Battle:
The Israelis struck first on October 26, 1956. Two days later on October 28, 1956 the British and French military forces joined them. Forces from the three countries were set to strike at once, but the British and French troops were delayed. Their hesitation had given the Soviet Union time to respond, (also confronted with the growing crisis in Hungary). The Soviets were eager to exploit Arab nationalism and gain a foothold in the Middle East.
They supplied arms from Czechoslovakia to the Egyptian government beginning in 1955. Eventually, they helped Egypt construct the Aswan Dam on the Nile River after the United States refused to support the project. The Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) railed against the invasion and threatened to rain down nuclear missiles on Western Europe if the Israeli-French-British force did not withdraw.
The response of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration warned the Soviets that reckless talk of nuclear conflict would only make things worse. It warned Khrushchev to refrain from direct intervention in the conflict. However, Eisenhower also issued stern warnings to the French, British and Israelis to give up their campaign and withdraw from Egyptian soil. Soon, the United States threatened all three nations with economic authorities if they persevered in their attack. The British and French forces withdrew by December, Israel finally gave up in March 1957.
Significance in the Cold War:
Both Russia and the United States had nuclear bombs, but we both realized it wouldn't make sense for us to drop bombs on each other. We also wanted to use the Suez Canal for oil, since there is a lot in the Middle East. But Egypt wouldn't let the Middle East use the Canal so they'd have to go all around Egypt to get it to Europe.
We didn't like Communism, since we are Capitalists. Russia was a Communist country, and Egypt supported Communism. The Israelis was against Communism. So we gave money to anyone who was against Communism. We had to make sure Israel won because of the Domino Theory. We thought if Israel lost, then other countries on our side would lost and eventually us. So we wanted Egypt to lose so eventually Russia would lose. We were afraid if Israel lost, soon we would become Communists, which is bad.
Suez Canal Facts:
- 120 miles long
- Connects to the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea
- Took 10 years to build
- Opened in 1869
- Developed by Frenchman Ferdinand de Lesseps (in the 1880s he made an unsuccessful attempt to develop the Panama Canal)
- It’s cost is estimated about $100,000,000
Below is some pictures of the Suez Canal/Suez Crisis (courtesy of Google Images)
To find these images on Google, you can search:
Suez Crisis
Suez Canal
Suez Canal Crisis
Suez Crisis
Suez Canal
Suez Canal Crisis
Above is part of the Suez Canal
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