"The October Arab-Israeli War of 1973: What happened?" Topic

"…The conditions that shaped the 1973 War were established six years prior.

In 1967, Israel launched attacks on Egypt, Jordan and Syria, unleashing the June War, that resulted in the Israeli occupation of what remained of historic Palestine, as well as the Egyptian Sinai desert, and the Golan Heights from Syria.

In a matter of six days, the Israeli army delivered a huge setback to the forces of three Arab countries and occupied territory that was three and a half times its size…"

Main page
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Amicalement
Armand

"In 1967, Israel launched attacks on Egypt, Jordan and Syria, unleashing the June War"

That's not how I remember it. As I recall, Egypt, Jordan, and Syria massed forces on Israel's borders to start the 6-Day War.

…In the months prior to June 1967, tensions became dangerously heightened. Israel reiterated its post-1956 position that the closure of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping would be a cause for war (a casus belli). In May Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser announced that the straits would be closed to Israeli vessels and then mobilised its Egyptian forces along its border with Israel, in addition to kicking out UNEF. On 5 June, Israel launched a series of preemptive airstrikes against Egyptian airfields, asserting imminent attack from the Egyptians. The question of which side caused the war is one of a number of controversies relating to the conflict…

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I only made it through a few paragraphs. Pure propaganda.

In both 1967 and 1973, the Arabs lost, badly.

I seem to recall them losing in 1948, and 1956 too, IIRC.

They only seem to win, when they fight among themselves.

Agree with all 3 of the above posts …

Oberlindes-
Wars don't start until one side, or the other, shoots.
In 1967, the Israelis chose to shoot first, thus starting the war.

But few have blamed them for it.

Thresher-
For 1973, it depends on how one defines "win". Egypt's objectives were limited. They wanted to occupy but a couple mile deep strip of the Sinai, dig in with their large numbers of anti tank weapons, and let the Israelis bleed themselves counterattacking. As long as they remained there, under the anti aircraft umbrella, they were fine.
But Syria got in bad trouble, and Egypt was required to
attack outside the umbrella. They got clobbered.

Sadat wanted to seize the strip, bloody the Israelis, and set up a situation to involve the superpowers in negotiations to get the Sinai back. This objective was met.

And then lost ending up with the Israelis' on the West bank of the Suez.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

Jdg-

If a nation sets out to do A, and accomplishes A, then their military defeat is not very important.

My interpretation of Sadat's goals and his success at attaining them is a part of many serious histories of the '73 war, including the one by Abraham Rabinovich and the Osprey title.

Apparently what he said were his goals…. were NOT really his goals.

If my goal is to cross the street and I succeed, but then go on to cross another street further on and get run over, would my obituary say "He successfully crossed the street."

Sorry, I don't think so.

I am interested in gaming the 73 war in 1/72 scale. I have some plastic troops that will pass for Israelis and Syrians. Does anyone make metal troops for this war?