Was the Rhodesian Army the Most Effective in History? - The Abandoned Army

[@christopping5876]

As a Rhodesian/Zimbabwean, growing up during this period, this is one of the most balanced accounts I have heard. Ultimately, everybody lost. Many thanks.

[@donovannotmyname7306]

If you don't mind me asking, (and you still reside in Zimbabwe) is Zimbabwe as bad as you read about? Rapid inflation, lack of food, unresponsive government.

[@christopping5876]

@donovannotmyname7306 Hi, no. I left in 2000 as, unfortunately, I had no future, (working for commercial farmers) and, was lucky enough to have the means to.

[@donovannotmyname7306]

@@christopping5876 I certainly didn't expect you to get back so quickly. But thank you for answering me.

[@xc8487]

This is probably the best kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGSmh4SblNJkr6c

[@jjj8317]

​@donovannotmyname7306 nahh, people be chilling there. It's all propaganda. Wtf is that question bro?

[@sometimesposting6779]

The Rhodesian infantry probably was one of the most effective in terms of pure soldiering. Their use of the vertical envelopment known as Fire force is legendary and well documented.

[@120mmsmoothbore2]

While true, later when the rebels had gotten training from the Communists the Fire Force proved to be a detriment to the entire war effort. The tactic was fine against untrained college students that were handed rifles and pointed in the general direction of Rhodesia but when they gained training and actual heavy equipment the Rhodesian light infantry started hurting, sure the Fire Force still succeeded 80% of the time but the 20% it didn't saw catastrophic losses of men and equipment especially for the already thinly stretched Rhodesian Air Force that they quite frankly couldn't be taking.

[@derekmclellan7337]

They were so effective they lost.

[@cat_city2009]

@@120mmsmoothbore2 Based communists, as usual.

[@sometimesposting6779]

@@120mmsmoothbore2 All valid points for sure. Rhodesia was solely focused on the elimination of the guerrillas, which just doesn't really work in a true counterinsurgency setting. I think a lot of the idealization of the Rhodesian forces comes from their very distinct look and equipment, FALs and Chopped RPDs wielded by guys in strange camo short-shorts air-assaulting onto your position is not something you see in every war.

[@alexsandermc9794]

@@derekmclellan7337 Effective and Be the winner are two different concepts

[@TheEmperorsChampion964]

The bush war is an excellent example of how complex warfare is and how even if you're stacking bodies left and right you can still lose due to various reasons

[@ktheterkuceder6825]

Vietnam war comes to mind.

[@TheEmperorsChampion964]

@@ktheterkuceder6825 exactly, Vietnam is also a perfect example

[@THE_MOONMAN]

​@@TheEmperorsChampion964yeah but veitnam actually put up a ruthless resistance. Americans could get destroy whatever they could lay eyes on, but veitcong were to good at lurking in the jungle and were good at making complex series of caves that the Americans could never flush them out well enough

[@DTex.45ACP]

@@THE_MOONMAN Nah. The Americans destroyed the NVA and crushed most of the VC and were well on their way to crushing all of them, until the cowardly politicians punked out.

[@bumblebee.146]

​@@THE_MOONMAN america had 60k casualties, vietcong had around a 1 million casualties, American army was winning, the American people lost

[@boydwyatt]

As an ex Rhodie I was involved in transporting the bodies of the passengers ofvthe planes shot down by Nkomo's terrs. Bayoneted babies and women amongst them. South Africa was the Rhidues only pipeline for support and they forced negotiation. I had mates in the Selous scouts ( pronounced Sa- loo by the way) SAS and 2nd commando RLI. All held normal day jobs, would dissapear for a few weeks then we would read about it in the papers later , Awesome fighters and top blokes. I hung on for 1 year of Mugabe, country was being trashed so fast. Shame, it was the country in Africa that had a hope for a great future.

[@yarohaboss]

Rhodesians never die!!!

[@gratefulguy4130]

One thing about modern history: Either you believe that 1.) Many groups of people have randomly decided to go evil for no reason & commit atrocities against poor helpless communists. 2.) Communism leads people to commit atrocities. They always lie and accuse others of what they do.

[@Prof16440]

Had you people treated the land and it's people with more respect!!!! Had you people not fought so bitterly to protect minority rule and apartheid perhaps Zimbabwe might have lived up to its true potential. There is no honor in protecting an inherently racist system.

[@boydwyatt]

@@Prof16440 Thats very true, however nieve liberal westerners backed the worst possible alternative. Stalinist Mugabe and Soviet colonisation. Any moderates or non cadre Africans got murdered or silenced. The drops of old blood are on our hands, the modern rivers of blood are on yours. I could leave and continue a good life, the poor old Africans have to suffer that new hell.

[@asafmedrano9124]

Average black africano behaviour

[@kickinthegob]

Our family doctor in Australia was a combat medic in Rhodesia. Dr. Van Opdenbosch was a very tough man and had some crazy stories. He had been shot, stabbed and at one point scalped. He used safety pins to re-attach his scalp and walked 80 km to get medical assistance. He was an invited guest to our high-school graduation and gave an amazing speech.

[@derekallan1341]

don't talk shit

[@a.m928]

That sound improbable

[@kickinthegob]

@@a.m928 What sounds improbable?

[@Wasteland88]

​@@pikas_palacePlenty of people have survived being scalped. You can look up pictures.

[@Raptor810Blue]

@@Wasteland88sure, but in Rhodesia? Doubt it.

[@jasongarland3165]

A couple things I didn't hear in the video: Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from Britain on November 11, 1965 and thereafter were met with some fairly crippling sanctions from both the UK and the UN. The Rhodesians were able to circumvent those sanctions for close to a decade due to support from Mozambique and South Africa but then the situation changed. Mozambique parted from Portugal and cut off Rhodesian support. Then South African government under Vorster began to ratchet down support for the Rhodesians and place conditions on them, such as no external ops. RSF could not strike outside Rhodesia for most of the bushwar and it hampered their effectiveness at bringing an end to the crisis. In the end it was a combination of increasing Nationalist activity, war weariness on part of the population, crushing international sanctions, and lack of local support that force Smith to the negoiating table. If you ever want to read an account of the bushwar from start to finish, read Ian Smith's autobiography "Bitter Harvest." There's been much written about the bush war but Smith's book was one of the better ones for understanding the situation at a higher level.

[@Jean_Jacques148]

@CavebabybeserkerWell yeah. Europe can’t survive without Africas recourses and the understand this.

[@billalumni7760]

Best comment. Rhodesia by all accounts were winning handily. It was when they lost not just outside support but the UK and UN Actively sided with their enemies did they start to lose ground. Rhodesia was a great country for most now it is a shit hole for all.

[@johnnyc1227]

Those countries fell to communists. Too bad the people in charge couldn't early on give participation to noncommunists but in the 1940s communist influence had turned minds to the even darker side & as expected made those countries worse off then the racist government had. As if that was even thought possible.

[@onri_]

@@Jean_Jacques148 Africa can't survive without their betters, look at them now all of them have failing states and incompetence on every rung of their system

[@oban6051]

Another great book that is full of first hand accounts from the SAS is "A Handful of Hard Men". Highly recommend it.

[@trickydicky2908]

I remember reading about them in the old 'Soldier of Fortune' magazine. They actually had ads for mercenaries in the back of the magazine.

[@chiapets2594]

And does Any1 care?

[@trickydicky2908]

@Chia Pets It appears that 16 people do, and one 1 AH doesn't. Go take walk or something. Take your attitude out on the sidewalk.

[@nhandinh7404]

@@chiapets2594 you cared enough to post variations of ‘who cares’ 4 times on 4 separate posts, so clearly you’re one of those who care

[@H4CK61]

My friends were Mercenaries there in 1976 to 78 But had to be listed as RLI because the british govenment would not allow Mercenaries.

[@Zacharoni4085]

@@chiapets2594 Ça paraît que t’as un compte Twitter.

[@josephfranzen9196]

I worked for a British PMC as a designated defensive marksman and we had a guy who came from the Scouts. Regardless of his age, he was an apex predator during direct action missions

[@titaniumquarrion9838]

Which PMC was doing DA missions?

[@PercAngle3]

@@titaniumquarrion9838obviously it’s classified

[@dodymmawsjx]

They are called the TMB.​@@titaniumquarrion9838

[@void870]

Soldiers win battles, politicians lose wars.

[@chiapets2594]

Actually quite opposite mind you. Absolutely don't know a thing about war don't you not😊

[@FrostbiteDigital]

​@@chiapets2594 Dude why are you even here?

[@ebrimajallow9631]

@@FrostbiteDigital he telling the truth, it's a politician who start it ,it's a slodier who fucks it up, then a politician who end it.

[@FrostbiteDigital]

@@ebrimajallow9631 That's the FARTHEST thing from the truth

[@JohnLocke1776]

Actually it's the International Bankers who start it, get their corporate pitchman/politicians to "sell it" to the populace, and poor people to fight and die in it

[@jackbarnes9728]

Ian Smith didn't "retire" in 1987. Mugabe had him kicked out of government. Eventually Mugabe even stripped Ian Smith of his Zimbabwe citizenship without reason even though Ian Smith was born in that country and Mugabe wasn't. . Eventually Ian Smith had to immigrate to South Africa when his farm was illegally seized and handed over to a ZANU-PF member.

[@destroyerarmor2846]

Colonialism was illegal to begin with lol

[@EarthForces]

​@Destroyer Armor this narrow sighted comment is essentially why the cycle of stupidity never ends.

[@rubengutierrez19]

​@@destroyerarmor2846yet those africans kept coming to colonial european lands including south africa. Now after those 2 nations have been subverted and destroyed you have millions migrating to europe and the USA but yes "whities bad" lmao

[@notme3134]

@@destroyerarmor2846 Go tell China that

[@BulkernatorKerb]

@destroyerarmour2846 What law did it contravene? How is Zimbabwe doing now?

[@bobmacdonald6183]

I worked with a guy who was in the Rhodesian Army. He was allowed into the UK. As he never fought against the British. I know another guy living in the UK now was in the south African Army. Rapid Response force , spent most of his time in Rhodesia fighting alongside the Rhodesian Army.

[@Hangedman11911]

​@@davidgarcia5593racists never change

[@LonersGuide]

@@Hangedman11911 Yep, and now those racist blacks are flooding into the UK.

[@jozzieokes3422]

@@Hangedman11911 u good there!

[@fionasmith6868]

​@David Garcia in a terrible mess and people are not standing up for their people and country no spine.

[@Brecconable]

@@Hangedman11911 Says the communist fascist.

[@jayjayjoubertjoubert8662]

As someone who was born in Southern Rhodesia before Rhodesia's Independence from British rule ive witnessed not only the terrorist attacks targeting innocent civilians both black and white but also Catholic Missions by Chinese and Russian trained and supported so called freedom fighters . But have also witnessed the first hand incompetence and mismanagement of crucial serves and vital departments leading to the total collapse of the once Bread Basket of Africa and destrustion of a civilised successful economy ! And turned it in to a joke of a third world country that is now one of the most corrupt and lawless countries in the World being sold off to and looted by the Communist sponsors that incited and sponcered the terrorist acts starting back in the sixties .

[@yankiefrenz1367]

calling natives "terrorists" how funny? go back to Europe and build your states there. Zimbabwe is for Zimbabweans

[@Rasta-lj3hh]

You should have returned to your home country.😮😮😮.

[@clownpendotfart]

Your video leaves off the important factor that Rhodesia could not replace its aging military equipment due to their UDI being rejected by other governments.

[@thomasreaves588]

Why were they rejected by nearly all the other governments of planet Earth?

[@Brecconable]

@@thomasreaves588 Either ignorance or knowingly supporting the enemy.

[@TMreal05]

@@thomasreaves588ask Britain

[@72skci72]

@@thomasreaves588 juice. ((bankers))

[@natturner1619]

​@Thomas Reaves Because the rest of the world realized it's crazy to have no say so in your own country, on your own continent, when you make up the majority of the population.

[@ca9968]

My late uncle served 16 years in the British Army then left, moved to Zambia to work on a dam that was being built there, him and my aunt went into Rhodesia for a weekend getaway...when it was over they went back to Zambia, he quit his job, packed up the kids and moved to Rhodesia...that was 1970, he ended up in P.A.T.U (Police Anti Terror Unit) and fought right until the end in 1980, he got my aunt and cousins out and into Johannesburg in 1979 and he was eventually chased out of the country in 1980... My side of the family joined them in Joburg in 1983...he very rarely spoke about the Bush War but he did regularly get visited by a very secretive man that we all called "Secret Squirrel"...he`d come to the house, never come inside and they`d talk over the chain link fence in the front of the house covering their mouths with their hands, then he`d leave and not be seen again for months... What always struck me as odd was that my uncle had the SAS "Winged Dagger" tattoo`d on his forearm, he never would tell me why he had it...if iit was from his days in the British or Rhodesian forces...he was very secretive...

[@chiapets2594]

Liar suuuurrrreeee

[@maycontainnuts3127]

yeah pretty sure my dad was in the light brigade. still has the scars but wont ever talk about them.

[@VladVlad-ul1io]

Covering their mouth? really???

[@nomoneyglobal]

He probably was selling crack

[@dsxa918]

Chewing tobacco, kids running around who might overhear, lip-readers... I'm perplexed, myself, with the possibilities, now

[@westernoutpost4154]

My buddy that was from South Africa was in the Rhodesian army. He loved the FAL and barreled my first FAL out of an old Austrian STG parts kit. My best friend and I became quick friends with Gane and he slowly started telling us stories about living in SA after leaving Zimbabwe in the 80's. We met him in the late 90's and one of the last stories he told us was about Russians in SA helping to secure diamonds from flooding the market. His stories were intense about being in the Rhodesian army, but some really crazy stories about living in Mozambique after he left Zimbabwe in the late 80's. Great video BTW!

[@shoorakhamis3904]

A RUSSIAN adviser serving and training Africans against the RHODESIANS, praised the RHODESIANS as GREAT fighters.

[@srj607able]

As Belgian , I appreciate this comment

[@josedorsaith5261]

A family friend was a SGT in the Koevoet during the Bush War. A tactic for the FAL would be to shoot low, sweeping arcs, wherever the suspected enemy where. The 7.62 would rip through the brush and push the insurgents out of concealment. Always found that interesting

[@bennettbush3906]

@@josedorsaith5261Amazing tactics.

[@petergeramin7195]

​@@josedorsaith5261Why would they sweep low? Would the bullets got higher than they aimed?

[@burtonsmiddleclassreview4511]

Up until recently I worked with a white bloke whose family is from Rhodesia. He visits once a year. He reckons when landing there now at the airport and going to his family’s farm is completely disgusting. It is nothing to see dead babies lying on the side of the road on the way. When he leaves he leaves all his clothes with his relatives. When he goes to get the plane back to Australia, the black guards at the airport steal everything off him (shoes, shirt, 22:09 socks,watch etc). When he lands back in Australia he walks off the plane barefoot in shorts and a singlet. To think that in 1977 the black population of Rhodesia had the highest standard of living of all black people in Africa. Now it is a total $hithole. Socialism/Marxism is evil.

[@yankiefrenz1367]

rubbish if blacks were having a good life then why did they revolt against the Smith Government?

[@JCHarris-iu6my]

Communism has never, and will never ever succeed in doing anything other than destroy the country that implements it

[@JCHarris-iu6my]

The United States is slowly destroying itself with its pursuit of certain elements of socialism and communism

[@gavinmcleod7446]

Zimbabwe has been through a lot in the last 24 odd years - but the story of dead babies and being stripped of his clothes and shoes sounds very far fetched - hilarious 😅

[@milescivis1018]

Not Marxism. This is the story of subsaharan Africa. Sub-70 IQ on average for the continent. In a white society, a white man with a 70 IQ would be regarded as retarded. There is a direct correlation between low IQ and violent crime. A correlation so strong it’s more than fair to say causation. Zimbabwe is the pinnacle of 70 IQ society. Rhodesia was 100-105.

[@alucardthedumbyhead7970]

I was at a gun show and got to meet a rhodesian soldier who survived and brought his family to the states after the war ended

[@jz1528]

He must’ve had some stories💯

[@jason200912]

Was he selling a green yellow painted fal

[@robertmaybeth3434]

Lucky guy he was - IMO the US should have allowed them all in. It was American political pressure for black government that forced the whites to lose everything they had.

[@desserted5446]

That’s a shame. You could’ve finished the job

[@KafremKnave]

@@desserted5446 huh? why they are cool

[@dillonwehde]

I was just in Zim and spent a lot of time with some older Zimbabweans who fought in the Rhodesian army. The stories they told me were insane and the love they have for Zimbabwe even after everything they went through is crazy. I asked what it was like after the war and they said "We went back home and tried to live normal lives and for awhile everything was good... for awhile"

[@Againstdhawa]

living in africa is a good life its like being on the TITANIC

[@patrickcannell2258]

Until gangster Mugabe too farms!

[@gratefulguy4130]

​@@Againstdhawa Always sinking? Or always waiting for the iceberg?

[@White.Man1]

Older zims? I think you mean Rhodesian's brother.

[@dillonwehde]

@@White.Man1 you’re not wrong

[@RM-kw1co]

I spent 2 and a half years in Rhodesia, one and a half on the ground and one flying helicopters for the Airforce. What is said here is partially true, very partially. Once the Airforce received the UH-1H the war turned dramatically in favor of the Rhodesians, as we could reach deep into Zambia and Mozambique to attack enemy bases . It was the politicians and the British Government that gave the country away to the communist terrorists. As a side note: I talked to many Africans in the Security Forces and asked them "Why are you in the Security Forces?" As the Constitution did not allow the conscription of Africans in the Security Forces, yet every white male from 18 to 55 had to server six months of every year in active duty (not all at once). Everyone African answered, " I want my country." Such an eye opener, as these people knew what was going on and would put their lives in danger to protect their country.

[@glendodds3824]

Rhodesia's Air Force was small but excellent and South African aircraft, pilots and technicians also played a role in defending Rhodesia. For Rhodesia's black population the conflict was of course a civil war. Some joined the security forces and other Shona and Matabele headed off into the bundu to fight for ZANLA or ZIPRA, although many of the latter suffered very badly when Mugabe came to power.

[@yami6499]

@@glendodds3824 Honestly speaking it was 'excellent' by African standards....by global standards Rhodesian forces...air or army were barely mediocre... their opponents were more like farmers who had recently been givven guns...not to mention they came from a culture that never created things like a huge army........so it was basically like an army vs lots of civilinas with guns.

[@kvyz-m9y]

I am curious, people have Rhodie fantasy would support idea of white supremacy?

[@AlbertLivingstone]

You were the terrorists my guy.

[@solwen]

@@AlbertLivingstone He was fighting for the country he was born in. Saying anything else is racist.

[@zz2ipper]

I spent the first 30 years of my life there; including service in the military. The magic of the Rhodesian Army was "fireforce" where 10 or so infantry often parabats who advanced line breast against the enemy. They were co-ordinated by "sunray" a veteran officer tightly orbiting the battle in an Alouette mini-gunship. Sunray was accompanied by a door gunner on a 50mm Browning mounted in the doorway. The fireforce concept is accurately described as "vertical envelopment".

[@joshuafrimpong244]

A lesson to be learnt: Even if it is military victory, that doesn't always mean that it will be a political victory. Look no further than the soviets in Afghanistan, as I see parallels between them.

[@nestormakhno9266]

I mean they were both wars where racist idiots got shot then lied about the numbers to make themselves look better

[@anon2034]

Or Americans in Afghanistan.

[@AC-hj9tv]

Vietnam

[@joshuaarmand5236]

Algeria and Vietnam for France

[@Rrgr5]

I thought just about the Soviets... But in the end they were victorious, when they leave Afghanistan the insurgency was somehow controlled, the USSR lasted until 1991, the DRA went untill 1994, when Kabul finally fall, untill it fall again when the Taliban invaded.

[@FelipeBRARSPF]

My great uncle fought in the bush war as a pilot, he says that every soldier was very professional, motivated and effective in their task due to a no bullshit training approach, no cleaning, no harrasment no useless drill and shit, just instruction and pratical battlefield training.

[@stormywindmill]

-----Agreed and that was because that was all there was time for.

[@njabuloradebe6273]

they were all mercnaries

[@spyderco329]

That’s exactly the way a real army should be

[@dubndrapwilwork]

@@njabuloradebe6273 how? they were fighting for their country so that would make them not a mercenary.

[@paul7754]

@@dubndrapwilwork Agree - 'most' were not mercenaries but it's well known that even a few American Vietnam vets (mostly SF) had found uses for their skills in Rhodesia.

[@FoFcraft]

As someone much smarter than me once said(can’t recall who) “the Rhodesian army fought a war of hearts and minds as a war of attrition.”

[@chiapets2594]

And who cares

[@jefftodd621]

@@chiapets2594 You obviously, because you are posting the same non-stop diarrhoea after every comment.

[@ebrimajallow9631]

and lost like most.

[@vinz4066]

​@@chiapets2594 I do

[@chengchung2524]

​@@chiapets2594Well I care too

[@HappyBear376]

My teacher was a Selious Scot. A quiet and humble man.

[@ggpp4898]

A 'Selious Scot'?/.....you mean Selous Scout.

[@HappyBear376]

@@ggpp4898 Far enough.

[@jacobnugent8159]

@vre7474how so, that’s like saying every Red Army soldier in WW2 was a war criminal

[@Prof16440]

a colonizer who fought to keep the black man down in his own land.

[@cojanemanuel8319]

@@Prof16440 And now the black man destroyed his own country I'm pretty sure you were better when the whites ruled over you

[@jayjohnson166]

Reminds me of a discourse between a North Vietnamese General and an U.S. General post-Vietnam conflict. The U.S. General boasted that the U.S. forces never lost a battle in the Vietnam conflict. The North Vietnamese General responded... "what difference did that make."

[@uglydog311]

The NVA were about to fall when the Democrat Party handed the whole country into Communist slavery and quit .

[@antonioburgos4287]

But they really lost my friend😋

[@Hitomiogamiito]

I still remember their recruiting motto “Be a man, among men, join the Rhodesian Army.”

[@OperatorMax1993]

still a badass motto

[@Chadius_Thundercock]

Meanwhile in the US, Emma and her two moms are the face of the Army

[@ChampChamp2024]

@@Chadius_Thundercock🤣🤣🤣

[@robinnicholas7867]

Should be “ be a white man, among white men, join a racist army”

[@Againstdhawa]

nice and masculine wouldnt see that now lol

[@yankeepapa304]

Picture of all the European Rhodesians in Company size photo in khakis, taken in Malaya as Rhodesian SAS had just been formed at that time. The bit about the two airliners shot down correct, but placed chronologically in wrong place in this piece... Was relatively near the end of the story... The late 1977 assault on terr base camps that killed 2000 not only had aging Rhodesian air assets, but borrowed South African Puma helicopters (much larger) and Mirage fighter-bombers... The last were not supposed to have been provided by South Africa to Rhodesian pilots by terms of contract with France... However, France unilaterally abrogated the contracts under foreign pressure, which freed South Africa to do whatever it wanted... including equipping a Rhodesian squadron... -YP-

[@ImFieldy]

I was there for just 7 months 1975, worked in telephone exchange, lived on (Jackaranda lined) Union Ave. What a beautiful country. Met a young nurse and married her. Her father was head accountant for RBC and Mashonaland basket ball coach but still had to fight. He was killed in ambush 1979 at 49yo. Ive read all the comments, your the only one using the term "terr" Id forgotten but that was all I ever heard them called - never thugs or gangsters etc. Vic Falls will always be the highlight of planet Earth for me :)

[@Wolf-hh4rv]

Many farmers were descendants of the 1890s settlers. Not that transient. My great great grandfather started a farm with 6 cattle and lived in a thatched mud house to start with.

[@139fulton]

Go back to Europe 😅😅😅😅

[@randolph4421]

Wow! I wonder if the black Africans can trace their lineage more than 130 years?

[@uzzimaki5722]

On Stolen land. Bye bye european

[@USAR8888]

Hannes Wessels's books on the war and the Rhodesian SAS are some of the most captivating I've ever read. Highly recommended for anyone who wants more in depth detail on the RLI, SAS, and Fireforce operations during the war. Some of those small unit SAS ops behind enemy lines were mind blowing in their audacity and effectiveness.

[@s.wvazim6517]

And his interview channel

[@mikefitzpatrick43]

Yes sir. A fuew hard men about the rodeshian SAS was awesome book. Learned alot about the why and reason of the war from rodeshian people too. The world turned the're back on rodeshia. Now it's a starving country called Zimbabwe. Alot of grimy things the MSM hid like white farmers bieng raiped and killed whole family s

[@Bigwillystyle707]

Turned their back on a country supporting racial segregation? Tides of history bend towards justice. The ending of Rhodesia was necessary

[@ProfessorShnacktime]

@@mikefitzpatrick43damn I wonder if they were killed because they supported an apartheid racist state… anyway oh well.

[@tritium1998]

@@mikefitzpatrick43 Zimbabwe still exists with plenty of people living.

[@FloridaManMatty]

If anyone wants to read or listen to a SUPERB book that contains first hand accounts of this era from Rhodesian SAS members, I HIGHLY recommend “A Handful of Hard Men” by Hannes Wessels. The audio book is exceptional.

[@JTJ-wm4cm]

Saw your comment and bought and read the book. It is indeed superb

[@JH-xv1bw]

Absolutely brilliant book

[@rogermacdonald1017]

I’m the Roger in that book. Working with Darrell was probably the best education I could have ever wished for as I was only 18.

[@pevebe]

Fantastic book, probably the best of 4 I've read on the conflict. One day Rhodesia will be back and on that day all the men who died in the pursuit of preserving it will have not been in vain

[@HONDAVFRV4]

I moved with my parents to Rhodesia in '76. My dad was in the British Army, left that and joined the Rhodesian Army. As a kid it was fantastic. Loved the country. Left in '82 and moved to South Africa, where my dad joined the South African Army. Eventually left there and we all moved back to the UK. I had such a great life as a kid and would do it all over again if I had the chance. 6 year old and firing Uzi's down at the range. Now all kids want to do is look at their phones.

[@elijahschmidt8382]

That’s cool as hell, I wanna see Africa one day it’s beautiful. Too bad I won’t get to shoot uzi’s like you lol

[@FullThrottleProductions]

Now thats a great childhood

[@theslavicsailor6654]

Jealous.

[@giorgospapoutsakis5271]

Interesting story not gonna lie but you kinda ruined it at the end, it's kinda prejudice that a kid nowadays only wants to look at a phone there are people that are more than that and also you were six firing uzis? I don't know what to make of that but it's definitely not a good idea,if you learned it the hard way if you had accidents and if just your parents weren't being careful enough a phone is less dangerous than a uzi to some extent Im not disrespecting you i have no idea what it would be like visiting Africa especially back then your story is a blast to hear along with more details

[@HONDAVFRV4]

@@giorgospapoutsakis5271 In the City where I live we have a light rail transit. You look at kids, heads down looking into their phones. They even interact with each via their phones. You see newspaper articles where kids have lost the ability to interact. This is because it is now all done electronically, even down to finding a partner. They don't even want to learn to drive. They chat via phones, internet, gaming and ride user apps like UBER. At 16 I got my motorbike license to ride a 50cc and at 17 I got my drivers license. When I was a kid we got home from school and went to the local pool on the army base. First thing was clear the scorpions out of the pool, I was six and grabbing scorpions out of the pool. We used to go out in the bush, no parents, just a couple of kids. This is Africa where you have puff adders, rattle snakes and everything else. We used to come across all sorts of wildlife. Didn't bother us as we were out for a laugh and seeing what trouble we could get ourselves into... and we did... But that was part of life and having fun, getting out there, interacting with my friends and having a great childhood. Yes I could fire all sorts of guns by the time I was six up, from 9mm pistols to Uzi, FN's and LMG's (Light Machine Gun). It did make me aware of how dangerous guns were. That was drummed in to me by the army instructors who taught us and my dad. There is nothing better than walking down the side of the range to the butts (bottom of the range where the targets are) and watching tracers whizzing down the range to the target right next to you. You get in the butts and the you work the targets with the adults, bringing them down, patching the holes and sending them back up again.

[@ABW777]

I was born in Rhodesia (Salisbury in 1971) my father joined the Rhodesian Army from the British Army (R.E.M.E) My Father passed away when I was 8 yrs old and by 1983 we left Zimbabwe as we knew it was going to go downhill from there. It turns out we were right. People made Rhodesia what it was and animals destroyed it. It’s a mentality end of.

[@discretebear4115]

I once read a passage in a book about the Vietnam War: The American General to the Vietnamese General, "We won every major battle." The Vietnamese General, "That may be so, but it is also irrelevant."

[@tritium1998]

So the Zimbabweans were brave just like the touted Viets.

[@seanheaney8303]

It is stupid to compare the two , Africans were very poor guerilla fighters and tactically were bascially dumb as a stump.. the viet cong were extremely intelligent and tactical... what got Rhodesia was purely political where Vietnam was tactic & an incredibly effective guerilla campaign. The Viet Cong were extremely effective at striking killing or wounding and escaping without being caught, their use of trickery , boob traps and manipulation was key to their success... the black guerilla fighters were about as good as 10 year old without guns... what got them was politics and being the minority in a country hostile to them.

[@nicgur_6981]

@@tritium1998 Rhodesians*

[@nicgur_6981]

@@seanheaney8303I find it funny the currency is garbage now.

[@rmwill7644]

@@seanheaney8303 Well the Viet Cong were actually trained. Not handed weapons and sent off like most were.

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

This is why countries now have "National Security Strategies", which involves a whole-of-government approach to tackling issues like these, not just accounting for the military side of things.

[@TheWedabest]

The pressure london put on smith played it's role. London made it very clear to smith that Rhodesia needed to be ruled by black Africans. Ultimately they were fighting a loosing war.

[@steelcrazy409]

reading a book at the moment called "We Dared To Win:The SAS in Rhodesia" with some first hand accounts of the actions described in your video which was very well put together.

[@cpttankerjoe]

What did Zimbabwe use before Candles? Electricity

[@AC-hj9tv]

Lmfao

[@long-hair-dont-care88.]

If you only knew how funny that is.

[@michaeljlouw620]

How do you spell Rhodesia phonetically? Robin Hood's Old Dad Eats Sausages in Asia. How do you spell Zimbabwe phonetically? Zero Intelligence Mainly Because All Bloody Whites Emigrated.

[@jasonwhite7677]

Vibranium

[@Mrbobinge]

Knobkieries?

[@richardthompson5810]

Ian Smith was himself also a WW2 fighter pilot who's story itself is worth reading. I recommend his autobiography - The Great Betrayal

[@jeraldsamuel5598]

I've read that book ,it's as boring as hell, all political maneuvering and hardly anything about military operations.

[@glendodds3824]

Hi Richard. it's an interesting book but it's unfair to South Africans. For instance, Ian blames the Boers for treating blacks as second class citizens.

[@danmorgan3685]

@@glendodds3824 Yeah, that's rich coming from a guy who lead the planter class of a deeply racist country.

[@therespectedlex9794]

I wonder if they were performance enhanced by science in those days

[@s.wvazim6517]

@@jeraldsamuel5598 then a few books, from hannes wessels you'll thank me later 😉

[@razorback20]

The Bush War has something similar with Algeria war fought by France: you can win on a military level yet still suffer a political defeat.

[@janmale7767]

As a South African i am ashamed to say that awfull Kissinger convinced (or intimidated John Voster) to stop (or drastically reduce) material support to Rhodesia, spelling the beginning of the end for her!

[@andriesvandeloo5166]

Yes, Henri Kissinger was responsible for the downfall of Rhodesia in the end. May he rot in hell.

[@Wooster23]

Kissinger is an evil man with a great deal of blood on his hands.

[@perrinayebarra]

There’s an excellent channel called Five Romeo Romeo run by a Bush War veteran who tells lots of amazing stories.

[@wingatebarraclough3553]

Also "fighting men of rhodesia"

[@pelonehedd7631]

Both right. All these people are fantastic story tellers. John Edmonds Troopie Songs and History stories are priceless. She Was Rhodie Girl , Its A Long Way To Mukumbura and Shumba Drinkers. The Rhodesian Forces Band Playing When The Saints Come Marching In is the best version. Their Version of March of The Belgian Paratroopers is also the best.

[@glendodds3824]

Five Romeo Romeo is very interesting but he gives the impression that Rhodesia was full of white liberals. Consequently, he draws far too strong a distinction between Rhodesia and South Africa.

[@currawong60911368]

@@glendodds3824 It is my experience that Rhodesians prefer to be considered as distinctly separate from South Africa. In a far more "determined" manner than say, Australians and New Zealanders. If you catch my drift.

[@glendodds3824]

@@currawong60911368. Hi. Yes, that is true of many Rhodesians. Former members of Rhodesia's white population can really be divided into three groups: those who loved Rhodesia (the largest category); those who loved Rhodesia and South Africa (a substantial minority); and those who disliked Rhodesia and South Africa.

[@cassyvorster466]

My step father was in the Rhodesian Airforce. The military kicked ass. The British sold them out.

[@jasonaris5316]

I met a former Selous Scout he was the hardest man I ever met

[@jasonaris5316]

@Cavebabybeserker back when I was cadet in the 80’s he had just got out of Rhodesia before Mugabe took over

[@tmajec]

The hardest men were the Zimbabweans who, despite oppressed and enslaved, decided enough was enough and used inferior arms to fight for their freedom.

[@neilbeesley8758]

Lol

[@sheek3222]

​@@tmajecThey're all dead.

[@the-letter_s]

@@tmajec decided? they were _taught_ that by the soviets and chinese.

[@CousinPaddy]

There’s not a lot of content pertaining to this conflict, thanks so much for providing such a thorough and visually informative experience!

[@alcorgastomilo]

My grandpa fought in angola during 1973 to 75 for portugal, he said the rhodesians were amazing pilots.

[@TheWoollyFrog]

You must be proud of your fascist gramps.

[@therespectedlex9794]

But they were not many

[@tritium1998]

Weird how the Rhodesians were the only ones with aircraft yet all these Rhodeboos here are crying like they were the underdogs.

[@tmajec]

@@tritium1998Because they are crybabies and cannot get over having their assess handed to them by infantry armed Bantus. Bunch of racists who, unlike that they did to Aborigines in Australia, thought the Africans won’t get tired of their nonsense.

[@johnryder1713]

Only 2 groups of people I like to see in short shorts, Beautiful women, and Rhodesians!

[@chiapets2594]

No

[@GLASSMOSCOWANDBEIJING]

​@@chiapets2594 Yes

[@Omardelatorr1]

Don't forget the Australians.

[@johnryder1713]

@@Omardelatorr1 Well that would be in Sun hats more so

[@88amona]

@Chia Pets you perfer doing pets? Disgusting bro.

[@brokenbridge6316]

So all the Rebels had to do was outlast the Rhodesian Army. Something that's been prevalent in many wars were guerillas fight against a more powerful enemy.

[@Historyfreak-f7o]

In the end, the Rhodesian government was forced by the global community to give up the country to the communist backed rebels. Forty years later the country stands in economic ruin, much as any other African nation. South Africa followed along.

[@renzeusoya5828]

And have outside sponsors like USSR and China. No rebellion has lasted long without outside support except for NPA in the Philippines.

[@brokenbridge6316]

@@renzeusoya5828---Can't argue with that

[@Brecconable]

@@renzeusoya5828 And Malaysia where the commies lost a 30 year civil war.

[@masonarmand8988]

The rebels were inexperienced illiterate farmers and child soldiers they shouldn’t have won

[@_ian69]

Well well well… look how South Africa and Zimbabwe are doing now ☠️

[@stevenhull5025]

Both banana republics

[@denisn8336]

@@stevenhull5025typical commies

[@irrelevantcheese8623]

Yeah you ruin a country it stays ruined for a while, who’d of thunk 😂

[@cloutpackent]

They are doing good, Zimbabwe was sanctioned since 2003 and it’s still holding on and staying strong to this day

[@Prof16440]

Better that than a lifetime under the heels of white supremacist colonizers.

[@manasmurali4143]

This was the one with The Selous Scouts wasn't it ? Those guys were BADASS. I remember reading from Jack Carr that they were like one of the most Elite Black Ops Units of the 20th Century or something 🗿🗿

[@chiapets2594]

No1 cares and no they were not

[@southern_poacher688]

@@chiapets2594 the selous scouts were the most badass out of them all

[@No_step_on_snake]

@@chiapets2594 what a sad person

[@AC-hj9tv]

@@No_step_on_snake he didn't get enough oxygen when he was born

[@Jupac415]

Wow try fighting a real threat not these losers

[@yolanda8563]

"We know Rhodesia no longer exists." "Do we?"

[@danielblank9917]

Yeah, dude. Rhodesia doesn't exist any more. Dis in sy moer in. And also, why the fuck are youtube commenters always putting quotes around shit to sound dramatic? It's not even a direct quote. Shit is cringe.

[@yolanda8563]

@danielblank9917 it is a direct quote from blood diamond genius

[@isaiahkim7126]

​​@@yolanda8563 then you suck at quoting lmfao cuz thats not it

[@yolanda8563]

@isaiahkim7126 Part 1 is quoting the yt video Part 2 is quoting blood diamond God damn you must be retarded

[@yolanda8563]

@@isaiahkim7126 Part 1 is quoting the yt video Part 2 is quoting the movie

[@JDFloyd]

This is all you need to know: An excellent Army, let down by political problems.

[@RykerRider46]

Exactly. 100% spot on.

[@ihadforeskinwithporkbellyf9306]

Lmao all this daft cope I am seeing in this comment section, militarily Rhodesians had no option stop being like women and accept defeat and move on

[@burningphoneix]

Same cope a lot of Americans use "We won the battles but politicians lost us the war!!" No it's because western Generals (Soldiers) absolutely fixate on tactics and how to integrate the latest toys from the MIC (which guarantees them board membership in Raytheon post-retirement) and ignore strategy and operations.

[@donghunglo3259]

Guess it was always a bad idea for whites to move to Africa and build it up when the natives can't help themselves and destroy any progress made

[@IncredulousIndividual]

@@ihadforeskinwithporkbellyf9306 It's clear you feel emotionally about this subject.

[@alancantu2557]

A friend’s grandfather actually got to meet PM Ian Smith once, stating that in their short meeting, he knew that Smith was one of the most articulate and intelligent people he had ever met. Smith was a great statesman that did everything in his power to keep the Rhodesian dream alive, but one man, incredible and ambitious as he may be, can only do so much. The Bush War ended up being a numbers game. Rhodesia lost because of former allies ceasing to support it as well as international economic sanctions and pressures. Even if the Rhodesian forces nominally lost, the results of individual skirmishes and battles speak for themselves. Rhodesia put up a hell of a fight.

[@peterhaideebrowning1633]

I think your comment touches on why Rhodesia had to fold, because it threatened the agenda that was planned and that we see playing out today. Honest and conscientious people working for a common goal would expose the corrupt elites that hold sway nowadays, and the contrast of what little it takes to be effective would inspire the people to challenge to status quo.

[@ricklyle3739]

Excellent content. This is one conflict that I knew very little about. Thank you for the informative history lesson.

[@indianajones4321]

Neat video, I’d like to see you do a series on Cold War mercenaries

[@rorythecomrade4461]

I see you in comments everywhere.

[@chiapets2594]

No

[@kskeel1124]

The real goal of most military's is to deter an enemy from attempting an invasion or attack of said country or its allies... The point is to make the enemy fear the consequences of any attack on your country enough to not even try... Teddy Roosevelt famously said "speak softly, but carry a big stick" referring to diplomacy...

[@malakupearson1725]

the problem is there was no real invading party. Both sides felt they belonged in the land.

[@Bigwillystyle707]

​@@malakupearson1725but one side thought they were superior to the other, and not sharing the land.

[@STEELGMBL]

​@@Bigwillystyle707which they were right to think that lol

[@Bigwillystyle707]

@@STEELGMBL good to meet a racist

[@southern_leyte8230]

Zimbabwe is now a country in a total mess. Bankrupt, it's citizens working in other countries.... So what did they actually achieve.

[@ricaard6959]

They achieved freedom. Like Mance Rhaydar said "The freedom to make my own mistakes was all I ever wanted"

[@southern_leyte8230]

@@ricaard6959 really this is what you wanted, how to put food on the table and a roof over your head, think about all the Zimbabweans forced to work outside of the country because they can't do the basics of feeding themselves if they stay in the country... What freedom is that, what achievement is that.

[@ricaard6959]

@@southern_leyte8230 Freedom from colonialism is what it is

[@southern_leyte8230]

@@ricaard6959 and into poverty, this of course is great freedom, hunger, no work and no prospect for the future. And Zimbabwe was never a apartheid country. Bottom line Zimbabwe now lives as one of the poorest or the poor countries. Do not worry SA has been sliding that way too... Sake problem the few elite members in the country have everything and the poor get really poorer. I understand democracy and being free, but at least have the back bone to unserstand with freedom comes great responsability....that responsability has not been cherished by the people of Zimbabwe.

[@Hello-oe7wg]

@@ricaard6959 the bitter truth is that people are often willing to trade freedom for security

[@dmitarobradovic2551]

I LOVE your series on the african wars. I think that a nice video topic would be the Algerian war of independace. Keep it up!

[@jayjohnson166]

The loss of Rhodesian territory reminds me of the Vietnam conflict. In 1967, the Johnson administration claimed to have military control over all but 3 provinces. A Sociologist w/ USAID did a cursory survey in the field and discovered that the Viet Cong were taxing in all BUT 3 provinces, taxing being the base of military control and visa versa. When the Tet offensive occurred in 1968, the only 3 provinces where the VC did not tax were where there was an absence of or minimal attacks. The same pattern appeared in Afghanistan too.

[@Prof16440]

Almost as if oppression breeds rebellion.

[@LifeisGood-ye8rl]

Here is an old joke I heard: what did Zimbabwean use to light their home with in 1950s? ……electricity

[@gratefulguy4130]

Ouch

[@cloutpackent]

Still has electricity , nice try racist bigot

[@yonatanbehar3322]

I heard a better version of the same joke What did Zimbabweans use to light their homes before candles Electricity...

[@ricaard6959]

No they didn't, because most Zimbabweans lived in poverty with no electricity because all the electricity infrastructure was built to serve the invaders and the main city Harare. Your racist wet dream never came true, it was a hell hole for most of the population, that's why they fought so hard to get the racists out and they did.

[@gratefulguy4130]

@@ricaard6959 It wasn't "built to serve the invaders" you knucklehead the rest of the country was difficult terrain on top of being rural. There were still plenty of rural places in the U.S. without that infrastructure either, and they weren't in a jungle.

[@calleway66]

very informative, i liked this video as i like to learn about conflicts that don't get as much attention as more mainstream stuff

[@willemvanstaden3292]

I think you need to discuss this conflict together with the South African border war - they were both proxy communist vs. western wars.

[@ailo4x4]

It is understood that warfare is an extension of politics. Meaning; violence only gets you back to the political table and not an end to itself. Probably the closest parallel would the when a US colonel said to a Vietnamese colonel at the Paris Peace Accords, “‘You know you never defeated us on the battlefield'" The North Vietnamese colonel pondered this remark a moment. ‘That may be so,’ he replied, ‘but it is also irrelevant.’” The US military has long been struggling with the scope, or definition, of the conflict they have found themselves engaged in; is it a "war" on terror, or a police action? Is it a "war" on drugs, or a police action, etc. Using military force for what are unachievable, nebulous political aims is a recipe for long-term military defeat regardless of the overwhelming force brought to bear. Well done analysis.

[@runningcommentary2125]

The ironic thing about Vietnam is that after beating the Americans the communists in Vietnam went on to crush other communist regimes the Americans hated. They toppled the Khmer Rouge and drove out the Chinese. Losing the war made basically no difference to America's relationship with Vietnam.

[@damackabet.4611]

the problem with the usa military is that it has no desire to win, or more accurately the politicians have no desire for it to win. Its goal is just to make money and keep the war industry flowing. Victory is secondary to that. In vietnam usa could had won but it was also considered politically dangerous due to potentially bringing chinese/soviets into conflict more, and causing an actual great war. Ultimately though the usa technically did win in vietnam, they signed a treaty and pulled out, the north said treaty ha fuck that, invaded south and usa didnt feel like getting back in to the war(mostly due to politics not wanting to be there any longer) so they ignored it. North vietnam took over the south after usa left, not before. Honestly though they exaggerate how bad vietnam was for usa, we spent roughly a decade there, and only had 60k dead, and like 200k wounded. bad sure, but ultimately thats pathetically low for an actual war with lots of fighting, most casualties were done to actual Vietnamese. We lose around 700k a year to heart disease for instance, so its really not that much when you think about it.

[@michaelandrus9145]

If you’d like to sculpt with foam in layers, using liquid nails or tacky glue works well, both do well at holding layers together without seems showing after shaping and sanding, good video

[@ChrisDavis-ju7tx]

As a Rhodesian born in 73, I'm proud of my mother and father for fighting in the Bush War. Their sacrifice and those of all Africans who answered the call will never be forgotten or disgraced.

[@TheWoollyFrog]

How's life as a refugee?

[@ChrisDavis-ju7tx]

@forzaviolapoli3 Like anything else in life, it has its ups and downs.

[@abdiabdi524]

they can't be disgraced if they already had no honour fighting to keep most people from being equal truly evil.

[@BudroThePious]

This feels a lot like what happened in Vietnam, or Afghanistan... or Afghanistan, where the military of one side wins most or all engagements but loses ground and the war.

[@pudanielson1]

in Vietnam, the Viet Cong were destroyed and never became a conventional fighting force again. While the NVA had to actually invade South Vietnam conventionally. In the end a series of economic factors, dwindling political support from the UNited States, and South Vietnamese indecsiveness led to the end of the state.

[@jason200912]

In all 3 wars the problem was cost Cost. And cost. They would have won had they had unlimited funds to blow. Should have recruited more locals to do the fighting. Don't even train them, just send them out to fight to keep the war cheap.

[@effexon]

@@jason200912 like ukraine? that seems textbook of that description.... also in many of those former cases, they tried but those people were useless so US troops were sent to clean up mess.

[@tinysaxon3826]

No Afghanistan was different ? The yanks ran away and left everyone else in the shit !!

[@CeluiEtSeul]

Lol. South Vietnamese and Afghan national armies were dogsh*t weak, cowards and corrupt. Of course they wanted the US to do most of the work for them. Lol. That's why US made peace with the enemy and bounced leaving the fate of the countries in their own hands.

[@labrador3231]

Great video, very informative, must be hard when your country no longer exists

[@derekmclellan7337]

The original tenants merely evicted some squatters.

[@danhobart4009]

@@derekmclellan7337 And now they're starving 🤣

[@TheIamPC]

@@danhobart4009 finds starvation funny? Weird shit but ok.

[@danhobart4009]

@@TheIamPC It's hysterical, want pictures?

[@ca9968]

@@danhobart4009 from bread basket to basket case...T.I.A...

[@michaelmutphy9077]

I remember standing on the elevated train platform in the Bronx on my way to work and reading a poster on the wall. It said be a man amongst men join the Rhodesian army. I said to myself where the hell is that?

[@conorcane1211]

wish you still had the poster!

[@michaelmutphy9077]

@@conorcane1211 after learning more about it , I wish I had taken it home with me.

[@cb6733]

Rhodesia was never going to win, not with the way events unfolded. With the loss of support from Mozambique and South Africa, they couldn't keep it up forever, and they started to lose funding and equipment after those two backed out. On a man by man basis, they Rhodesians had one of the best fighting forces in the world, but as you go up towards the tactical side of things, and the political, it becomes clear that no matter how effective those guys were, they couldn't have won, which is the true tragedy in all this.

[@smegheadGOAT]

Rhodesia was never truly alone thousands of South African men joined the Rhodesian fight knowing they were next. South African equipped Rhodesia and sent fuel.

[@mikebellis5713]

What? Thousands? 😄

[@TheWoollyFrog]

M8, Apartheid SA had secretly developed nuclear weapons during this time period. They were never in any real danger from their neighbours. Take your victim-mentality somewhere else.

[@fionasmith6868]

Not thousands.

[@Brecconable]

@@TheWoollyFrog Cuba has entered the chat pendejo.

[@TheWoollyFrog]

@@Brecconable ?

[@dewetmaartens359]

Would love to see an episode on the SADF of South Africa, especially operations in Angola. Many thanks, great channel!

[@captainbadd]

Outstanding. That Hideous Strength is a great companion-piece to The Abolition of Man and doesn't require reading the previous two. Lewis' prescience continues to amaze me.

[@mastrouble]

Well done video. Thank you.

[@wtls000]

My ex’s father fought for the Rhodesians. Would never say a single word about it. Pretty sure he had some extreme PTSD but hid it really well.

[@adammoodley2722]

As a Zimbabwean certainly one of the most balanced accounts of the story I have ever heard too. Very good questions raised! Could the current state of the country have been avoided had things been handled differently in the early 1960s ?

[@ggpp4898]

Yes, one of the greatest mistakes was the international non acceptance of Muzorewa in 1978. The populace were intimidated into not voting. I served in the RSF..one of the greatest advantages we had was that we were fighting for a country whilst living in that self same country. Not like Vietnam, not like Iraq, or Afghanistan , and to some extent not like N.Ireland. In all these conflicts Brits, Americans and Australians could go back home. In Rhodesia our 'home' was also in the war-zone....hardly any greater motivation required. In the end the Yanks/Brits/South Africans let us down.

[@adammoodley2722]

@@ggpp4898 interesting point you raise. Thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@redriddler1231]

"Only the dead have seen the end of war" - Plato

[@rush1er]

The REAL casualty of this war was that dog breed... Zimbabwean Ridgeback doesn't exactly roll off the tongue.

[@michaelrhodes6461]

Nice

[@penskepc2374]

Be a man among men Join the Rhodesian army

[@long-hair-dont-care88.]

In booty shorts.

[@ashandesilva9455]

More like a dead man among dead men

[@LastBrigadier]

amongst.

[@penskepc2374]

@@LastBrigadier the poster definitley said among, genius

[@davidscott3820]

As a retired usaf security police sergeant we were modeled after the British r a f regiment, and our "fire team" tactics after the Rhodesian fire force. One of our blue berets even fought the communists in Rhodesia (now he's a hand model😅)

[@MichaelPersson-d5h]

From the beginning; the Pioneer Column, brought the seeds of disaster with them from the south, and planted the tree that would forever poison the potential of the Rhodesian dream. The pioneer column was the origin of this idea that you can simply walk into a territory, win a few skirmishes, sign treaties with one tribe and then lay claim to the whole space. The land issue was never dealt with. Yet it was there from the very start. Decade after decade passed and they left every opportunity to address this fundamental flaw in their plans. This alone determined the limited lifespan of an otherwise great country. But that reticence to be fair came from that section of settlers that entered the territory with the Pioneer Column. It was an arrogance and an entitlement. A refusal to listen and to consider another opinion.

[@Gungho1a]

A lot of Rhodesian servicemen came to australia. Most welcome additions to our forces.

[@CC-ns2ds]

Bolstered your racists too!

[@dxb338]

so did they teach you to murder prisoners and kids and drink out of dead guy's legs or were you already on it?

[@alenparker3056]

Don't let your great country become like the UK man, we can still preserve greatness.

[@Gungho1a]

@@CC-ns2ds Yep, going to need them if black apartheid comes in.

[@Gungho1a]

@@dxb338 Thats just the SASR.

[@Not_sheeple]

Well said, a functioning country brought down, nay, crippeled by black incompetence.

[@moz7677]

i don't know how many things you got right or wrong but it was an amazing explanation of something i had no real knowledge on before, well worth the time it took to watch, thank you.

[@josecrispim8466]

I was born in Moçambique, at 1962, in Tete. During colonial war of Frelimo, we hear several time, the hight quality of Rodesian Troops.

[@kb4777]

Very good documentary but you could have included more about how the Zanla and Zipra troops terrified the population with their barbaric tactics of burning villages, rape, beating, torture and murder to bring the population to their side. Also more on the Indaba that Smith called, also how initially much of the insurgent forces were not from Rhodesia. Also the betrayal by successive British Governments etc. But also to be fair its an enormous subject as Rhodesia wasn't in isolation, the entire continent was in turmoil. It is just such a sad story. When it was Rhodesia the farmers produced such a surplus of food (due to the climate they could achieve at least two harvests a year) the UN had a permanent office in Salisbury to buy the surplus redistribute it across Africa to feed the continent. As Zimbabwe the country became the biggest recipient of foreign aid in the world. Why on earth couldn't they find a compromise.

[@a.m928]

Because Ian Smith refused to bury the racists policies. This gave Mugabe all rhe arguments and power he needed to justify his BS. There were other non-racist whites but they didnt get as much support from the conservative whites. A more balanced white leader could have been acceptable instead u got Ian Smith who more or less paved the way for Mugabe.

[@brianyoung8232]

@@a.m928 Sadly certain groups of people will complain about the driver even if their bus is being driven correctly and safely. They falsely think that if one of their own is driving all things are good even if their own have a history of driving buses over the edges of cliffs. Think about it.

[@tmafungo84]

Plain Rhodesian propaganda

[@brianyoung8232]

When people don't like the truth or cant deal with it they call it propaganda. @@tmafungo84

[@JamesStakerWin]

@@a.m928 "Racist" sure, the competent White rulers knew better than the Africans and when global finance forced Africans into power the entire country went to hell. Maybe the "racists" had some basis in reality to operate on.

[@uncledan2u]

Saya dari Malaysia dulunya Malaya. Terima kasih atas sumbangan tentera Rhodesia yang amat cekap dan mahir membantu tentera Komanwel dan Regimen Askar Melayu menentang komunis pada peringkat awal. Tanpa bantuan dari kalian tidak akan ujud Malaysia yang kita kenali sekarang ini. Budi yang baik dikenang jua. Tabik hormat.

[@nafis6668]

komen terbaik tuan.

[@nightdragon1710]

Based sekali tuan

[@ayodejiolowokere1076]

Nonsense. The Malay Emergency was put down before the Bush War.

[@Jrh-rp7np]

How do you not love the FAL and the Rhodesian Brushstroke camo…

[@gwolffen2132]

We appreciate the story of Rhodesian history. It's important to remember the dedicated soldiers who fought that war.

[@goodbarbenie5477]

For those of us who were there. We never saw our efforts as fruitless or even in vein. As an olde Rhodie the Spirit of Rhodesia lives on in each of us, we in actual fact never die. For those who accept defeat, only then are U defeated....😊. We may fade a little but to die impossible. We then just mellow like a good olde Brandy...😊😅😂...

[@The13thRonin]

Rhodesian army: *extreme professionalism, discipline and willpower* Zimbabwean government: "Lel, just print all the monies until we become a meme"

[@ernstschmidt4725]

which one still exist tho.

[@The13thRonin]

@@ernstschmidt4725 Define 'exist'. Because by almost any reasonable definition Zimbabwe doesn't as a country.

[@Loyal2.RickOwensWayne]

@@The13thRoninRhodesia is no longer seen on the map only Zimbabwe. Rhodesia’s last memory is of Dylan Roof 😂😂😂

[@The13thRonin]

@@Loyal2.RickOwensWayne Zimbabwe is a dictatorship. You are celebrating a dictatorship, and a racist dictatorship at that.

[@strangeman9362]

​@@Loyal2.RickOwensWaynetrue but Zimbabwe became a meme 😂

[@adamburgess1422]

I enjoyed the accurate accounts of the Bush War. I would like to here about Norther Rodesia (now Zambia) and it's part played in the first World War. I am a Zambian myself and a little known fact is that Zambia was where the last shot was fired at the end of the war.

[@1650th]

We provided training camps and supplies the enemy retaliated with air strikes

[@adamburgess1422]

@@1650th i see, Thank you.

[@justze6710]

Portugal mentioned 🇵🇹 Let's go!

[@McLoed22]

Yeah, as we all know from Zimbabwe, it was an excellent changed, everyone was happy and they all lived happily ever after.

[@ayodejiolowokere1076]

Things didn't get much worse for most.

[@tritium1998]

Zimbabwe still exists with plenty of people living.

[@nicgur_6981]

@@ayodejiolowokere1076if you we’re still white.

[@nicgur_6981]

@@tritium1998 Not that but their currency was 💩

[@user-uc4vg4rg9e]

@vre7474 that works in most cases however there are some good cases such as new caledonia where they are better off under french rule

[@edjohnson8017]

The only lesson that should be learnt was “demographics is destiny” The future is created as much in the womb as it is in the battlefield

[@jacquesduplessis6310]

Self-determination for Africans. So how did it work out for them?

[@tlchinyuku]

working well fool

[@Lawrence-se8vb]

Workinv well dunce

[@lakilouise]

Great documentary…. One correction not sure if anyone has picked it up already…. It was Joshua not Joseph Nkomo….

[@shauncilliers3343]

Yea and then mugabe got control and plunged the country in to shit same thing happening here in South Africa right now

[@callu947]

2:11 that button is holding on for dear life

[@augusthoglund6053]

Very balanced and informative video. When I was finished with the video, I read through some digitized Washington Post articles written as current coverage of Rhodesian military operations back in 1977 and 1979. By all appearances the “attrition” perspective seems pretty well supported. As ZANLA/ZIRPA got greater number and more sophisticated weapons and tactics, Rhodesian operations reached the limit of what could be sustained with the availability funding and personnel while enjoying the same overwhelming successes. There were also serious shortcomings in defensive warfare. While individual defensive engagements tended to be successful, Rhodesian forces were spread to thin to respond to all ZANLA and ZIRPA attacks. Sure, attacks on big cities and White-owned farms could be repulsed, but Rhodesian Forces utterly failed to protect loyal tribal leaders from retaliation. The victories against Black civilians who supported the Rhodesian government escaped notice until the White minority strongholds were surrounded by hostile trust land territory.

[@glendodds3824]

Moreover, by the late 1970s more and more whites were leaving the country. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qanSg3-LjdqEf9U

[@TheTigerOC]

At 15:07 you have an error of cause and effect. It wasn't the economy that led to the first "majority election". In early 1976 the South African Government had developed and tested a nuclear device. The Russian and Cuban involvement in Southern and Central Africa spooked the US President. South Africa imported huge amounts of crude oil from Iran and despite their own oil from coal plants were still dependent on foreign oil. The US dispatched Henry Kissinger to a "peace"conference in Geneva which included South African foreign Minister Pik Botha. At that conference Botha was told to put pressure on Rhodesia to accede to the concept of majority rule. Kissinger then visited the Shah of Iran, South Africa's major oil supplier. The Shah faced pressure internally (which would over throw him not long after) and Kissinger instructed him to pressure South Africa or the US would start slowing military supplies. July saw Ian Smith summoned to a meeting with South African PM. The decoy was an invite to a rugby test match in Pretoria. At that meeting Smith was instructed to implement majority rule with moderate African leaders. Smith refused. South Africa responded by stopping all supplies of petrol, diesel and armaments and stopping all exports moving through South Africa. Two weeks later Smith accepted the South African ultimatum. 17:00hrs 15th October; at a meeting of senior civil servants( I was one of them) in our area Smith along with local MP informed us of this situation and the process to hold elections in 1977. This is corroborated by others.

[@alphatyrant8677]

Much like Vietnam, Rhodesia ended up as a tactical and largely operational success, having never really lost a fight. But strategically, it was a loss. They never were able to shut down rebel armies on the whole and never truly understood how to win the favor of the locals. After all, you can only kill so many people before anyone left hates you. Politicians and generals lose wars even if the soldiers themselves performed far better than any could hope for.