Empire 287. Suez Crisis: Lies, Cyanide Pills, & Soviet Tanks (Part 4)
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Sep 3, 2025 
In this riveting discussion, historian Alex Von Tunzelmann, author of *Blood and Sand: Suez, Hungary, & The Crisis That Shook The World*, dives deep into the Suez Crisis. Learn about the dramatic moment when Nasser ordered cyanide pills for his generals. Discover the unexpected tactics Egyptians employed, including using beer bottles to effectively block the canal. The conversation also covers the intricate interplay of Cold War politics, the unrest in Hungary, and how American leaders navigated these tumultuous waters.
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Suez Distracted The West, Aiding Soviet Moves
- The Soviets used Suez as a diversion while crushing the Hungarian uprising and moved troops into Hungary expecting little external attention.
- Western preoccupation in the Middle East created an opening the USSR exploited to suppress dissent in Eastern Europe.
Dulles Uses The UN To Isolate Britain And France
- John Foster Dulles framed Suez as a test of the postwar rules-based order and warned of nuclear escalation.
- The UN voted 64–5 for a ceasefire, exposing a sharp West split and isolating Britain and France.
Beer Bottles And Junk Ships Block Suez
- Nasser blocked the Suez Canal by sinking junk ships filled with cement, scrap iron and empty beer bottles.
- The blockade deliberately shut European oil supplies and fulfilled the worst-case military analysts predicted.
