Secret Protocol Signed for France
Pineau signs the Sevres protocol on behalf of France.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1956 in France — Page 2
Explore 132 historical events and records for France in 1956.
Historical records for France in 1956
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 132 unique records.
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October
Temporary Canal Occupation Written Into Agreement
Guy Mollet's government supported language calling for Anglo-French control of key canal positions under the stated aim of protecting international passage.
Tripartite Secrecy Obligation Formalized
Christian Pineau signed terms requiring the arrangements to remain strictly secret while the three governments prepared their separate military actions.
French Diplomats Coordinate Joint Ultimatum Language
Christian Pineau's government worked with Britain to frame parallel demands that would provide a stated justification for intervention.
France Defends Intervention Before Council Debate
French policy treated the Anglo French operation as a means of securing the canal even as other Council members challenged the use of force.
France Joins Withdrawal Demand on Combatants
France delivered the ultimatum alongside Britain, calling on Egyptian and Israeli forces to remain away from the Suez Canal.
French Airborne Landing Plan Revised
Andre Beaufre's staff refined the airborne role assigned to French troops during the Anglo-French intervention centered on Port Said.
Paris Endorses Temporary Canal Occupation Claim
Guy Mollet's government presented the proposed occupation of canal positions as necessary to protect shipping amid the fighting.
Combined Naval Task Force Coordinated
Barjot coordinates French naval elements with British forces supporting Operation Musketeer.
France Orders Military Stage After Rejection
Guy Mollet's government moved from diplomatic warning to armed intervention following Egypt's refusal to comply with the ultimatum.
France Votes Against Emergency Referral
France voted against the decision to convene an emergency General Assembly session as international objections to the intervention intensified.
French Forces Integrated into Allied Command
Barjot coordinates French participation within the combined command structure for the assault on Egypt.
French Naval Forces Enter Assault Phase
Pierre Barjot coordinated French naval involvement as the allied operation moved from mobilization to active attacks on Egyptian military targets.
French Officials Defend Stated Peacekeeping Purpose
Christian Pineau's government argued that the intervention would protect the canal despite objections that it was coordinated with Israel.
Parachute Division Prepares Suez Deployment
Jacques Massu's airborne formations prepared for operations supporting the planned attack on the northern end of the Suez Canal.
Force A Ground Command Established
Beaufre commands Force A, the French ground contingent allocated to the Suez expedition.
Israeli Coordination Intensified
Mollet's government deepens secret military coordination with Israel as diplomatic settlement appears increasingly unlikely.
Operation Musketeer
Helps prepare French military participation in Operation Musketeer against Egypt.
November
Colonial Parachute Regiment Receives Landing Mission
Pierre Chateau-Jobert's Second Colonial Parachute Regiment prepared to seize positions south of Port Said during the forthcoming assault.
French Ground Assault Plan Finalised
Beaufre finalises French ground-force arrangements for the assault on Port Said.
French Forces Prepare East Bank Airborne Objective
Andre Beaufre supervised the French role in the operation around Port Fuad opposite Port Said.
French Planners Identify Canal Infrastructure Objectives
Andre Beaufre's command identified bridges and other strategic facilities that the French parachutists were intended to secure quickly.
French Government Confronts Canal Blockade
Guy Mollet's government faced a waterway rendered unusable by wartime obstruction despite intervention being justified in part by navigation concerns.
Port Fuad Airborne Detachment Readies Equipment
Pierre Fossey-Francois prepared the troops assigned to the later airborne assault near Port Fuad on the canal's eastern bank.
First French Drop Planned South of Port Said
Pierre Chateau-Jobert received the mission to land near Port Said and capture strategic exits and canal installations.
French Land Component Prepares Parachute Assault
Andre Beaufre supervised French land preparations as the airborne and amphibious units readied for their roles in the capture of Port Said and Port Fuad.
French Paratroop Units Complete Assault Preparations
Jacques Massu's division completed preparations for its role in the airborne phase of Operation Musketeer.
Parachute Division Elements Assemble for Attack
Jacques Massu's parachute forces completed preparations for airborne operations intended to capture strategic points near the northern entrance of the canal.
Airborne Action Prepares Following Amphibious Landing
Jacques Massu's parachute forces established positions designed to assist the Allied seaborne assault scheduled for 6 November.
El Raswa Bridge Advance Directed
Chateau-Jobert directs paratroopers toward the strategic El Raswa bridge after regrouping under Egyptian fire.
First 2e RPC Wave Parachuted South of Port Said
Chateau-Jobert leads the first 2e RPC airborne group dropped south of Port Said during Operation Musketeer.
First Colonial Parachutists Descend Near Port Said
Pierre Chateau-Jobert led the opening French airborne wave near Port Said on the morning of 5 November 1956.
French Airborne Landing Secures Port Fuad
Pierre Fossey-Francois commanded French paratroopers who landed in the Port Fuad area during the second phase of the airborne assault.
French Drop Meets Intense Mortar Fire
Pierre Chateau-Jobert's paratroopers faced Egyptian mortar fire after landing south of Port Said during the assault.
French Ground Headquarters Coordinates Airborne Objectives
Andre Beaufre oversaw French ground operations as airborne troops captured strategic facilities near Port Said.
French Naval Gunfire Supports Landing
Barjot's naval forces support French airborne and amphibious units around Port Said.
French Operations Link Two Canal Bridgeheads
Andre Beaufre coordinated the French presence around Port Said and Port Fuad following the successive parachute drops.
French Parachutists Attack Southern Port Said Positions
French airborne troops seized positions around the waterworks and approaches to Port Said during the first ground attacks.
French Paratroop Assault Coordinated
Beaufre coordinates French airborne attacks supporting the seizure of the northern canal zone.
French Paratroopers Seize Port Said Waterworks
Pierre Chateau-Jobert led French parachutists who captured the waterworks and key access points south of Port Said, preserving essential infrastructure.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.