Amid the escalating Suez Crisis in the summer of 1956, diplomatic maneuvering intensified as Egypt's nationalization of the canal pushed Britain and France toward military confrontation.

Soviet tanks roll into Budapest as Hungarian citizens and army units battle occupying forces in a spontaneous revolt against communist rule.

Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and 80 fighters landed the overloaded yacht Granma on Cuba's southeastern coast to launch their guerrilla war against Batista.