Empire 286. Suez Crisis: Hungary Revolts & Britain Bombs Egypt (Part 3)
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Sep 1, 2025 
Join historian and screenwriter Alex Von Tunzelmann as she dives into the tumultuous Suez Crisis of 1956, revealing the chaotic secret alliances between Britain, France, and Israel against Egypt. Discover the political miscalculations that led to military blunders and international embarrassment. Tunzelmann also sheds light on the simultaneous Hungarian uprising against Soviet rule, reflecting on the desire for liberal reforms amidst oppression. The conversation draws compelling parallels between historical resilience and today's global challenges.
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Two Simultaneous Crises Created Global Panic
- Britain and France secretly colluded with Israel to stage an invasion framed as protecting the Suez Canal.
- Simultaneously Hungary erupted against Soviet control, creating a terrifying global coincidence that looked linked.
Old Imperial Mindsets Met Cold War Communication Gaps
- The Suez operation revealed a lingering colonial mindset in Britain and France despite postwar rhetoric.
- Lack of a direct US–Soviet hotline intensified the risk of miscalculation toward world war.
Eden Tried To Burn The Secret Protocol
- Anthony Eden insisted all copies of the secret Sevres protocol be found and burned, but France and Israel refused.
- Eden later lied in his memoirs claiming no collusion, revealing his guilt and secrecy.
