October War files finally coming to light

By Sarah Saad

Egypt released handwritten documents from the October 1973 War, for the first time in 50 years.

Published on the website of the Ministry of Defence last year, the documents include detailed plans for war preparations and management.

They also included information about the measures the army took to end what came to be known as the ‘Gap of the Deversoir’ and the demolition of the Bar Lev Line, as well as about strategic military planning at various stages leading up to the ceasefire.

The documents also cover disengagement efforts, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, along with the personal notes of Egyptian army commanders.

The documents bring home the high level of Egyptian military strategic planning ahead of the October War.

They also include notes about the political and military directives of the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, troop deployment concepts, the decisions of the chief-of-staff of the Armed Forces, and supplementary operational plans.

This comprehensive approach ensured the army’s ability to carry out planned tasks with precision and integrate strategic ideas effectively.

The documents also highlight the role of Egyptian media, particularly military media, in planning for the war and influencing regional and international perceptions about Egyptian preparations for this war.

Egyptian media coverage helped expose Israeli intentions, affecting international opinions.

Lt. Gen. Samir Farag, an October War veteran and member of the committee formed to revise war documents, said the General Command of the Armed Forces decided to publish some of the files of the war, 50 years on.

He revealed that the committee consisted of officers from various branches who participated in the war.

They carefully reviewed the documents before deciding whether to publish them or not, he said.

He added that the committee members divided the war files into three categories: files that had to remain classified for political and military reasons, files that are intended for military use to aid in academic research and knowledge sharing, and files that can be released to the general public.

Lt. Gen. Farag underscored the importance of the legacy the October War left behind.

This legacy, he said, reminds Egyptians of their army’s strength and the enduring significance of defending national security.