What Was The Suez Crisis in 1956?

[@peterjones7673]

Thank you so much for this insight. My Father who is now 88 was doing his National Service with the RAF Regiment at the time and saw action being involved in an exchange of fire where one of his pals sadly paid the ultimate price. My Father rarely talks about his service in this crisis as he thinks it was pointless but he had to go. I am so proud of him and he wears his medal with pride on National Service Day when I take him (health permitting) to the National Arboretum when he insists on marching on parade unaided. Thank you for telling this story it means so much to me.

[@kevinnorthfield5097]

My father also RAF Regiment was in the Suez Campaign, he too never said much about it.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Peter, thanks for sharing about your father.

[@jcee2259]

Your male parent and I have shared age service and lifetime values. I have medals too but only wear one earned for being a good father.

[@chriskessell4579]

Watch " Europa the last battle " .

[@AndrewCastlemaine]

My elderly Mum emigrated from England to Australia in 1954 as a teenager on the migrant ship S.S. New Australia. She says she can remember passing through the Suez Canal and there were Australian soldiers along the canal calling up to them and jokingly thumbing a lift hitchhiker style

[@TheHistoryChap]

How interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@Chiller01]

Very nice summary of a very complex incident. An incident that was symbolic of the dying throws of empire. I remember a story about the first Egyptian pilot to guide a ship through the Suez Canal. As I recall the Egyptian pilots were always subordinates of European pilots and were not allowed to pilot ships through the canal on their own. The eyes of Nasser and the Egyptian nation were on that pilot as he successfully guided the first ship through the Canal after it was ceded to Egypt.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching.

[@consty715]

And they wonder why Britain refused to fight in Vietnam

[@MJ-fj9yv]

True, Americans should have left that place alone.

[@mh53j]

​@@MJ-fj9yv yeah, should have just let Uncle Ho and his minions subjugate the South Vietnamese; so what if they didn't want to live under an oppressive communist regime? I mean, just look how benevolent the North was to their Southern brothers once they finally invaded and seized control. I'm sure those reeducation camps were fun, plus decades of discrimination afterwards. Those boat people sure missed out on all the fun, didn't they? And just look at what an economic powerhouse South Vietnam became under communist rule. Much easier just to turn one's back, isn't it?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Tit for tat.

[@northislandguy]

I never thought of it like that 😂

[@gideonhorwitz9434]

Why would they they already fought their South Asia communist insurgency in Malaysia and won

[@arailway8809]

Thank you, Chris, for your fine work. Covering history before the internet is a gift to future generations.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment. too.

[@csjrogerson2377]

Lord Anthony Eden lived out his final years as a specialist Hereford Breeder in the village of Alvedistion, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, where my parents owned the village pub. We would often see Lord Eden and he would always have a cheery good morning for we local lads, not so, his far less cheery wife.

[@jimthecaptainsmate3542]

Maybe she had more backbone than him and disagreed with his capitulation.

[@Evemeister12]

@@jimthecaptainsmate3542 Nothing she could've done about it. The UK was a busted flush by then.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sahring.

[@csjrogerson2377]

@@jimthecaptainsmate3542 I have no reason to defend Lord Anthony, but the UK in 1956 was in no position to counter America AND Russia. There are times when you must accept the inevitable and that was one. So not spineless at all.

[@jeningle8288]

Very interesting if complicated, thanks for this video Chris. My Uncle was out there in 1956, I never realised quite how bad it was.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@paulmcleod8983]

I love your videos, the content ,your style and delivery . I don't think they couod be bettered . You deserve recognition by mainstream media .

[@TheHistoryChap]

That's very kind of you. Here's hoping.

[@stevencutts6314]

the problem is that to a younger generation it's hard to imagine that we could have maintained a major French and British influence in the region for more than say ten more years which raises the issue of at what point you would try to leave the region? Given that the operation ultimately failed its easy to dismiss its ambition but again, would we still be leaving 50,000 UK ground troops in Egypt today to guard the piece of infra structure? A point often forgotten is that later on when the American position with the Panama Canal was compromised the Americans went into Panama and deposed the government there without worrying what anybody else thought about it.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

I was thinking this exact thing the other day. Why didn’t the UK/France/Isreal do anything about it?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Interesting comparison with US action in Panama. Thanks for sharing.

[@Makeyourselfbig]

That's the difference between a 1st class economic/military superpower and a 2nd class declining colonial power. Like Brexiters can't accept the UK's diminished role today the UK couldn't accept that they had been eclipsed by America back then. As the video points out. America can act unilaterally because it has the economic and military power to do so. The UK cannot because it has neither. We can only act if our American masters let us off the leash. Otherwise we do as we are told.

[@that_imperial_kingsman442]

​@@MakeyourselfbigSurely that's an argument in favour Brexiteers, strive to make Britain independent of foreign powers and capable to stand alone economically.

[@markomihajlovic7091]

​@@that_imperial_kingsman442 That only make sense in a world where sovereignty is either 0 or 1. An absolute. But the world doesn't work like that and countries constantly adjust their moves on account of other countries. Since Brexit, Britain has gained no additional freedom of action. Instead of balancing Europe and the US it's now fully beholden to the US. Any leverage it might have against the US, it cannot use it lest it jeopardizes British security and economy. The EU is a block and negotiates as one as well one critical matters of economy and defense. It doesn't need Britain but Britain needs it because it's the closest trading neighbor. Britain was in an ideal position pre-Brexit. It had an asterisk to everything and a great deal of influence in the EU. It was never mandatory to adopt Euro so it could keep an independent monetary policy. It didn't have to follow same freedom of movement rules but got the freedom of goods and services. It could paddle its sway in the EU for favors with the US. It could hide behind the EU when pressured on something. I mean it really is simple at the end of the day. No country ever got richer after constricting trade with all its neighbors.

[@brianspendelow840]

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

[@brianspendelow840]

Looks like I messed up and only half my comment has gone up. I went on to say that my Dad supported the invasion and I didn't. We argued about many tears after the event during the Vietnam War. He accused the Americans of hypocrisy, something I had to agree with.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@joeritchie4554]

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.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@nicktanner7523]

Excellent....as always...just the right amount of detail...Thanks again

[@TheHistoryChap]

I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching.

[@kiwifruit27]

This is an excellent retelling of the crisis. Thanks for your research and enthusiasm in your presentation

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@ahgversluis]

What a brilliant video. Clear, concise and interesting!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks

[@christopping5876]

Another excellent video! We are very lucky to have The History Chap, The History Guy, The History Squad and Mark Felton, each with their own unique style, producing fascinating videos with an enthusiasm for History that is outstanding.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your kind words.

[@gazpal]

My old RSM served in Aden at the time

[@TheHistoryChap]

My dad was in Aden a couple of years afterwards.

[@billballbuster7186]

Thanks Chris for a very accurate summary of the Suez Campaign. The irony was that Nasser gave all the credit for the British and French withdrawal to the Soviet Union, putting most of the Middle East into the Soviet camp for several decades. Nasser believed his own propaganda and hyped up tensions in the Middle East leading to the 6-Day War, his ultimate humiliation.

[@billballbuster7186]

@Siegfried Alemeir Nasser played both sides, he had been cleared by the US and UK for the Aswan Dam loan. Then bought arms from the Soviet Block, which caused the US to cancel the loan. Then to get cash for the dam he grabbed the Suez Canal. He convinced himself he had won a military victory and went on to threaten Israel, which ended in disaster. Nasser was broken by the 6-Day War and died 4 years later.

[@Sturminfantrist]

@@billballbuster7186 He bought arms from sovietblock because Brits and US refused to sell him arms while the French sold/armed Israels Forces with modern equippment like AMX13, and Jets Vatour, Ouragan, Mystere, super Mystere ect., Nasser ask several times for modern US brits arms but they refused, so Nasser had to turn to the sovietblock (Czechs ect) to get modern Jets MiG-15 and Tanks ect.....

[@billballbuster7186]

@@Sturminfantrist No, Nasser played both sides, begging money from the West for Aswan Dam. At the same time spending $ Millions on arms from the Warsaw Pact. In the end all the arms did nothing as they were badly beated 1967 and 1973.

[@marwanshamsia]

@bill ballbuster Nasser's policies delayed the modernization of Egypt by many, many decades, I would even say that he reversed its modernization efforts. It's such a shame. Really, he was a very charasmatic man but severly lacking in good vision

[@MJ-fj9yv]

@@user-wo4ks5wp6tah, you must be one of want to be Communists

[@whitewinederarck2253]

Thank you Chris , once again a brilliant and succinct account of the Suez crisis. You are helping to keep alive our history that is being falsified and blackened for irrational and spiteful reasons. Thank you , Derek.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure Derek. Thanks for watching.

[@philnielsen6139]

😅A

[@stephen4121]

Yes it's completely bonkers for anyone to feel the need to blacken our history. It's like trying to blacken the history of the Nazis, pointless, it's evil enough as it is already. The really sad thing is where people try to gloss over things like the Amritsar Massacre amongst many other appalling episodes and pretend that the empire wasn't evil.

[@thesmallerhalf1968]

You are being irrational yourself. The carping and twittering of a few ill informed dafties doesn’t affect sensible measured histirical analysis.

[@andyb.1026]

When Algeria became independent the French aid ended on the same day.. Britain is still funding African states, where the Aid goes straight into 'Private' Swiss Banks.. While the people have been moving to the tyrannical British, French, Belgian, Portuguese countries ever since..

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for adding your thoughts.

[@christophermccormick2714]

Intensely interesting, as always! Thank you so much for the history!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@philotown]

Thanks' Chris for an as usual, very well presented and a very balanced account of the Suez crisis.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WendyDaCanuck]

Americans never miss an opportunity to dismantle the British Empire. Eisenhower got exactly what he wanted from the beginning. Eden was a fool.

[@IrishCinnsealach]

Well the UK still has the most overseas sovereignties than any other country so their plan to dismantle the British empire failed

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

Eisenhower made a huge error over Suez and he admitted as much in his own memoirs. The British returned the 'favour' by withdrawing all their military presence east of Suez. The burden of 'policing' the region then fell entirely on the US. The US didn't have the diplomatic ties in the region that Britain had built up over decades. To this day, Britain arguably has more 'soft' power than any other nation in the world. We can get things done by just whispering in the ear of others- which is entirely due to the diplomatic relations Britain forged with so many countries during the time of the Empire. The US never has, and never will have that ability. Furthermore, the British 'worked it up' the US a few years later, when the US was begging Britain to send military forces to assist in Vietnam. The answer was an emphatic NO. Never piss on the backs of the British then try telling us it's just raining.........We always payback one way or another- as Putin has found out in Ukraine. He sent KGB assassins to the UK to target a number of Russian dissidents and use was made of a chemical weapon in Salisbury. We've more than paid him with interest by supplying thousands of NLAW anti-tank missiles- which have devastated Orc armour in Ukraine. Britain always plays the long game. After the US, Britain has been Ukraine's next biggest backer and provider of arms. The sole reason western tanks are being sent to Ukraine is down to Britain- we committed first, and it compelled Germany and the US to follow suit. More payback heading Russia's way courtesy of Britain........

[@IrishCinnsealach]

@@liverpoolscottish6430 great to see a fellow Scouser who knows the score. 👍

[@peteredwards7760]

The Yankees kept their empire by making and breaking treaties with Native Americans.

[@utrinqueparatus4617]

Webster's defines imperialism as 'The policy, practice, or advocacy of extending the power and dominion of a nation especially by gaining indirect control over the political or economic life of other areas.' There could be no more accurate description of American foreign policy, since 1945. Trust America at your peril.

[@bunburyodo]

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.

[@davidw.robertson448]

The teacher was a slave to the orthodoxy while you were seeing the events from a different perspective, which is very much needed in a historian. Too bad you didn't pursue your degree.

[@causewaykayak]

You were quite right. So many of us had relatives out there or supporting from Cyprus. Your teacher needed a good physical kicking for lack of patriotism.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@duaneelliott5194]

You and you're teacher were both right.

[@Anmeteor9663]

I had a similar experience where the essay question was " When is it legitimate to use nuclear weapons?" My essay set out the reasons why the use of these weapons is never justified and the case for global disarmament. The low mark failed me. I have studied history for the rest of life and do not intend to stop now I am 60. That teacher freed me from the requirement to follow the conventional thinking. My studies have ranged far and wide following the links between causes and effects across time. Endlessly fascinating.

[@NERunner]

My great Uncle was a senior civil servant in the Foreign Office and Anthony Eden once borrowed his pen to sign a document; he never returned it. Now you know how low Britain REALLY sank under Eden's tenure 😅

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

Politicians are the same thieves the world over , arent they?

[@TheHistoryChap]

great story. Thanks for sharing it Simon.

[@georgehanna943]

Fascinating. I went through the Suez canal in 1964. Spent a day in Port Said, and saw pictures of Nasser everywhere. Really clear analysis, yet again, thanks Chris.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure, thanks for watching. If you haven’t already, please do subscribe to my channel, so you don’t miss future videos.

[@NigelDeForrest-Pearce-cv6ek]

Excellent and Outstanding Analysis!!!! Thank You!!!!!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@richardthornton3775]

As always a great retelling of a oft misunderstood period of history. Thank you for telling it👍 One detail for any future projects that may involve The Royal Marines, it’s Four Two Commando & Four Five Commando, not forty two or forty five. 😁👍 Thanks again, I love listening to your channel.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your support.

[@talpark8796]

thx again, Chris et al. 🦬🇨🇦

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@jamesbishop4635]

Nice one Chris. Entertaining as ever. Thanks ever so much.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@simonkevnorris]

Thanks for the informative video. Our family emigrated from the UK to Perth (Western Australia) in the mid 1960s going on a Greek flagged ship through the Suez Canal. I was only five at the time. I do have memories of our visit to Athens (I remember seeing the Eff Zones(?) and the Pathenon. I believe there was a riot in Athens while we were there. I also recall bits of our visit to Port Said.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to comment and share your memories.

[@philipcarrigan4352]

Nice one Chris . Keep striving for balance and truth.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks, will do!

[@rogerdepretto440]

Thanks Chris.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Any time!

[@nigelcowie6883]

An excellent and informative video, as always, thanks for posting!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@philipwilkinson636]

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

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to share about your dad.

[@cgross82]

Very interesting! I really knew nothing about this crisis, which took place the year I was born, until I saw it depicted in the TV series, “The Crown.” Your video gave much more detail, and helped me understand it better. Thank you!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@erichague-e7k]

I was in the Suez crisis in 1956 ,it was a tripartite attack on Egypt ,France,British,and Israeli forces all conspired against Egypt ,I was a nineteen year old nation serviceman ,as was most of us,if it had carried on I wouldn't probably have been posting this.Dec 2024.I knew some of the soldiers in that video.

[@celljog]

Thanks for this very interesting talk. My father did his National Service as a Staff Sergeant in Egypt a few years before the Suez Crisis, and I have always wanted to find out more about it.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you found it interesting.

[@adriancox8134]

My old man served in royal engineers, national service,,,,,,had to serve an extra 6 months because of the crisis

[@helenzilwick6179]

thx Chris :) interesting as always 😃

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure, Helen. Thanks for watching.

[@jeremyroberts39]

Thank you for this..... fascinating.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure

[@beverlyhills7883]

Always balanced, always excellent. Great content. Upvoted. Subscribed. Thanks Chris.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for the sub.

[@amgadghaly6218]

An unbiased video , thx from Port Said , Egypt

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching

[@davidcollins2648]

A very important point in history that has been ignored. Well done for your excellent video.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching.

[@derekp2674]

Chris, thanks very much for an entertaining and highly informative presentation.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure!

[@allanburt5250]

Thanks Chris really appreciated that one 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@simonnoble7589]

Hey Chris , loved this story about EGYPT ..... it is my most favorite place in the world .... i go to Aswan most years , and speak to Arab friends most days from Aswan .... I LOVE the Noble Tombs at Aswan ? ..... thank you CHRIS 😀😃

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed.

[@plweis7203]

Excellent analysis

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks.

[@AlfieTheHammer363]

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

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to share your viewpoint.

[@anugranmathimugan2778]

Anyone else's wellbeing ? What about Egypts lol . Luckily the Americans were so anti colonial back then and thank God you guys are a shadow nowadays .

[@AlfieTheHammer363]

@@anugranmathimugan2778 Anti colonial America???🤣😂😄 Really ,They fight wars they don't have to fight and expect us to help cos we are better at winning ,Egypt we protected from Natzis but maybe your a fan of them as we were the ones that stopped them not the Russian murderers or the not in our back yard Yanks ,The Brits !!! .............Your welcome!!!

[@Gordon-hx8cp]

​@anugranmathimugan2778 what the same Americans that a decade later dropped napalm on Vietnamese villages burning women and children to death,cut the America took the highground BS they couldn't careless about egypt

[@jonathanmawdesley-thomas1863]

Another masterful piece of work , thank you Chris . The Para’s and Commando’s would have been quite a handful together for the Egyptian Army no doubt .

[@TheHistoryChap]

Quite what the British would actually have done if they had seized the canal is anyone's guess.

[@chrisholland7367]

Another absolutely brilliant presentation 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@davidhookway514]

A small town in Dorset near large army camp. 1956. Early morning, and a boy looked out of window as noisy heavy tank carriers passed. He noticed the Tanks were a Sand Colour.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing the memory

[@Alfonzridesagain]

In my view, Eden was wrong to stand down mid way through the Suez intervention, and the years since have shown that it was a mistake. Britain's hand in the 50s was stronger than we might now believe and successive generations of having no independent foreign policy have only hurt us - and badly.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanmks for taking the time to add your thoughts on the crisis and Anthony Eden.

[@nickw6175]

and how in a post colonial world would have britian managed to occupy eygpt against a hostile population?, and taking into account there were massive issues with many national servicemen who were at best reluctant to fight, the fact that we had to withdraw was more of a reflection that by this time we were not capabale of acting without US support.

[@Alfonzridesagain]

@@nickw6175 it wasn't a post colonial world before Suez and Britain definitely had the means to defeat Egypt, especially when you throw France in as well. This is the narrative which has dominated since the war but it isn't necessarily true

[@oldboygeorge7688]

Controlling other people and countries 😢 was never a good idea for a country that believed in democracy. We had fought a bitter war against such behaviour.

[@terenceretter5049]

@@Alfonzridesagain US action re Sterling meant that Britain was in great danger of becoming bankrupt . Our financial testicles were being squeezed by the Yanks!

[@LEEOC]

Brilliant mate

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks.

[@jackhewitt600]

Just subscribed . May i recomend the Malayan Emergency.Lots of national service men served over there including my grandfather in the 1950s.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for the sub and you'll be pleased to know that Malayan Emergency is on the cards for later in the summer.

[@davidgray3321]

Excellent as usual

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you.

[@fredazcarate4818]

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. 👊👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

fred, your comments always make my day. Thank you.

[@michaelcavagnaro8387]

Exceĺlent documentary! I now know the details of a subject that I only had an outline of. Carry on sir!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching and for taking the time to comment

[@Mixcoatl]

I'm going to watch this video later, so forgive me if you reference this book in the video, but a great read about Suez is "Ike's Gamble" by Michael Scott Doran. His general thesis was that the American approach was a mistake, borne of a fundamental misunderstanding of the dynamics at work in the Middle East. I'd recommend it.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing.

[@rodeastell3615]

Excellent video and presentation.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you liked it!

[@JR-gc5ef]

World politics is a dirty business. We either shape the world or be shaped by it. I remember doing a UK team job training their SF in the late 90's under Hosni Mubarak - despite his dictatorship-like rule. Made me wonder why we countenanced such leadership and cooperation.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Really good point. Politics is a dirty business. I guess the controversy over the Qatar World Cup would be another good example.

[@simonnoble7589]

well spoken sir

[@LtColwtf]

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.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts on this subject.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Great video!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you.

[@amotaba]

Excellent video, Chris

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you

[@aaropajari7058]

Another well done video. The gentleman para on the thumb-nail seems a man not to mess with.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching.

[@charlesmaschi3238]

Great Video! Thanks for covering this very interesting and historic subject. Coincidentally, my friend and I were discussing the current events in France, and other related subjects. We concluded the worst disasters of post WW2 France were: The Algerian Crisis, The Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and The Suez Crisis. I know you mainly cover British history, but could you consider the French Indo-China and Algerian subjects as well? Thanks again!

[@TheHistoryChap]

I find French history fascinating, but I would butcher the pronounciations!

[@charlesmaschi3238]

@@TheHistoryChap Touche'.

[@gregburma]

I'm age 72 and had previously been mystified by the fact by simplistic explanations of the Suez debacle which had never rung true for me. At last, a very well-presented video has explained the whole "end-of Empire" event to me and also told me that what was presented to me before as American treachery was not quite so. Many thanks for an important clarifaction and a very gripping story!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching and I'm pleased that I was able to clarify this event for you.

[@toekneekerching9543]

It was American treachery though ,they withdrew funding from the dam and forced the UK to do so too which led directly to the nationalisation of the canal! And once fighting had started the US had the cheek not only to oppose it but to collapse the pound which was completely uncalled for and out of proportion and in many ways an act of war in its self! The US did all this for its own political gain and it failed! so not only did the US fail but it managed to take the UK and France out with it! And thanks to the US we now had nasser aligned with the USSR which made him untouchable while he funded terrorism and coup attempts all over the middle east!

[@Gos1234567]

Excellent summary in 25 minutes about a complex situation! You have a new sub 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for your support, I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s always a challenge to try and give him enough information without turning it into into a one hour documentary.

[@algobr]

An excellent and well-presented documentary about an episode that is now largely forgotten, but was hugely significant in its time. After Suez, the UK's foreign policy was largely directed by Washington. I very much appreciate the lack of theatricality in your approach.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your kind feedback.

[@gwine9087]

A friend was in the 1st Suez Crisis and the United Nations Emergency Force. He told me that they were never allowed on the Israeli side of the border. He had some interesting stories to tell.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I bet he did!

[@gwine9087]

@Rabbi Shmuel Shekelbaum You mean the "slimes" that kept the Israelis and Egyptians from killing each other and, most likely, prevented a massive war between the Russians and the West?

[@davidwoods7720]

Thanks Chris

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@jerryroebuck5870]

Very well told.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it

[@camrenwick]

Very clear and well explained

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you.

[@ae9980]

Great video as always!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you.

[@AlRedsoxFan]

Looking forward to listening

[@TheHistoryChap]

Hope you enjoy.

[@AlRedsoxFan]

@TheHistoryChap very well done had the US went along the operation would have been a success It was already a mute point thinking Egypt 🇪🇬 would move towards the US and the west I love Ike but bad decision once again as in Indochina and not bombing the mountains around Dein Bein Phu 1954 Hope all is well Take care 🙂

[@stephenpegum9776]

Yes a very concise & interesting video Chris - cheers. In theory I am old enough to remember this crisis but as I was only 4 at the time, I trust that excuses my ignorance ! 😅😎

[@TheHistoryChap]

My mum was in Switzerland on a school trip. A van with a loud speaker shouting some sort of announcement went passed and all the kids starting panicking thinking that WW3 had started. It turned out it was a local election!

[@brianperry]

So much for that ''Special Relationship''

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@marietee2180]

Thanks for your reply! Appreciate it. I will let you know if I get to find out. I have approached the Royal Air Force Museum.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Good luck with your quest.

[@jokesonyou1373]

Good content mate. Very informative

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@tomsenior7405]

Excellent work, as ever. Cheers. My late father-in-law was sent to Suez. He called it a betrayal by the Americans. I have mixed feelings about this campaign. Not for matters of National Pride, but for the subsequent issues raised in the Middle-East.

[@just_one_opinion]

LOL

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment too.

[@TheRobby1971]

Brilliant work.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you.

[@janlindtner305]

Good work Chris

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you very much.

[@angloaust1575]

Last combat jump of the paras

[@TheHistoryChap]

My dad joined afterwards and got fed up hearing the stories!

[@marietee2180]

Thank you for this informative history on the Suez Crisis 1956, since I was there? I have a question, my cousin remembers the deaf sound of a bomb that she was was coming? Would you know which plane was used? Thanks again, I am passing on this to my children!!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Unfortunately I don't, sorry.

[@magna4100]

With "friends" like the Yank who needs enemies? Britain and France should have stood their ground and threatened to close every US military facility on their collective soil in response to that stab in the back. Reliance on the US has been major mistake. Britain needs to clear-out the politicians that cow-tow to Washington. There is no substitute for self-reliance and self-sufficiency especially in the military sphere.

[@Evemeister12]

The USA would've crushed the UK and France's economies. In the aftermath of WWII the European nations were on their knees and American aid was what propped them up until the 1960s. France and the UK were still trying to chase former glories while still ignorant of their existing plight. It was an act of desperation which failed miserably.

[@TheIceman567]

It wasn’t just the USA your own commonwealth was against you too. Stop being butt hurt.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to share your views.

[@paulfallon7038]

@@Evemeister12 "Crushing" the economies of Britain and France would have served no purpose except perhaps to push both countries closer to the USSR. Anglo-French control of the canal with a strong military presence could only have benefited the Western alliance, including if the idiots only had the wit to realize it, the US.

[@bottlebrushmedia]

again. Brilliant!

[@TheHistoryChap]

many thanks.

[@markbartolo6545]

Love the work you do. 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video, glad you enjoyed it.

[@nigelthomas7816]

Absolutely love your videos, the Suez Crisis unfortunately is a forgotten part of our British history. I think the USA regretted this decision of humiliating the UK and France, and this would come back to haunt the USA with both UK and France not committing fully with military intervention in the Vietnam war. President LBJ even asked for a battalion of British soldiers, but Wilson stood firm. I think both France and the UK never fully trusted the USA after this and both countries decided to act either alone or with other allies/ commonwealth countries in conflicts in Malaya and Algeria etc.

[@stephen4121]

Nah, the US didn't lose because of a lack of British or France participation. More is the damage done to the British and French reputation for lying through their teeth. Only really topped by the whole WMD lies and the 20 years of civilians massacred in Iraq as a result.

[@just_one_opinion]

right back at you chimp chimp cheerious

[@liverpoolscottish6430]

I think you are missing a salient point, the US entered Vietnam after the French involvement- backed by the US, ended in a debacle at Dien Bien Phu. The French basically blackmailed the US into backing them financially and with military aid. Initially the US refused to assist what it saw as a colonial war. The French turned around and threatened to 'come under Soviet influence,' unless the US supported the French effort. That's why the US ultimately became involved in Vietnam. Also, Malaya had nothing to do with the US, it was purely a British concern and we would never have asked for their assistance- we didn't need it. Unlike the US, Britain knew how to fight a low intensity counter-insurgency war. Small units, SF patrols, and hearts and mind campaigns to generate goodwill and support from the civpop. The US did get Suez wrong, and Eisenhower admitted as much in his memoirs about his term as President. He realised that the British retaliated against the US by withdrawing all of it's military forces east of Suez. The full burden of 'policing' the region then fell entire on the US. The US didn't have the extensive diplomatic links in the region that the British had cultivated over the decades. In addition, Wilson flatly refused US requests to assist them in Vietnam- had the US not dumped all over the UK in 1956, the likelihood is, we would have sent forces to Vietnam. It was Henry Kissenger who once stated, "One battalion of Black Watch would have made all the difference," with reference to Vietnam. In reality, it would have made no difference, that war was unwinnable. A small number of British SAS soldiers went to Vietnam- attached to the Australian SAS. They were tasked with assessing the conflict to establish if it was winnable. The Regt assessment was an emphatic NO. Wilson took heed of their advice fortunately.

[@alecblunden8615]

The British and British Indian Army had emasculated the Viet Minh in 1945 (Operation Masterdom). Why would they want to support the incompetence of the Americans? They had done their best to undermine Masterdom and had adopted a policy of breaking the Empire which they probably rightly regarded as the only viable threat to their desired hegemony.The US has never been a reliable or principled ally and we can lay most of the disasters of the world on either their malice or incompetence.

[@paul123ggggggggg]

typical arrogant self important brit view. it was at this moment when you realized, or had to be forced to realize, you are no longer a global power. regional at best. a battalion...lol! dude, thats about 1000 to 1500 troops.

[@mch12311969]

Thank you for this video, while I knew about the Suez Crisis in broad terms, this filled in the details nicely

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching.

[@546268]

Just as a minor point. UK military units are not designated as 42nd etc, they are referred to as separate numbers, so four two commando for example. This is from the way they are said in radio comms etc. the exception is units where the number is a multiple of 10. For example xxx corps is 30 corps.

[@denisrobertmay875]

Not strictly correct. Divisional numbers are actually written; 15th Scottish, 43rd Wessex, 50th Northumbrian, 51st Highland etc... Similarly with Brigade and Battalion/Regiment numbers; 130th Bgde, 17/21st... It only really applies to Commando.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for feedback.

[@mickofmorden]

Knew about the Suez Crisis but not the full story. Thank you Chris for telling this important story of the Middle East.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your comment.

[@AlRedsoxFan]

Awesome job

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@NonSektur]

What a mess. This is one example of why we should NEVER trust our "dear leaders". Adapting from what Kissinger said about the USA : "Our dear leaders have no friends or enemies. Only interests..."

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on our leaders.

[@Michael-ws7rc]

Well done as usual.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks

[@daviddenham1511]

My dad was a sergeant in the Gordon highlanders there….and he was from Leeds, 18 years old…..

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing about your dad.

[@adventussaxonum448]

My aunt's 1st husband was one of the 8 British troops killed after the ceasefire, in an apparent "accident" 42 Commando.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing.

[@martinbuinicki1056]

As a citizen of the USA, I missed any discussion of the U.S. Navy being sent to Suez. My father went, and told of face-offs between his destroyer and Egyptian gun emplacements along the canal.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to comment

[@billfarley9167]

It was Prime Minister Lester Pearson of Canada who broke the UN negotiating stalement by suggesting a Canadian peacekeeping role to bring peace to the region. He won the Nobel Peace prize for that bit of work. I was a member of the Canadian Navy at the time and we delivered the advance party of Canadian army engineers to Port Said to set up a peace keeping headquarter, communications and living quarters for the main force. This involved our aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent to ferry troops and equipment to the region. There was still the odd explosion and small arms fire going on and naval personnel were not allowed ashore. As the Egyptians had an elite frogman team we were protected by French frogmen in the event the Egyptians attempted to blow out our bottom. We stayed long enough to unload and maintain logistical support before getting the hell out of there. Am now 90 years old. Lots of memories.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to share your memories with us.

[@ArbutusWVI]

Back about 1988, I once had a conversation at my workplace with a Canadian Army veteran who was a member of the UN peacekeeping force. Bill was the radio operator for his group. He claimed that one night they caught Israelis trying to cross the canal and a firefight broke out. The Canadians were armed with rifles, while the Israelis carried submachine guns. The Canadians kept them at distance, killing a number of them, and then forcing them back across the water. He said the incident was never reported in any news media.

[@richardgregson5789]

Fantastic video. Always wanted to understand the reasons for the crisis.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@grahamfisher5436]

brilliant video. I was in the ACF 17/21 lancers Gsqd ☠ I was in the Bren gun group, incredible weapon.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks

[@Dr.Cassandra]

Thank you for a great video! I always look forward to your videos!😊

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your support

[@andrewgillis3073]

1956. Three years before I was born. Thank you for making me feel not so old. 😁

[@TheHistoryChap]

Ha ha.

[@jonmeek3879]

Very well done , Ike should have backed Britain!

[@TheHistoryChap]

he think he later regretted his decision.