The October war

One of Egypt's greatest living soldiers offers a frank and vivid account of Egypt's military successes and failures from 1967 to the 1973 October War. A dedicated soldier and imaginative strategist, El-Gamasy enjoyed a long career that took him to the highest levels of Egyptian military planning and combat; his service has shaped in many ways Egypt's modern history.

After reflecting on Egypt's defeat in 1967, El-Gamasy then describes the difficult years of strategic planning and military confrontation that culminated in Egypt's stunning successes in the October War of 1973. A principal architect of Egypt's remarkable storming of the Suez Canal, El-Gamasy recounts his experiences in that war, analyzes the strategies and decisions of Egypt's military leaders, and assesses the effects of the war.

Throughout his memoirs, El-Gamasy discusses the delicate relationship between the political and military leadership of Egypt, examining particularly the varying sources of authority at crucial moments in times of war. His observations on the shifting balance between political governance and military considerations illustrate the complex ways in which policy is developed and plans are executed.

Commenting on the roles of such leading political figures as Anwar Sadat, Richard Nixon, Golda Meir, and Henry Kissinger, as well as on the staff and structures of the Egyptian military, El-Gamasy records in detail his involvement with Egypt's military and peacemaking efforts.

His colorful descriptions of the planning sessions in Egypt, the difficult decisions to be made, the hard battles to be fought, the Kilometer 101 talks with Israel, and the many personalities involved illuminate El-Gamasy's career and a major event in the recent history of the Middle East.