Mohamed Fawzi (general)
Mohamed Fawzi (5 March 1915 – February 2000) was an Egyptian general and politician who served as minister of defense.
Early life and education
Fawzi was born in Abbasiya, Cairo, on 5 March 1915. He attended the Egyptian Royal Military Academy and graduated in 1936. He also held a master's degree, which he received from the same institution in 1952.
Career
During the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, Fawzi first met Gamal Abdel Nasser and served as the commander of anti-aircraft artillery in Deir Suneid. In 1957, Fawzi was appointed by then president Nasser as commandant of the Military Academy. In 1961, Fawzi headed the Egypt's military mission as part of the UN forces in Congo. Fawzi became military secretary-general of the Arab League in March 1964. He was also made chief of staff that month, a post he occupied until the Six Day War in June 1967.
After the war, Fawzi resigned from his post, and was replaced by Abdel Moneim Reiad. On 11 June he was appointed general commander, replacing Abdel Hakim Amer. Amer and his allies protested the move and immediately afterward, 600 officers loyal to Amer besieged army headquarters demanding Amer's reinstatement and threatening to oust Fawzi. Tensions between Amer, who was a plotting a coup to be launched on 27 August, and Nasser mounted. A plan to apprehend Amer was made and Nasser managed to convince him to meet in his home. While Amer was Nasser's home, Fawzi led an army takeover of Amer's villa, confiscating all of thirteen truckloads of his weapons.
