10 of the Bloodiest Coups Ever Attempted

Coups d’état differ from revolutions in that they are typically carried out by small groups—often military or political elites—seeking to seize power, whereas revolutions generally involve broader popular movements. In recent decades, coups have been used by aspiring strongmen to overthrow governments around the world, from Iran to Nigeria to Indonesia. Unsurprisingly, many successful coups have led to some of the most repressive regimes in modern history.

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10 The Cambodian Coup, 1997

The Cambodian coup of 1997 began on July 5, when Prime Minister Hun Sen’s forces launched a violent uprising against their coalition partners in government. It disrupted the country’s fragile power-sharing arrangement and resulted in Hun Sen consolidating control over Cambodia.

The fighting began when Phnom Penh airport and the capital’s main boulevards were overtaken by loyalist forces, triggering widespread unrest and the displacement of thousands of Cambodians to nearby countries. In the resulting violence, police and military forces looted an estimated $50 million worth of goods, while some reports suggested that dozens of people were subjected to torture and extrajudicial executions.

The coup had lasting consequences for Cambodia. It contributed to the perception that political disputes could be settled through force rather than democratic processes. The international community’s limited response to post-coup human rights abuses, including reports of extrajudicial killings, further shaped the country’s political trajectory.^[1]

9 The Beer Hall Putsch, 1923

In 1923, Adolf Hitler and Erich Ludendorff attempted the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich—one of the earliest Nazi efforts to overthrow the Weimar Republic during the interwar years. It unfolded amid major events of the time, including post–World War I economic turmoil in Germany, hyperinflation, and the French occupation of the Ruhr.

On November 8, Hitler and SA paramilitaries stormed a local beer hall—one of the many political gathering places across Germany at the time—in an attempt to force Bavarian leaders into supporting a march on Berlin. While the plan initially gained momentum, many supporters backed out during the coup attempt, causing it to collapse by the next day. Hitler was arrested, tried, and imprisoned for conspiring against the state.

The failed coup resulted in the deaths of 16 Nazi Party members, who were later used for propaganda purposes to strengthen Hitler’s position within the party.^[2]

8 The Iraqi Coup, 1958

On July 14, 1958, Iraq’s King Faisal II and most of his family members were killed in one of the more violent coups in modern Middle Eastern history. It ended the 37-year rule of the Hashemite Dynasty in Iraq, which had come to power after World War I.

The coup was led by Brigadier Abdul Karim Qassim and his nationalist Free Officers group. It was planned amid growing public resentment toward the monarchy, fueled in part by economic concerns and perceptions of Western influence over Iraqi affairs. By the end of the uprising, the 23-year-old king, his uncle the crown prince, and several other members of the royal family had been killed by the rebels.

The coup—also known as the July 14 Revolution—triggered a prolonged power struggle among competing Iraqi factions, including the Ba’ath Party. Iraq’s political landscape remained unstable for nearly a decade, until the Ba’ath Party, associated with figures such as Saddam Hussein, consolidated power in 1968.^[3]

7 The Iranian Coup, 1953

The Iranian coup began on August 15, 1953, when the country’s democratically elected leader—Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh—was removed from power by local officers with support from foreign operatives from Britain and the United States. One of the primary drivers of the crisis was Mosaddegh’s nationalization of Iran’s oil industry in 1951, which threatened British economic interests tied to the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.

In response, a covert campaign was organized to destabilize Mosaddegh’s government. Though initially unsuccessful in its early stages, the operation ultimately succeeded by August 19, restoring the country’s monarch—Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi—to power. The coup resulted in significant violence during clashes in Tehran, with hundreds killed and many more affected in the aftermath.

The 1953 coup is widely regarded as a major factor contributing to long-term political tensions in Iran, including those that culminated in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In 2013, the CIA publicly acknowledged its role in the operation.^[4]

6 The Turkish Coup, 1980

In 1980, Turkey was experiencing a period of intense political and social unrest, with violence frequently erupting across major cities. These conditions culminated in the September 12 military coup, orchestrated by the National Security Council and led by Chief of General Staff Kenan Evren. The coup resulted in the suspension of the constitution, the dissolution of parliament, and the imposition of martial law across the country.

Among its stated goals, the military aimed to suppress the escalating conflict between left-wing and right-wing groups. However, the aftermath involved widespread human rights violations. Over 650,000 people were detained, 230,000 were tried, and 50 were executed, while many others reported torture and harsh prison conditions.

The events of September 12 led to the closure of political parties, the banning of numerous organizations, and the dismissal of tens of thousands of workers. The coup leaders were not prosecuted for many years, in part due to constitutional protections introduced in 1982, which limited accountability for actions taken during the takeover.^[5]

5 The Chilean Coup, 1973

The Chilean coup of 1973 began on September 11, when President Salvador Allende was overthrown by the country’s armed forces, led by General Augusto Pinochet. Allende had been democratically elected in 1970 and had implemented a series of socialist reforms, including nationalizing key industries. These policies, along with broader Cold War tensions, contributed to growing political instability within Chile.

During the coup, military forces bombed the presidential palace in Santiago. Allende died inside the building, with most historical accounts concluding that he took his own life as troops advanced. In the aftermath, Pinochet established a military junta that would rule Chile for nearly two decades.

While the coup itself was carried out by Chilean military forces, declassified documents later showed that the United States supported efforts to destabilize Allende’s government prior to the takeover. The period that followed was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the detention, torture, and disappearance of thousands of people. The events of 1973 continue to shape Chile’s political and social landscape.^[6]

4 The Myanmar Coup, 2021

On February 1, 2021, Myanmar’s military seized control of the government just hours before a newly elected parliament was set to convene. The coup effectively ended a decade-long experiment with limited civilian rule and returned the country to direct military control.

The military justified its actions by alleging widespread electoral fraud in the November 2020 elections. However, these claims were rejected by international observers. In response, large-scale protests erupted across the country, with civilians organizing strikes and demonstrations demanding the restoration of democratic governance.

The military’s response was swift and forceful. Security forces used live ammunition, mass arrests, and other measures to suppress dissent. According to multiple reports, thousands of civilians were killed or detained in the months following the coup.

The situation in Myanmar remains volatile, with ongoing conflict between the military and various resistance groups. The coup has had far-reaching consequences, including humanitarian crises and regional instability, as well as renewed international scrutiny of the country’s political system.^[7]

3 The Shanghai Coup, 1927

The Shanghai Coup of 1927—also known as the April 12 Incident—was a violent purge carried out by forces loyal to Chinese Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek. It marked a turning point in the Chinese Civil War, effectively ending the fragile alliance between the Nationalists and the Chinese Communist Party.

In Shanghai, workers and Communist organizers had played a major role in helping Nationalist forces take control of the city. However, shortly after securing power, Chiang ordered a crackdown on Communist elements and labor groups. Armed units and criminal organizations targeted suspected Communists, leading to widespread killings and arrests.

Estimates of the number of people killed vary, but thousands were believed to have died in Shanghai alone, with further purges occurring in other cities. Some accounts suggest that foreign powers present in the region were aware of the events and, in certain cases, tolerated or indirectly supported the suppression of Communist groups. However, the extent of their involvement remains debated among historians.

The Shanghai Coup deepened divisions within China and contributed to decades of conflict between Nationalist and Communist forces. It remains one of the most consequential and violent political purges in modern Chinese history.^[8]

2 The Nigerian Coup, 1966

Nigeria experienced a series of coups in 1966 that dramatically altered the country’s political trajectory. The first, in January, was led by a group of military officers who assassinated several prominent political leaders, including the prime minister. The coup disrupted Nigeria’s civilian government and introduced military rule.

However, tensions remained high, and a counter-coup followed in July of the same year. During this second uprising, General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was overthrown and killed, along with other officials. The violence between factions contributed to widespread unrest and deepened ethnic and regional divisions within the country.

The events of 1966 are often seen as a precursor to the Nigerian Civil War, which began the following year. The coups themselves resulted in significant loss of life and set a pattern of military intervention in Nigerian politics that would continue for years.

These developments highlight how repeated attempts to seize power can destabilize a nation and create long-term consequences that extend far beyond the initial conflict.^[9]

1 The Indonesian Coup, 1965

In 1965, Indonesia experienced one of the most violent political upheavals of the 20th century. A group calling itself the September 30 Movement kidnapped and killed several senior military officers, claiming they were acting to prevent a coup against President Sukarno. The situation quickly escalated into a broader power struggle within the Indonesian military and government.

General Suharto emerged as a central figure in the aftermath, gradually consolidating control over the armed forces and sidelining Sukarno. In the months that followed, a massive campaign of violence targeted suspected members of the Indonesian Communist Party and others accused of leftist sympathies.

Estimates of the number of people killed vary widely, but many historians place the death toll in the hundreds of thousands, with some suggesting it may have exceeded one million. The scale and nature of the killings have led many scholars to describe the events as a form of mass political violence or genocide.

The coup and its aftermath reshaped Indonesia’s political landscape for decades, leading to Suharto’s long rule and leaving a legacy that continues to be studied and debated today.^[10]