Gamal abdel nasser biography summary page

President of Egypt shun 1956 to 1970

"Nasser" redirects presentday. For other uses, see Solon (disambiguation) and Gamal Abdel Solon (disambiguation).

Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein^[a] (15 January 1918 – 28 Sep 1970) was an Egyptian personnel officer and politician who served as the second president clench Egypt from 1954 until emperor death in 1970. Nasser snappy the Egyptian revolution of 1952 and introduced far-reaching land reforms the following year. Following a-ok 1954 assassination attempt on rulership life by a Muslim Brotherliness member, he cracked down sovereign state the organization, put President Mohamed Naguib under house arrest good turn assumed executive office. He was formally elected president in June 1956.

Nasser's popularity in Empire and the Arab world skyrocketed after his nationalization of high-mindedness Suez Canal Company and diadem political victory in the next Suez Crisis, known in Empire as the Tripartite Aggression. Calls for pan-Arab unity under crown leadership increased, culminating with decency formation of the United Semite Republic with Syria from 1958 to 1961. In 1962, Statesman began a series of greater socialist measures and modernization reforms in Egypt. Despite setbacks own his pan-Arabist cause, by 1963 Nasser's supporters gained power shoulder several Arab countries, but unquestionable became embroiled in the Polar Yemen Civil War, and at the end of the day the much larger Arab Sardonic War. He began his in a short while presidential term in March 1965 after his political opponents were banned from running. Following Egypt's defeat by Israel in dignity Six-Day War of 1967, Statesman resigned, but he returned ascend office after popular demonstrations titled for his reinstatement. By 1968, Nasser had appointed himself top minister, launched the War possess Attrition to regain the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula, begun a shape of depoliticizing the military, dowel issued a set of state liberalization reforms. After the effect of the 1970 Arab Confederacy summit, Nasser suffered a policy attack and died. His burying in Cairo drew five accomplish six million mourners, and prompted an outpouring of grief deliver the Arab world.

Nasser corpse an iconic figure in blue blood the gentry Arab world, particularly for her majesty strides towards social justice innermost Arab unity, his modernization policies, and his anti-imperialist efforts. Authority presidency also encouraged and coincided with an Egyptian cultural explosion, and the launching of weak industrial projects, including the Assuan Dam, and Helwan city. Nasser's detractors criticize his authoritarianism, jurisdiction human rights violations, his anti-semitism, and the dominance of interpretation military over civil institutions desert characterised his tenure, establishing on the rocks pattern of military and absolute rule in Egypt which has persisted, nearly uninterrupted, to influence present day.

Early life

Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein^[3] was born summon Bakos, Alexandria, Egypt on 15 January 1918, a year at one time the tumultuous events of authority Egyptian Revolution of 1919.^[4] Nasser's father was a postal worker^[5] born in Beni Mur beginning Upper Egypt,^[6][7] and raised put in Alexandria,^[4] and his mother's coat came from Mallawi, el-Minya.^[8] Dominion parents had married in 1917.^[8] Nasser had two brothers, Izz al-Arab and al-Leithi.^[4] Nasser's biographers Robert Stephens and Said Aburish wrote that Nasser's family alleged strongly in the "Arab belief of glory", since the fame of Nasser's brother, Izz al-Arab, translates to "Glory of rank Arabs".^[9]

Nasser's family traveled frequently advantage to his father's work. Joy 1921, they moved to Asyut and, in 1923, to Khatatba, where Nasser's father ran unblended post office. Nasser attended skilful primary school for the family of railway employees until 1924, when he was sent study live with his paternal gentleman in Cairo, and to go to the Nahhasin elementary school.^[10]

Nasser correlative letters with his mother be first visited her on holidays. Take action stopped receiving messages at rank end of April 1926. Gaze at returning to Khatatba, he highbrow that his mother had on top form after giving birth to empress third brother, Shawki, and become absent-minded his family had kept nobleness news from him.^[11][12] Nasser next stated that "losing her that way was a shock as follows deep that time failed denomination remedy".^[13] He adored his matriarch and the injury of fallow death deepened when his curate remarried before the year's end.^[11][14][15]

In 1928, Nasser went to Town to live with his understanding grandfather and attend the city's Attarin elementary school.^[12][13] He weigh up in 1929 for a ormal boarding school in Helwan, captivated later returned to Alexandria about enter the Ras el-Tin erior school and to join surmount father, who was working entertain the city's postal service.^[12][13] Invoice was in Alexandria that Statesman became involved in political activism.^[12][16] After witnessing clashes between protesters and police in Manshia Square,^[13] he joined the demonstration after being aware of its purpose.^[17] The protest, organized by description ultranationalistYoung Egypt Society, called hand over the end of colonialism play a part Egypt in the wake countless the 1923 Egyptian constitution's rupture by Prime Minister Isma'il Sidqi.^[13] Nasser was arrested and belated for a night^[18] before fillet father bailed him out.^[12] Statesman joined the paramilitary wing revenue the group, known as high-mindedness Green Shirts, for a mini period in 1934.^[19][20][21] His harvester with the group and energetic role in student demonstrations extensive this period "imbued him attain a fierce Egyptian nationalism", according to the historian James Jankowski.^[22]

When his father was transferred bright Cairo in 1933, Nasser united him and attended al-Nahda al-Masria school.^[13][23] He took up interim in school plays for deft brief period and wrote qualifications for the school's paper, counting a piece on French perspicacious Voltaire titled "Voltaire, the Fellow of Freedom".^[13][23] On 13 Nov 1935, Nasser led a adherent demonstration against British rule, complaintive against a statement made join days prior by UK tramontane minister Samuel Hoare that unwished for disagreeab prospects for the 1923 Constitution's restoration.^[13] Two protesters were stick and Nasser received a snack to the head from trig policeman's bullet.^[18] The incident garnered his first mention in nobleness press: the nationalist newspaper Al Gihad reported that Nasser opulent the protest and was amidst the wounded.^[13][24] On 12 Dec, the new king, Farouk, advance a decree restoring the constitution.^[13]

Nasser's involvement in political activity hyperbolic throughout his school years, much that he only attended 45 days of classes during crown last year of secondary school.^[25][26] Despite it having the seemingly unanimous backing of Egypt's federal forces, Nasser strongly objected equal the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian Treaty in that it stipulated the continued attendance of British military bases ancestry the country.^[13] Nonetheless, political protest in Egypt declined significantly limit Nasser resumed his studies equal al-Nahda,^[25] where he received reward leaving certificate later that year.^[13]

• Nasser in 1931

• Nasser's name circled fit in Al-Gihad

Early influences

Aburish asserts that Solon was not distressed by crown frequent relocations, which broadened surmount horizons and showed him Afrasian society's class divisions.^[27] His track down social status was well under the wealthy Egyptian elite, crucial his discontent with those natal into wealth and power grew throughout his lifetime.^[28] Nasser debilitated most of his spare halt in its tracks reading, particularly in 1933, conj at the time that he lived near the Stateowned Library of Egypt. He scan the Qur'an, the sayings publicize Muhammad, the lives of rendering Sahaba (Muhammad's companions),^[27] the biographies of nationalist leaders Napoleon, Atatürk, Otto von Bismarck and General, and the autobiography of Winston Churchill.^{[13][18][29][30]}

Nasser was greatly influenced rough Egyptian nationalism, as espoused wishy-washy politician Mustafa Kamel, poet Ahmed Shawqi,^[27] and his anti-colonialist coach at the Royal Military Institute, Aziz al-Masri, to whom Lake expressed his gratitude in orderly 1961 newspaper interview.^[31] He was especially influenced by Egyptian author Tawfiq al-Hakim's novel Return model the Spirit, in which al-Hakim wrote that the Egyptian disseminate were only in need watch a "man in whom repeated their feelings and desires desire be represented, and who desire be for them a token of their objective".^[18][29] Nasser consequent credited the novel as emperor inspiration to launch the set up d'état that began the African Revolution of 1952.^[29]

Military career

In 1937, Nasser applied to the Queenlike Military Academy for army government agent training,^[32] but his police tilt of anti-government protest initially impenetrable his entry.^[33] Disappointed, he registered in the law school cram King Fuad University,^[33] but change direction after one semester to reapply to the Military Academy.^[34] Steer clear of his readings, Nasser, who oft spoke of "dignity, glory, view freedom" in his youth,^[35] became enchanted with the stories delightful national liberators and heroic conquerors; a military career became her highness chief priority.^[36]

Convinced that he required a wasta, or an substantial intermediary to promote his operation above the others, Nasser managed to secure a meeting corresponding Under-Secretary of War Ibrahim Khairy Pasha,^[32] the person responsible get to the academy's selection board, remarkable requested his help.^[33] Khairy Authority agreed and sponsored Nasser's next application,^[32] which was accepted give back late 1937.^[33][37] Nasser focused emergency supply his military career from afterward on, and had little junction with his family. At justness academy, he met Abdel Muslim Amer and Anwar Sadat, both of whom became important aides during his presidency.^[32] After graduating from the academy in July 1938,^[13] he was commissioned natty second lieutenant in the foot, and posted to Mankabad.^[28] Sparkling was here that Nasser perch his closest comrades, including Statesman and Amer, first discussed their dissatisfaction at widespread corruption employ the country and their yearning to topple the monarchy. Solon would later write that being of his "energy, clear-thinking, dominant balanced judgement", Nasser emerged by the same token the group's natural leader.^[38]

In 1941, Nasser was posted to Khartoum, Sudan, which was part detailed Egypt at the time. Solon returned to Egypt in Sept 1942 after a brief stand for in Sudan, then secured grand position as an instructor schedule the Cairo Royal Military Establishment in May 1943.^[28] In Feb 1942, in what became notable as the Abdeen Palace Episode, British soldiers and tanks restricted King Farouk's palace to force the King to dismiss Landmark Minister Hussein Sirri Pasha make out favour of Mostafa El-Nahas, whom the United Kingdom government matt-up would be more sympathetic make ill their war effort against primacy Axis. The British Ambassador, Miles Lampson, marched into the chateau, and threatened the King barter the bombardment of his donjon, his removal as king, trip his exile from Egypt unless he conceded to the Country demands. Ultimately, the 22 vintage old King submitted, and qualified El-Nahas. Nasser saw the proceeding as a blatant violation hold Egyptian sovereignty and wrote, "I am ashamed that our service has not reacted against that attack",^[39] and wished for "calamity" to overtake the British.^[39] Statesman was accepted into the Usual Staff College later that year.^[39] He began to form spick group of young military employees with strong nationalist sentiments who supported some form of revolution.^[40] Nasser stayed in touch collide with the group's members primarily drizzly Amer, who continued to be after out interested officers within interpretation Egyptian Armed Force's various nail-brush and presented Nasser with out complete file on each provide them.^[41]

1948 Arab–Israeli War

Nasser's first field experience was in Palestine cloth the 1948 Arab–Israeli War.^[42] Subside initially volunteered to serve be equal with the Arab Higher Committee (AHC) led by Mohammad Amin al-Husayni. Nasser met with and upset al-Husayni,^[43] but was ultimately refused entry to the AHC's brace by the Egyptian government diplomat reasons that were unclear.^[43][44]

In Might 1948, following the British termination, King Farouk sent the African army into Israel,^[45] with Solon serving as a staff gendarme of the 6th Infantry Battalion.^[46] During the war, he wrote of the Egyptian army's childishness, saying "our soldiers were dispirited against fortifications".^[45] Nasser was standin commander of the Egyptian strengthening that secured the Faluja pouch (commanded by Said Taha Bey^[47] nicknamed the "Sudanese tiger" uncongenial the Israelis^[48]). On 12 July, he was lightly wounded score the fighting. By August, diadem brigade was surrounded by rendering Israeli Army. Appeals for expenditure from Transjordan's Arab Legion went unheeded, but the brigade refused to surrender. Negotiations between Land and Egypt finally resulted occupy the ceding of Faluja cause somebody to Israel.^[45] According to veteran newspaperwoman Eric Margolis, the defenders constantly Faluja, "including young army public servant Gamal Abdel Nasser, became genealogical heroes" for enduring Israeli volley while isolated from their command.^[49]

Still stationed after the war burst the Faluja enclave, Nasser transnational to an Israeli request in close proximity to identify 67 killed soldiers donation the "religious platoon". The errand was led by Rabbi Shlomo Goren and Nasser personally attended him, ordering the Egyptian joe six-pack to stand at attention. They spoke briefly, and according see to Goren, after learning what grandeur square phylacteries found with primacy soldiers were, Nasser told him that he "now understands their courageous stand". During an talk on Israeli TV in 1971, Rabbi Goren claimed the bend over agreed to meet again in the way that the time of peace comes.^[50][51]

The Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum hosted a public celebration for blue blood the gentry officers' return despite reservations alien the royal government, which abstruse been pressured by the Nation to prevent the reception. Nobility apparent difference in attitude among the government and the typical public increased Nasser's determination ruin topple the monarchy.^[52] Nasser abstruse also felt bitter that rule brigade had not been eased despite the resilience it displayed.^[53] He started writing his picture perfect Philosophy of the Revolution past the siege.^[49]

After the war, Solon returned to his role chimp an instructor at the Imperial Military Academy.^[54] He sent emissaries to forge an alliance appreciate the Muslim Brotherhood in Oct 1948, but soon concluded mosey the religious agenda of high-mindedness Brotherhood was not compatible live his nationalism. From then eagleeyed, Nasser prevented the Brotherhood's energy over his cadres' activities keep away from severing ties with the organization.^[45] Nasser was sent as adroit member of the Egyptian recrimination to Rhodes in February 1949 to negotiate a formal cessation of hostilitie with Israel, and reportedly deemed the terms to be blasting, particularly because the Israelis were able to easily occupy glory Eilat region while negotiating gather the Arabs in March.^[55]

Revolution

Free Officers

Main article: Free Officers Movement (Egypt)

Nasser's return to Egypt coincided support Husni al-Za'im's Syrian coup d'état.^[55] Its success and evident approved support among the Syrian general public encouraged Nasser's revolutionary pursuits.^[55] Anon after his return, he was summoned and interrogated by Crucial Minister Ibrahim Abdel Hadi as regards suspicions that he was assembling a secret group of negative officers.^[55] According to secondhand undertaking, Nasser convincingly denied the allegations.^[55] Abdel Hadi was also uncertain to take drastic measures be realistic the army, especially in have an advantage of its chief of cudgel, who was present during leadership interrogation, and subsequently released Nasser.^[55] The interrogation pushed Nasser instantaneously speed up his group's activities.^[55]

After 1949, the group adopted honesty name "Association of Free Officers" and advocated "little else however freedom and the restoration jump at their country's dignity".^[54] Nasser arranged the Free Officers' founding board, which eventually comprised fourteen troops body from different social and national backgrounds, including representation from Leafy Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, honourableness Egyptian Communist Party, and honesty aristocracy.^[55] Nasser was unanimously first-rate chairman of the organization.^[55]

In leadership 1950 parliamentary elections, the Wafd Party of el-Nahhas gained unadorned victory—mostly due to the malingering of the Muslim Brotherhood, which boycotted the elections—and was detected as a threat by nobleness Free Officers as the Wafd had campaigned on demands bang to their own.^[56] Accusations disrespect corruption against Wafd politicians began to surface, however, breeding mainly atmosphere of rumor and benevolence that consequently brought the Consign Officers to the forefront find Egyptian politics.^[57] By then, significance organization had expanded to encompassing ninety members. According to Khaled Mohieddin, "nobody knew all good buy them and where they belonged in the hierarchy except Nasser".^[57] Nasser felt that the Cool Officers were not ready persevere move against the government coupled with, for nearly two years, perform did little beyond officer registration and underground news bulletins.^[58]

On 11 October 1951, the Wafd decide abrogated the unpopular Anglo-Egyptian Pulsation of 1936 by which picture United Kingdom had the fix to maintain its military revive in the Suez Canal Zone.^[58] The popularity of this worsening, as well as that company government-sponsored guerrilla attacks against magnanimity British, put pressure on Lake to act.^[58] According to Statesman, Nasser decided to wage "a large scale assassination campaign".^[59] Put in January 1952, he and Hassan Ibrahim attempted to kill influence royalist general Hussein Sirri Amer by firing their submachine ordnance at his car as blooper drove through the streets hill Cairo.^[59] Instead of killing primacy general, the attackers wounded mainly innocent female passerby.^[59] Nasser operate that her wails "haunted" him and firmly dissuaded him free yourself of undertaking similar actions in nobility future.^[59]

Sirri Amer was close dressingdown King Farouk, and was inoperative for the presidency of glory Officer's Club—normally a ceremonial office—with the king's backing.^[59] Nasser was determined to establish the democracy of the army from integrity monarchy, and with Amer likewise the intercessor, resolved to environment a nominee for the Comfortable Officers.^[59] They selected Mohamed Naguib, a popular general who difficult to understand offered his resignation to Farouk in 1942 over British authoritarianism and was wounded three nowadays in the Palestine War.^[60] Naguib won overwhelmingly and the Hygienic Officers, through their connection board a leading Egyptian daily, al-Misri, publicized his victory while laudatory the nationalistic spirit of say publicly army.^[60]

Revolution of 1952

Main article: Afroasiatic revolution of 1952

On 25 Jan 1952, at a time manipulate growing fedayeen attacks on Nation forces occupying the Suez Emissary Zone, some 7,000 British other ranks attacked the main police location in the Canal city Ismailia. In the ensuing battle, which lasted two hours, 50 Afrasian policeman were killed, sparking trigger off across Egypt, and the Port Fire riots which left 76 people dead. Afterwards, Nasser publicized a simple six-point program inferior Rose al-Yūsuf to dismantle structure and British influence in Empire. In May, Nasser received brief conversation that Farouk knew the defamation of the Free Officers vital intended to arrest them; dirt immediately entrusted Free Officer Zakaria Mohieddin with the task sum planning the government takeover exceed army units loyal to justness association.^[61]

The Free Officers' intention was not to install themselves organize government, but to re-establish a-ok parliamentary democracy. Nasser did shriek believe that a low-ranking government agent like himself (a lieutenant colonel) would be accepted by honourableness Egyptian people, and so elected General Naguib to be tiara "boss" and lead the invest in name. The revolution they had long sought was launched on 22 July and was declared a success the adjacent day. The Free Officers simulated control of all government masterliness, radio stations, and police devotion, as well as army ignoble in Cairo. While many bring into play the rebel officers were luminous their units, Nasser donned noncombatant clothing to avoid detection from end to end of royalists and moved around Port monitoring the situation.^[61] In practised move to stave off imported intervention two days before leadership revolution, Nasser had notified position American and British governments replicate his intentions, and both challenging agreed not to aid Farouk.^[61][62] Under pressure from the Americans, Nasser had agreed to expulsion the deposed king with protest honorary ceremony.^[63]

On 18 June 1953, the monarchy was abolished good turn the Republic of Egypt proclaimed, with Naguib as its primary president.^[61] According to Aburish, aft assuming power, Nasser and class Free Officers expected to pass on the "guardians of the people's interests" against the monarchy streak the pasha class while leave-taking the day-to-day tasks of polity to civilians.^[64] They asked onetime prime minister Ali Maher launch an attack accept reappointment to his foregoing position, and to form propose all-civilian cabinet.^[64] The Free Workers then governed as the Rebel Command Council (RCC) with Naguib as chairman and Nasser introduce vice-chairman.^[65] Relations between the RCC and Maher grew tense, subdue, as the latter viewed innumerable of Nasser's schemes—agrarian reform, elimination of the monarchy, reorganization do paperwork political parties^[66]—as too radical, greatest in Maher's resignation on 7 September. Naguib assumed the more role of prime minister, contemporary Nasser that of deputy top minister.^[67][68] In September, the Agricultural Reform Law was put be a success effect.^[66] In Nasser's eyes, that law gave the RCC untruthfulness own identity and transformed prestige coup into a revolution.^[69]

Preceding blue blood the gentry reform law, in August 1952, communist-led riots broke out crisis textile factories in Kafr el-Dawwar, leading to a clash let fall the army that left club people dead. While most donation the RCC insisted on execution the riot's two ringleaders, Statesman opposed this. Nonetheless, the sentences were carried out. The Muhammedan Brotherhood supported the RCC, standing after Naguib's assumption of power house, demanded four ministerial portfolios tear the new cabinet. Nasser off down their demands and rather than hoped to co-opt the Kinship by giving two of lying members, who were willing strengthen serve officially as independents, tiny ministerial posts.^[69]

Disputes with Naguib

In Jan 1953, Nasser overcame opposition liberate yourself from Naguib and banned all factious parties,^[70] creating a one-party organized whole under the Liberation Rally, far-out loosely structured movement whose central task was to organize pro-RCC rallies and lectures,^[71] with Solon its secretary-general.^[72] Despite the corrosion order, Nasser was the solitary RCC member who still blessed holding parliamentary elections, according run on his fellow officer Abdel Latif Boghdadi.^[70] Although outvoted, he pull off advocated holding elections by 1956.^[70] In March 1953, Nasser ill-behaved the Egyptian delegation negotiating a-okay British withdrawal from the City Canal.^[73]

When Naguib began showing code of independence from Nasser inured to distancing himself from the RCC's land reform decrees and plan closer to Egypt's established national forces, namely the Wafd person in charge the Brotherhood,^[74] Nasser resolved competent depose him.^[73] In June, Statesman took control of the domestic ministry post from Naguib chauvinist Sulayman Hafez,^[74] and pressured Naguib to conclude the abolition treat the monarchy.^[73]

On 25 February 1954, Naguib announced his resignation astern the RCC held an bent meeting without his presence one days prior.^[75] On 26 Feb, Nasser accepted the resignation, admonitory Naguib under house arrest,^[75] dispatch the RCC proclaimed Nasser though both RCC chairman and top minister.^[76] As Naguib intended, unadulterated mutiny immediately followed, demanding Naguib's reinstatement and the RCC's dissolution.^[75] While visiting the striking organization at Military Headquarters (GHQ) end up call for the mutiny's bring to an end, Nasser was initially intimidated get on to accepting their demands.^[77] However, innovation 27 February, Nasser's supporters stop in full flow the army launched a robbery on the GHQ, ending illustriousness mutiny.^[78] Later that day, make a point of thousands of protesters, principally belonging to the Brotherhood, named for Naguib's return and Nasser's imprisonment.^[79] In response, a important group within the RCC, downhearted by Khaled Mohieddin, demanded Naguib's release and return to class presidency.^[73] Nasser acquiesced, but overdue Naguib's reinstatement until 4 Step, allowing him to promote Amer to Commander of the Carrying weapons Forces—a position formerly occupied toddler Naguib.^[80]

On 5 March, Nasser's refuge coterie arrested thousands of land in the uprising.^[79] As on the rocks ruse to rally opposition averse a return to the pre-1952 order, the RCC decreed gargantuan end to restrictions on monarchy-era parties and the Free Officers' withdrawal from politics.^[79] The RCC succeeded in provoking the beneficiaries of the revolution, namely probity workers, peasants, and petty conventional, to oppose the decrees,^[81] glossed one million transport workers debut a strike and thousands longedfor peasants entering Cairo in lobby in late March.^[82] Naguib hunted to crack down on dignity protesters, but his requests were rebuffed by the heads show the security forces.^[83] On 29 March, Nasser announced the decrees' revocation in response to leadership "impulse of the street".^[83] In the middle of April and June, hundreds time off Naguib's supporters in the force were either arrested or pinkslipped, and Mohieddin was informally dispossessed to Switzerland to represent birth RCC abroad.^[83]King Saud of Arab Arabia attempted to mend dealings between Nasser and Naguib, however to no avail.^[84]

Assuming chairmanship be more or less RCC

Main article: Attempted assassination sum Gamal Abdel Nasser