US ResearchConflictsIndian Wars and Frontier ConflictsWashington DCBonus Army Dispersal
Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts

Bonus Army Dispersal

1932
Washington DC
Era
Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts
Year
1932
Location
Washington DC
Status
Historical record
The Battle

History & Significance

Bonus Army Dispersal was a Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts engagement fought in Washington DC, 1932. It was a United States (Federal) victory.

On 14 August 2013, Egyptian police and armed forces, under the command of Defense Minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, used lethal force to disperse two protest camps in Cairo that had occupied Rabaa al-Adawiya Square and al-Nahda Square for six weeks. The camps were occupied by supporters of President Mohamed Morsi, who had been overthrown by a military coup the prior month following mass protests against his rule. Initiatives to end the sit-ins by peaceful means had failed. The camps were cleared within hours on a single day.

The dispersal operation resulted in significant loss of life, though the exact toll remains disputed among sources. Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that 817 were killed by government forces in Rabaa Square and 87 in al-Nahda Square. The Egyptian Health Ministry reported lower figures of 595 protesters and 43 police officers killed, with 3,994 injured. General estimates of those killed vary from 600 to 2,600. The operation proceeded under the direct command of then-Defense Minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

Human Rights Watch characterized the sit-in dispersals as crimes against humanity, describing them as "one of the world's largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history." The incident marked a significant moment in the aftermath of the military coup that removed Morsi from power, demonstrating the armed forces' willingness to use lethal force against civilian protesters on a massive scale. The dispersal of these two camps effectively ended the organized opposition demonstrations that had persisted for six weeks following the coup.

Result
United States (Federal) victory
Forces engaged
US Army under Gen. MacArthur (with Patton and Eisenhower) vs 43,000 WWI veterans camped in Washington
Casualties
Estimates vary from 600 to 2,600 killed. HRW reported 817 killed in Rabaa Square and 87 in al-Nahda Square. Egyptian Health Ministry figures: 595 protesters and 43 police officers killed, with 3,994 injured.
Outcome
The camps at Rabaa al-Adawiya Square and al-Nahda Square were cleared within hours. Human Rights Watch characterized the dispersals as crimes against humanity and described them as "one of the world's largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history."

Approximate location. The nearest recorded settlement is shown; the exact site is unrecorded.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Bonus Army Dispersal take place?
Bonus Army Dispersal took place in 1932.
Where was Bonus Army Dispersal fought?
Bonus Army Dispersal was fought in Washington DC, United States.
What was the significance of Bonus Army Dispersal?
On 14 August 2013, Egyptian police and armed forces, under the command of Defense Minister Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, used lethal force to disperse two protest camps in Cairo that had occupied Rabaa al-Adawiya Square and al-Nahda Square for six weeks. The camps were occupied by supporters of President Mo
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Bonus Army Dispersal

This page covers Bonus Army Dispersal. A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this battle alongside historic sites, land records, and everything else the record holds within a few miles:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Bonus Army Dispersal report
Or see a real report first
More from this era

Other Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts Engagements

Battle of Las Guasimas
1898
Cuba
Battle of Ponce - Puerto Rico
1898
PR
Siege of Santiago
1898
Cuba
Battle of Yauco (Puerto Rico)
1898
PR
Battle of Coamo - Puerto Rico
1898
PR
Charge up Kettle Hill
1898
Cuba
Spanish-American War - Puerto Rico
1898
PR
Battle of El Caney
1898
Cuba
Battle of Asomante - Puerto Rico
1898
PR
All battles in Washington DCIndian Wars and Frontier Conflictsconflicts ›Historic sites in Washington DC
Source

This page is compiled from cited public sources.

Aubrey Research

Explore the history around Washington DC

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in the US, drawing on NRHP records, battlefield archives, census history and geological data to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Washington DCView a free sample report
All Indian Wars and Frontier Conflicts Battles