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The Rhodesian Civil War
One of the most tragic wars in Southern Africa’s history, the Rhodesian Civil War, raged for over a decade.
Spanning from 1966 to 1979, the seeds for this conflict were sown almost a century earlier when, in 1889, the British South Africa Company was granted a Royal Charter to occupy land north of the Limpopo River.
An inevitable clash of ideology and political ambitions ensued, culminating in the Rhodesian Government declaring unilateral independence in November 1965, a move that set the nation alight.
This dramatic and detailed book maps out the critical events that led to war, identifying the combatants and detailing chronologically the salient events of the conflict.
Through detailed narrative, Rhodesian History author John Frame, traces how international political interferences influenced the war, and why the Rhodesian Security Forces lost the war despite having won most of the battles.
It showcases how Rhodesia was caught in the vice of the Cold War and the how, through the political ambitions of major powers, the combatants in this bloody war were not in control of their own destinies.
Spanning from 1966 to 1979, the seeds for this conflict were sown almost a century earlier when, in 1889, the British South Africa Company was granted a Royal Charter to occupy land north of the Limpopo River.
An inevitable clash of ideology and political ambitions ensued, culminating in the Rhodesian Government declaring unilateral independence in November 1965, a move that set the nation alight.
This dramatic and detailed book maps out the critical events that led to war, identifying the combatants and detailing chronologically the salient events of the conflict.
Through detailed narrative, Rhodesian History author John Frame, traces how international political interferences influenced the war, and why the Rhodesian Security Forces lost the war despite having won most of the battles.
It showcases how Rhodesia was caught in the vice of the Cold War and the how, through the political ambitions of major powers, the combatants in this bloody war were not in control of their own destinies.
558 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2019
50 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
John M. Frame
92 books222 followersFor his education, Frame received degrees from Princeton University (A.B.), Westminster Theological Seminary (B.D.), Yale University (A.M. and M.Phil., though he was working on a doctorate and admits his own failure to complete his dissertation), and Belhaven College (D.D.). He has served on the faculty of Westminster Theological Seminary and was a founding faculty member of their California campus. He currently (as of 2022) teaches Apologetics and The History of Philosophy and Christian thought at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 22, 2018
To be short: What a marvellous effort.
To elaborate a bit more: The book starts a bit slow with the necessary exposition and explanation of the events leading up to and the sides involved in this civil war.
After these chapters, the book really kicks into gear and gives an excellent detail of the progress of the war, with most engagements and political manoeuvering in detail. With maps and photographs added to explain the events as they unfolded, this book gives a honest and largely unbiased in the tragedy that befell this nation.
No matter your own stance on this issue, in the end one can conclude that this war only had losers on the long term.
The Rhodesians weren't without flaws, but fought for what they believed to be the best form of independence, as did the other factions such as ZANU and ZAPU.
In the end they all had a broken nation and this book portrays excellently how it got so broken.
The epilogue is the most powerful, stating facts on the current situation, which are harrowing.
A must read for people interested in the history of Africa or tactical warfare.
To elaborate a bit more: The book starts a bit slow with the necessary exposition and explanation of the events leading up to and the sides involved in this civil war.
After these chapters, the book really kicks into gear and gives an excellent detail of the progress of the war, with most engagements and political manoeuvering in detail. With maps and photographs added to explain the events as they unfolded, this book gives a honest and largely unbiased in the tragedy that befell this nation.
No matter your own stance on this issue, in the end one can conclude that this war only had losers on the long term.
The Rhodesians weren't without flaws, but fought for what they believed to be the best form of independence, as did the other factions such as ZANU and ZAPU.
In the end they all had a broken nation and this book portrays excellently how it got so broken.
The epilogue is the most powerful, stating facts on the current situation, which are harrowing.
A must read for people interested in the history of Africa or tactical warfare.
December 12, 2018
A clearly very well researched book, written in great detail by someone who was actually there and serving in the Rhodesian arms forces during the conflict.
Despite that the book is written most dispassionately, describing in great detail the multitude of factors and actors at play in this long, brutal and tragic war - a war that I must confess that I knew shamefully little about until now, and a conflict whose effects are still being felt by the people of this once prosperous land to this very day.
I can thoroughly recommend this book to any follower of late 20th century history or of Southern African current affairs.
Despite that the book is written most dispassionately, describing in great detail the multitude of factors and actors at play in this long, brutal and tragic war - a war that I must confess that I knew shamefully little about until now, and a conflict whose effects are still being felt by the people of this once prosperous land to this very day.
I can thoroughly recommend this book to any follower of late 20th century history or of Southern African current affairs.
January 5, 2019
I purchased a copy from Bush War Books and received it within a few days. Just finished reading it. I left school in 1965, commenced NS in 1966 and served as a Territorial Force Officer until 1980. I was also a Rhodesian Front MP for the last 2 paliaments, 1977-79. I highly recommend this in depth, easy to read, book to any one interested in the complex true reality that was Rhodesia and the happenings, both political and military, that occurred during its tragic period. A must read for all Rhodesians! We were saved from the brink of a calamitous ending, resulting from the folley and naivety our politicians, by our armed forces!
September 25, 2018
I found this book very informative.
It is a dispassionate account of a sad war, where everyone ended up losing.
Living in SA and Rhodesia before it all began, I now realise that I, along with most others, had no clue about what was happening just across the border.
Despite it being a sad tale, I found it easy to read and understand.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic.
Tony Moore
It is a dispassionate account of a sad war, where everyone ended up losing.
Living in SA and Rhodesia before it all began, I now realise that I, along with most others, had no clue about what was happening just across the border.
Despite it being a sad tale, I found it easy to read and understand.
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the topic.
Tony Moore
May 16, 2020
An excellent history of the fall of Rhodesia. The hero of the book is the country's last prime minister, Ian Smith, who fought the bravest fight to keep Rhodesia standing against its many foes. Betrayal by the British government, pressured by Henry Kissinger, and struggling against communist-backed guerillas, Ian Smith maintained the dignity of his office and kept a brave face throughout the war. He knew what would happen if the international community got its way, but ultimately, he couldn't stop it.
February 16, 2022
An interesting read, although it suffers greatly from a lack of good copyediting and at times what I suspect is a not-wholly-balanced viewpoint.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews