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    This document provides background information on the Rhodesian Bush War between 1965-1979. It discusses the Zimbabwean nationalist movements ZAPU and ZANU, which recruited from different ethnic groups and received support from different foreign allies like the Soviet Union and China. It also outlines Rhodesia's counterinsurgency strategy against the guerrilla forces, which included establishing protected villages, fire force operations, and cross-border raids.

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    History 402 lecture notes University of Calgary November 1 2021

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    01112021 Lecture Notes

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    This document provides background information on the Rhodesian Bush War between 1965-1979. It discusses the Zimbabwean nationalist movements ZAPU and ZANU, which recruited from different ethnic groups and received support from different foreign allies like the Soviet Union and China. It also outlines Rhodesia's counterinsurgency strategy against the guerrilla forces, which included establishing protected villages, fire force operations, and cross-border raids.

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    12 views2 pages

    Lecture Notes

    Uploaded by

    Attila Fekete
    This document provides background information on the Rhodesian Bush War between 1965-1979. It discusses the Zimbabwean nationalist movements ZAPU and ZANU, which recruited from different ethnic groups and received support from different foreign allies like the Soviet Union and China. It also outlines Rhodesia's counterinsurgency strategy against the guerrilla forces, which included establishing protected villages, fire force operations, and cross-border raids.

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    of 2

    November 1st, 2021

    The Rhodesian Bush War


    Background
    Zimbabwean Nationalist Movement
    Rhodesian COIN
    Independence

    Background
    Central African Federation 1953-63
    Northern Rhodesia – Zambia 1964
    Nyasaland – Malawi 1964
    Southern Rhodesia – Rhodesia UDI 1965
    Rhodesian Front – Ian Douglas Smith

    From 1923 Southern Rhodesia was internally self-governing (Responsible Government)


    The Central African Federation was established as a foil, economically and militarily, to the
    now-hostile nationalist South Africa. The British directed air power and other forms of military
    power and resources into the area and built what was at the time the world’s largest dam on the
    Zambezi.
    The breakup of the Federation left Southern Rhodesia as the remaining state with its own
    legislature that could thus not be totally be dictated terms to by the British.

    The way the British handled UDI angered the other African states, who had recently gained
    independence, as they saw a double standard.

    Zimbabwe Nationalist Movement


    Zimbabwe African People’s Union (ZAPU) – Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA)
    – Joshua Nkomo (recruited mostly from the southwest of Rhodesia, thus came to have lots of
    Ndebele in their ranks)
    Ndebele – Soviet Support – Leninist (strategy is top-down; to take over the centres of power very
    quickly); modelled on a Soviet motor rifle division.
    ZAPU is based in Zambia and a little bit in Botswana

    History 402 Page 1 of 2


    November 1st, 2021

    ZANU – Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA) – Ndabaningi Sithole – Robert
    Mugabe (most recruits came from eastern Rhodesia; thus a large part of their army was Shona,
    and this worked well because the majority of the black Africans in the country are Shona)
    Shona – Chinese Support – Maoist (strategy is bottom-up, politicising rural people, hit-and-run)
    Mozambique – Frelimo
    Portuguese Coup 1974

    Zambia’s border with Rhodesia is all either Zambezi River or Lake Kariba, and then national
    parks and game reserves. This meant that it was a lot easier to spot and intercept insurgents
    coming across here.

    Rhodesian COIN
    Phase I – Zambezi Valley (1965-72)
    Phase II – Expansion of Guerrilla War (1972-79)
    Rhodesian Security Forces (RAR, RLI, BSAP)
    Selous Scouts 1974
    Fire Force Operations
    Protected Villages – Free Fire Zones
    Border Cordons
    “Dirty Tricks”
    Cross-Border Raids
    Mine Resistant Vehicles

    History 402 Page 2 of 2

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