Abdel Hakim Amer

Abdel Hakim Amer was a prominent figure in the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 that overthrew the monarchy of King Farouk. He was a close friend and ally of Gamal Abdel Nasser, who became the president of Egypt in 1954. Amer held various positions of power and influence in the Egyptian government and military, such as chief of staff, commander-in-chief, minister of defense, and vice president. He was also the governor of Syria when Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic in 1958. Amer led the Egyptian forces in several wars and conflicts, such as the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the 1956 Suez Crisis, the North Yemen Civil War, and the 1967 Six-Day War. However, his military performance and decisions were often criticized and blamed for the losses and setbacks that Egypt suffered. After the humiliating defeat in the Six-Day War, Amer was accused of plotting a coup against Nasser and was arrested. He reportedly committed suicide by taking poison before he was to face a court-martial. He was posthumously awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union by the Soviet Union for his role in the Suez Crisis.