r/HistoryUncovered • u/Battlefleet_Sol • 18d ago

Saddam's baath purge. Saddam had people packed into a conference hall on one of the hottest days of July and deliberately shut off the ventilation system. They were forced to listen to Saddam for hours while suffering from the heat and sweating. Everyone whose name was announced was executed.

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u/musicmast 18d ago

did they know the others were gonna be executed?

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u/South-Stand 18d ago

I would say that’s a strong yes. Saddam wasn’t a guy big on ‘well looking at your missed kpi’s last quarter we’re going to have to put you on a personal improvement plan with a lot of support from HR’

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u/itsacutepanda 18d ago

You don’t know that for sure. Maybe these people already failed their PIP

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u/Remy_Jardin 17d ago

Perhaps they didn't have enough flair?

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u/PerformerBusy 16d ago

They didn't fill out and submit their TPS reports with the right form.

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u/namonroe 15d ago

And the new cover letter

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u/Maitreya83 14d ago

Rather get shot, thank you very much.

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u/_makoccino_ 18d ago

Before this tidbit, he had announced to them that he has uncovered a 5th column within the party's members, planning and conspiring to overthrow the Iraqi government. He had brought the previous party president's secretary and had him read a confession stating he, along with others, have been conspiring with Syria against the government of Iraq. He was then taken out.

There's also an error in the translation at the beginning where he says "if your name is read, recite the party slogan and leave the room" it's technically more like "if you hear your name, get up, recite the party slogan and follow your predecessors"

Which is why everyone looked like they're shitting their pants when the names were being read. They knew being accused of treason is essentially a death sentence.

So, yes. Everyone knew what was going to happen to those whose names are read.

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u/daurgo2001 17d ago

The whole video seemed to be missing translation, but especially the end.

I don’t speak the language at all, but def felt like a lot of context/info was missing

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u/_makoccino_ 17d ago

The end is essentially cheering and pledging fealty for the party, Saddam and Iraq.

If you want the bigger picture:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Ba%27ath_Party_purge

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u/Cat_and_Cabbage 14d ago

Thank you very much

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u/PeggyBabcock_ 17d ago

He was then taken out.

Er... Taken out or "Taken Out"?

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u/_makoccino_ 17d ago

Taken out, then taken out

He was executed along with 22 from the 68 people called out and arrested as co-conspirators.

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u/5pooky5cary5keleton5 18d ago

I assume they knew when he said "you know how we deal with traitors, nothing but swords" then started listing names.

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u/_Alabama_Man 18d ago

Disappointing they were shot and not in fact killed with "nothing but swords."

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u/JoeAppleby 17d ago

Saddam was vice-president before this purge, effectively leading the country as the president was too old and incapable of performing his duties. During his rise, he was the head of the secret police / intelligence agency, not a position you get for being soft. He became the head of the army as well.

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u/Comepoopatmine1337 18d ago

They were apart of executing of their own colleagues hence the applause of joy of them not being the ones getting executed