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Free Officers' Movement
Committee of the Free Officers' Movement formed to overthrow corrupt monarchy. -
Nasser Joins Free Officers
Joins the Free Officers-----a group composed of young junior army officers committed to unseating the Egyptian monarchy and its British advisors. -
Period: to
Nasser's Authoritarian State
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Nasser Promoted
Promoted from major to colonel in military status. -
Protests Against British Occupancy
At least 20 people are killed in anti-British riots in Cairo. -
Coup
Coup by the Free Officers' Movement. King Farouk abdicates in favour of his infant son Ahmed Fuad II. Coup removes King Farouk from power. -
Egypt Becomes a Republic
Coup leader Muhammad Naguib becomes president as Egypt is declared a republic. -
Nasser's Rise
Fellow coup leader Gamal Abdel Nasser becomes prime minister -
Evacuation Treaty
Evacuation Treaty signed. British forces, who began a gradual withdrawal under 1936 treaty finally leave Egypt. -
Nasser Bans Muslim Brotherhood
Nasser has the Muslim Brotherood banned, doing this without consulting President Naguib. -
Ties to Communism
Prime Minister Nasser reorients Egypt away from West towards neutrality, buys arms from Communist Czechoslovakia to re-equip army after Western powers refuse to do so on terms acceptable to Egypt. -
Nasser Rises to Power
Nasser becomes president, ruling unchallenged until his death in 1970. -
Nasser and the Suez Canal
President Nasser nationalises the Suez Canal to fund the Aswan High Dam, after Britain and US withdraw financing. -
Increased Legitimacy
Invasion of Egypt by Britain, France and Israel over nationalisation of Suez Canal fails through US opposition, greatly enhancing President Nasser's standing at home and abroad. -
Nasser's Campaign
President Nasser steps up campaign to promote pan-Arab unity, most visible signs of which were brief United Arab Republic unitary state including Syria (1958-61). He also supports friendly elements in Lebanese and North Yemen conflicts to little avail. -
Nasser Leads UAR
Egypt and Syria form the United Arab Republic, with Nasser as the head. This was at this time considered as the first step towards Arab unity. -
Nasser and Socialism
President Nasser adopts socialist policies, including nationalisation of industry and an ambitious welfare programme, combined with repression of Muslim Brotherhood and leftist opponents, in an unsuccessful attempt to boost the economy and the popularity of his government. -
UAR Breaks Up
The United Arab Republic breaks up, after a coup in Syria. Nasser kept the name although only Egypt was member of the united republic. -
Foreign Conflict
Egypt expels UN buffer forces from Sinai and closes the Straits of Tiran to Israeli ships, then sign defence pact with Jordan. Israel interprets this as preparation for war. -
Egypt's Struggles
Israeli pre-emptive attack defeats Egypt, Jordan and Syria, leaving it in control of Sinai up to the Suez Canal and Egyptian-occupied Gaza. Emergency Law largely suspends civil rights. -
War of Attrition Begins
Following the 1967 Six-Day War, no serious diplomatic efforts tried to resolve the issues at the heart of the Arab–Israeli conflict. President Nasser embarked on what was to be a bloody, lengthy and inconclusive war: the War of Attrition - a static exchange of artillery fire along the entire Bar Lev line on the Suez Canal, which escalated rapidly. -
Nasser Dies
Nasser dies, having never recovered his leading role among Arab states after the 1967 defeat, and is succeeded by Vice-President, Anwar al-Sadat. -
End of War of Attrition
Both sides intended the war of attrition to weaken the other as much as possible in hopes of gaining advantages in subsequent negotiations. After little success, Nasser agrees to end fighting with Israel.