Anwar Sadat Biography and Timeline

Free Officers Committee

Joins the Nasser led Free Officers Committee

Coup

Assists the free officers committee to overthrow the British backed King Farouk

Vice President

Serves briefly as Vice President of Egypt during Nasser's presidency.

Role range: 1964-1964

Vice President

Is appointed Vice President for a second time.

Role range: 1969-1970

Acting Presidency

Assumes presidential responsibilities after Gamal Abdel Nasser's death.

Role range: 1970-1970

President of Egypt

Becomes President of Egypt after Nasser's death and confirmation by referendum.

Role range: 1970-1981

High Dam Economic Inheritance

Sadat inherits an economy transformed by Nile regulation, hydroelectric power and public investment.

Role range: 1970-1981

Preparation for High Dam Inauguration

Sadat assumes the presidency after construction is completed and prepares the formal inauguration.

Role range: 1970-1981

Transition to Operational Administration

Sadat's administration prepares permanent operation of the completed dam and power station.

Role range: 1970-1981

High Dam Dedication

Sadat cuts the ceremonial ribbon during the official dedication of the High Dam.

Role range: 1970-1981

Inauguration of Aswan High Dam

Sadat formally inaugurates the High Dam with Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny.

Role range: 1970-1981

High Dam Opened with Soviet Delegation

Anwar Sadat formally inaugurated the High Dam alongside Soviet president Nikolai Podgorny.

Withdrawal Negotiations

Offers an interim peace arrangement if Israel withdraws from the eastern bank of the Suez Canal.

Role range: 1970-1981

Ceasefire

Faces expiration of the Suez ceasefire while diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.

Role range: 1970-1981

Corrective Revolution

Removes leading rivals from government and consolidates his control of the presidency.

Role range: 1970-1981

Soviet Relations

Signs the Egyptian-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

Role range: 1970-1981

Treaty of Friendship

Signs a fifteen-year Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation with the Soviet Union.

Role range: 1970-1981

Federation of Arab Republics

Wins referendum approval for Egypt to join the Federation of Arab Republics with Libya and Syria.

Role range: 1970-1981

Arab Republic of Egypt

Adopts the official name Arab Republic of Egypt under the new constitution.

Role range: 1970-1981

Constitution of Egypt

Promulgates a new constitution and changes the country's official name to the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Role range: 1970-1981

Constitutional Referendum

Promulgates the permanent constitution after referendum approval.

Role range: 1970-1981

Orders most Soviet military advisers to leave Egypt

Orders most Soviet military advisers to leave Egypt after disputes over weapons and strategy.

Role range: 1970-1981

Soviet Advisers

Removes most Soviet advisers while retaining diplomatic relations with Moscow.

Role range: 1970-1981

Expulsion of Soviet Advisers

Orders most Soviet military advisers to leave Egypt.

Role range: 1970-1981

War Planning

Decides that Egypt must prepare for war if diplomacy cannot recover territory lost in 1967.

Role range: 1973-1973

National Hydroelectric Supply

Sadat's government integrates High Dam generation into Egypt's expanding national electricity system.

Role range: 1970-1981

Lake Nasser Fisheries

The government develops commercial fishing in the reservoir created by the High Dam.

Role range: 1970-1981

Agilkia Island Preparation Begins

Workers began enlarging and levelling Agilkia island to create a suitable safe site for reconstructed monuments removed from Philae.

Philae Monument Safeguarding Works Begin

The preservation project for the Philae temples entered its active engineering phase with site preparation and technical rescue measures.

Soviet advisers and dependants begin leaving Egypt, a move later read by

Soviet advisers and dependants begin leaving Egypt, a move later read by foreign observers as a warning sign.

Role range: 1973-1973

Egyptian-Syrian Alliance

Coordinates with Syrian President Hafez al-Assad for a joint attack to recover occupied territory.

Role range: 1970-1981

Launches coordinated Egyptian and Syrian military operations against Israeli forces

Launches coordinated Egyptian and Syrian military operations against Israeli forces.

Role range: 1970-1981

October War

Orders Egyptian forces to cross the Suez Canal and attack Israeli positions in Sinai.

Role range: 1973-1973 – 1970-1981

Declaration of War

Begins the October war, 6-24 October

Role range: 1973-1981

Operation Badr

Authorizes the attack across the Suez Canal that opens the war.

Role range: 1973-1973 – 1970-1981

Ceasefire Negotiations

Receives Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin during ceasefire diplomacy.

Role range: 1973-1973 – 1970-1981

Peace Conference

Considers the US-Soviet ceasefire proposal later embodied in Resolution 338.

Role range: 1973-1973 – 1970-1981

Ceasefire

Accepts the United Nations ceasefire resolution after the Israeli canal crossing changes the battlefield.

Role range: 1973-1973 – 1970-1981

Ceasefire

Accepts a renewed ceasefire as fighting continues around the Egyptian Third Army.

Role range: 1973-1973

Third Army

Faces crisis as the Egyptian Third Army becomes surrounded east of Suez.

Role range: 1973-1973 – 1970-1981