Fighting Men of Rhodesia ep170 | Capt Darrell Watt | Rhodesian SAS
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- čas přidán 13. 02. 2023
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They say a war is not truly over until the last person who fought in it has died.
I make videos about my lifelong interest in Military History and the fascinating story of Africa. Creating content about the experiences of the fighting men of Rhodesia in the hope of capturing their stories for posterity. Many of the great warriors I knew have now passed on and their stories have gone with them. For all of us the clock is ticking and I hope to document as much of this history as I can before it's too late. I feel very blessed to be supported in this adventure by such a lovely bunch of people. THANK YOU from the bottom of heart for making this channel possible! If you want to support the channel on a monthly basis, please click on the link www.patreon.com/johnvanzyl
Strength to your arm John we really appreciate what you , Hannes and the others are doing for the same reasons. Salute
1111
PS John if it goes to rum instead, I wouldn't be disappointed haha
Thank you I believe understanding the war on both sides is the only true solution to fixing Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
Ian Smith was better than mnangagwa and Robert Mugabe by far
This is incredible. To have these four gentlemen in the same room sharing these memories and experiences. Nothing like this will ever exist again. Thank you.
Couldn't agree more!
Big praise to Richard for opening up thr can of worms created by the bloody poms!
Nothing as beautiful as the stories being told by both the hunter and hunted. Bra Richard, bravo to you
Really great to finally get a good audio from Darrell. What a soldier & what a hard bugger for 74! Tatenda Richard for your story. We may have fought on opposite sides, but you still have my respect for what you endured. As can be seen, if the Western world had left us alone, l am sure that we would have sorted our problems out to the betterment of all races in Zimbabwe
Dear Comrade Tatenda Richard you are the best.
As a BSAP reservist now 77 yrs old so much of this interview is a stunning revelation to me. I am stunned by my how much I didn't know. Staggering treachery of the British.
Yes, me too!
Great to see a former BSAP member comment.. Ive been trying to find some details out. I have a couple of questions if you don't mind. I read Hannes wrote " Through the war years BSAP patrolmen and woman carried out the bulk of their duties unarmed." Was that true of Special Branch and the CID? Also, could you advise what a detective who did carry, what make his service weapon/revolver would have been? No worries if you dont answer .. but any info gratefully received.
I’m surprised anyone would admit to being a member of such a fascistic organization.
@@brianbelgard5988 Im sure if you found yourself in that same war zone you would have solved that conflict single handedly. Oh no you would have taken the gap.
@@powerbite92 I don’t know if I could “solve” it, but I certainly wouldn’t join the fascists who caused it.
I came across this channel by chance,let me thank the initiator of it by bringing energy together who were once opponents/ enemies.I am a Namibian a former PLAN fighter( People's Liberation Army of Namibia that's is) I am a history lover and I am concuring with you that history need to be told ,whether angry of nicer,it is and remain our history. Ii unfortunate that many participants from both side had passed on and buried with their stories. I am currently busy with my munscript done,hopefully my book will land in shelfs one day.Again thanks a lot for this initiative. GOD Bless.
Both sides of the story which is extremely rare in today's world..............Undoubtedly the best interview to date.
Thank you Hannes
As a guy born in 1981 in Australia after my parents left Zimbabwe/Rhodesia in December 1980, I’m so proud that the two of you have begun documenting the history of the conflict for my children and grandchildren.
After so much controversy and misinformation it’s a wonderful endeavor.
Some of this guy's were soja morali they where gud in kongonya
Hello mate. I'm a bit younger but remember seeing photos of my nan and grandad in Rhodesia, where they lived after WW2. I never appreciated them at the time, ofc, and would give anything to be able to sit down with her again and listen to her stories about her time in Rhodesia.
Damned interesting meeting , thank you. I was involved from 1967---------
I commend and applaud you all for this clear and concise discussion about our struggles, without hatred and animosity. Your intentions to be factual and honest without trying to push an agenda or popular narrative is refreshing in these politically manipulated times. I salute you all, and thank you. May we all find peace, healing, and community together in the future through talks, understanding, and forgiveness.
This reminds me of the utterances from one Zipra recon guy, who got me confused but left me educated that ours was not a fight against whites, but the system. For some time in my youth I saw whites as enemies, but him introducing me to the difference between a person and institutions made me see things differently. Big up to all the gallants of our times
Outstanding interview chaired professionally by Hannes. It was great to hear from Richard Ngwenya, Darryl and Biddy and so enlightening too. Hope to see and listen to more of our former ZIPRA and ZANLA foe in the months ahead; it brings a new and important dimension to what was truly happening with respect to the strategic planning and 'end game' that was evidently in play. Thoroughly enjoyed this interview.
Only 10 mins into this and I have to give credit to you all, and especially Richard for obvious reasons. It was a hard war, but it's long over now and getting an accurate record of it from the participants is very important. Well done again and keep up the good work.
Hell of an interesting chat guys !! I hope theres a part 2 ..........
Building bridges of understanding between those who fought on both sides of the war will never be easy. I appreciate this may present a number of difficulties because those involved in war are sometimes broken in body and mind whilst some may continue to loathe former foes. But it is a noble cause to make peace with former enemies to build something better.
Thank you for another valuable insight.
As a Patron, I had the opportunity to view this interview before going public. Thanks Guys, keep up the good work, my comments have already been submitted to Hannes/John. Great to have heard Richard and hope there will be many more like him coming forward. A few things stood out for me 1. Speculation on who our sellouts is no longer the truth is out. 2. Mistakes we made reagrding integration of all Rhodesians whatever their race. 3. The rivalry between Shona and Ndebele people runs deep and will always be to the detriment of that beautfiful country. Look forward to many many more such interventions.
Racism was never the real problem in sub-Saharan Africa, it is tribalism.
Thank you Richard for your input! Brave man! Well done for putting it into the history books 🙏 so good listening to all of you
It's the unwritten and unknown part of history we all need and want. 👏🏾👏🏾
Speaking as a Zimbabwean/ Rhodesian of British stock, I am beyond honoured to read of these great mens' courage. No matter their ethnicity or colour. They are Men Among Men.
Great to see this! I left South Africa 4 years ago but I still consider myself African, being white seeing this helps me believe there is hope. Darrell Watt is a legend . Read the book A Handful of Hard Men!
Huge respect to all of you for your contributions, your honesty combined respect and passion for a country that deserves better given the sacrifices you all made ......Remembered are your fallen brothers and sisters in arms. Thank you Richard
Please have another get together like this one with all parties concerned. Bring Richard back our history must include views from his side. Richard please come back again.
What i find amazing in all the interviews you guys have made is that no hatred is harbored by the two parties. You were both real fighters and you both acknowledged the strengths of your adversaries. Real soldiers you were
One of the best interviews. Please rich out to former ZANLA commanders and also former Pfumo Revanhu (Muzorewa's guys). This approach is the BEST!.
They all carry a piece of crucial history in them. We need this history to be properly documented.
Mdidi sufuna ukuletha smasimba ezanu
Sebeqalile 😅Amakhiwa ayakwazi ukuthi babesilwa lobani
Brilliant interview and platform. We need these guys back. I feel there is so much has to be talked about.
Captivating talk gentlemen, in hind sight all the blood spilt and great endeavour by both sides to win, what?? Thank you all for taking the time to share with us and preserve the history of the Rhodesian conflict. Blessings...
Maya Angelou once said that the heaviest burden that any mortal can carry is the burden of an untold story. Learned a lot from this interview. thank you all.
Absolutely fascinating to see former adversaries come together in the aftermath of war to share in their experiences, kudos to John and Hannes for having the acuity to bridge the divide 🍻
Richard, did you meet my namesake Hudson Kandeya , we came across each other at Mashingaidze Pools near Mushimbi Pools when I was doing a Survey up Hunyani Gorge for a irrigation scheme. very tough. He shared our food drops we had established at great expense. He left a note thanking me personally, new my name and surname. His note said we were safe from him as I was doing work that would be useful after independence. Obviously when I got back to our Base camp, my escort a WO with RAR called it in. Not sure if he was ever caught
Personally this was among the best of this series of interviews. Hearing Richard's input painted a bigger picture filling in the gaps that Taffy another ZIPRA commander did not cover. It was fantastic to hear these men speak openly. At the end of the interview all agreed that we were outplayed up front at Lancaster House. Carrington ,Flower, Nkomo, Walls and Thatcher each played a major role in the demise of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The Guerilla Leaders had formed a pact to build the country as Zimbabwe with the whites remaining as players in the future integration of Central Government, the Military, Civil Service and Zimbabwe Police. Thank you gentlemen. John Van Zyl and Hannes Wessels are ensuring that we know the truth. And furthermore, that all Zimbabwe Rhodesians in the diaspora were duped by the perfidious European and American Governments creating the debacle that the country finds itself in today. Only the elite at home are well off, whilst the rest suffer and are the poorer for it.
This is one for the history books.
The two major powers in the background ( U.K. and Soviet) played huge roles in the finality of the conflict. Watching richards facial expressions throughout the interview i think speaks volumes of what we will never know. Yes it could have and should have ended differently but thats not what the crown and Soviets wanted. Great interview
Unlike Zanu is teaching us, the first shots of the Liberation struggle were shot in September 1964 by a group of 6 commanded by Moffart Hadebe who is still alive. The shots were shot in Kezi Zidube ranch.
Wow, just amazing to hear first hand confirmation of the rumours we all grew up with.
Thank you. Great to hear both sides of the Hondo.. The conniving Brits and the extremes on both sides ensured a war occurred and Zanu PF came into power. A great interview, thanks to you all. Simply fascinating. How did Flower get away with it?
Thanks to you all for an interesting conversation about a part of our history
I am lost for words.
Well done. Extraordinary
I have no connection with Rhodesia, and the bush war was over before I was born. I’ve read two of Hannes’ book and watched a lot of these videos and Im absolutely fascinated. Such brave and fearless soldiers! Im disgusted in the treachery on the part of the British government and it seems to me if it all went down without external interference, the country would still be prosperous today.
Please bring peace to our beautiful country. We must all sit down now and close the chapter.
Too true
Really??
Like the boer at Blood River??
Wow this was sooooo moving & thanks to the other guy for admitting that Zipra's training was top notch! Mr Ngwenya has a lot of valued information which i personally think MUST be written somewhere for our grandchildren! Also all people irrespective of colour or race must live in harmony☺️☺️☺️😏👍
Absolutely fantastic interview. Thank you for sharing your stories. Very interesting information from Richard. I look forward to more. Keep saving the history of our beautiful land.
Excellant job, guys! Hannis did a great job moderating and getting all three to contribute critical information. I'm going to have to watch this several more times. It's also so good to see and hear DW with good camera and sound system. I believe his first interview was Episode 6? Had nightmares after watching him. Would wake up in the middle of the night and see his shirtless image looking down on me. Terrifying!
Thank you for the imput of this Podcast, Richard , Darryl and Middle's bring to light of what took place during the bush war, and capturing actuat facts.
Another brilliant informative video. It is great to see guys like Richard coming forth and adding to the story. We need more ZANLA and ZIPRA members joining in, their input is so important and interesting
Excellent work.
Appreciate the whole perspective covering the ZIPRA input from Richard.
Always learn of so much more outside my involvement.
Thanks gentlemen.
I'm Greek, living in Greece. I never knew much about this conflict except some stories of the Rhodesian SAS during WW2. Very interesting gathering. A true step to reconciliation for the veterans.
I am still watching ,I am surprised with razor sharp memories of all those soldiers.well done soldiers
Thank you. As Italian we don't know about Rhodesia and what happened in Africa during '70 and '80. All your videos are always welcomed :)
I am a younger Zimbabwean (often called) born free. I have always been fascinated about the history of Zimbabwe/Rhodesia prior to independence, so I have enjoyed your videos. Sometimes, I have honestly thought the commentary and opinions of white Rhodesians left a lot to be desired, but it is what it is. That's how they see things. I have always wondered why the Smith government felt it prudent in a majority black nation to go it alone and think they could maintain a minority government for 1000 years. In my humblest opinion, I think Rhodesia would have done pretty well if they fairly allowed integration and assimilation of the black population into the economy. That's all they wanted, nothing more, nothing less. I wonder what Rhodesians think about this issue? My father was pro guerilla war (MHSRIP). His views and experience in Rhodesia obviously played a huge part in his belief system about supporting the bush war. Perhaps it also contributed immensely to how I view all the fracas in Zimbabwe since independence to date.
You absolutly correct in saying us Rhodesians should have integrated the Whole population. I remember my best friend at school in Masvingo(then Fort Victoria)was a young Black chap Phinius(Spelling). We lived outside of town where the Military camp is now. We played and played, fished, shot and ate birds together. When it came to Monday Morning and off to school, I would go to town to the all whites school, and he would go to the local village school. I asked my dad why and all he could say was, it is what it is. Nonetheless my point is there was never hatred amongst our people. I became a policeman and had a number of Black Sgts and Constables in my Unit. Again I was 19 years old as a Patrol Officer and my team of Blacks were much older and more experienced than I and again wondered if this was right but we were brothers in arms who respected each other for our rank as disciplined Soldiers and Policeman did. Ok, so you get my drift and I think I speak for the majority White Rhodesians a the time. Now, the politics of the day dictated and what we stood for was. Maintaining standards, a Christian belief system and most of all stood against communinism infiltration. We saw the opposition (ZANLA and ZIPRA) as China and Russia's pawns to gain control of our beloved country and we were not having that. It was England and the United States that dropped the sanction ball on us and hence UDI and a terrible war ensued for 14 years plus. It was at this point that we could and should have done more for the Black people to educate them in our reasoning and Fully integrate races in all amenities and structures based on maintaining standards and fighting communism. Anyway, thats all behind us now, and things turned out they way they have. I am saddened by the corruption, poverty, deraliction of infrastructure and state of economy that Zimbabwe has become under a Socialist dictator who held power longer than any white man in Africa at the expense of his people, so to us Rhodesians we look back and say, our fight was not for nothing as Bob proved that for us. Unfortunatly The EFF and ANC are doing the same thing here in South Africa. Both countries being handed a Gem that worked and Socialist idiologies are still rife. Racisim is Rife but tribalism is just as bad. In Zimbabwe you only have two major tribes, the Ndebele and the Shona, but that hatred for each other still runs quietly in the veins of the two tribes from long before colonialsm. In South Africa there are eleven different tribes and I can tell you now, that until we rid ourselves of old ways, there will always be faction fighting in this country as with every other country in Africa before colonialism. My Prayer for Africa is that new younger leaders with high morals and standards take the reins away from us older generation and build on the great resources it has. Rwanda, Zambia and a few others have already taken this step and things are looking up. Dictatorship, Socialism and other such evils aimed at give the few power at the expense of ignorant few masses will NEVER progress Africa and the outside world know this and are playing a game of chess with us as pawns. Ive writen a book in answer to your request to hear from us and hope you understand myviews anyway. God Bless Africa. Take care Shamwari. (Excuse the typos, just bashing out my thoughts)
Great question. I know that what l was fighting for was to give the government the time to negotiate a civil settlement with like minded people. I know in 1979 l had a black doctor & a black professor in my neighbourhood. It didn't bother me in the least. There was a lot of goodwill to your fellow man in Rhodesia /Zimbabwe. Unfortunately Britain, which was being threatened with an oil embargo from Nigeria, felt that they had to settle the "Rhodesian problem" as quickly as possible. I really believe that given time, because the average white also wanted peace, we would have sorted out a gradual hand over to moderate blacks. Unfortunately communism thrives on chaos & not peaceful hand over of political power. There must be a "glorious victory" with "triumphant military parades" through city streets otherwise the populace will be unaware of regime change
The fighting communism mantra makes my blood boil and quickly makes me realize why we couldn't settle our differences without pointing guns at each other. Yes in their political teachings they would fuse socialist ideas from China and Russia, even most of their arms were from these two countries but never rule out a significant role played by some western European countries both in material support and voicing their demand for the demise of the illegal regime of Ian Smith. The leaders of Zanu and Zapu lived and were welcome in England more than they were in China or Russia , in this interview we heard of the hand of Britain in forming ZANU. You all know why the coup failed after ZANU won the elections in 1980 , it was not Russia or China that prevented it but Britain . After independence Zim remained largely a capitalist economy, so called free market, so where was/is this communism that was and still spewed left right and center, as one of the main reason for the war. It was mere propaganda driven by USA which was fighting a cold War with Russia , so until such a time we honestly move away from the denial syndrome,and have an honest analysis of our differences,challenges then, the war remains the only viable solution that was there then.
@@natureandpeoplewithtaw where did you think that the foreign aid money would come from if Zimbabwe didn't follow a "capitalist economy"? Russia, China? Part & parcel of Western aid is that you hold democratic elections & have a capitalistic economy. Look at China's influence in Africa now, from Eritrea, Somalia all the way down to South Africa & understand that they have always played the long game. Who did China support - Mugabe. Who did Russia support - Nkomo. Who "won"?
@@natureandpeoplewithtaw I replied to another of your comments down below.
You can be forgiven for thinking what you wrote but thats because much history has been made verboten.
What I say here is a perspective that is not widely broadcast let alone agreed with.
The point I made was that this idea of the West opposing Communism and backing Capitalism isnt acttually the case, its a false opposition.
For starters, CCP China was ironically created by Western bankers (and had insane racist ideologies btw),
Western bankers created and supported the radical and genocidal Soviet Bolsheviks as well - see Sutton "Wall St and the Russian Revolution" and Solzhenitsyn "200 years together."
China killed 10s of millions of people and yet the West continued to back up its frankenstein creation and also even its crazed offspring like the Khmer rouge.
The West KEPT supporting communist factions throughout the Cold War. Communist regimes who genocided minorities and who cratered those countries through their totalitarian approaches.
The West backed the crazy and genocidal Stalinists in Somalia and the West backed the Khmer Rouge who wiped out whole minorities in Cambodia and, in fact, most of Cambodia's population.
Even as the media was reporting a genocide which wiped out 95% of the Khmer upper classes 40% of their entire population and ALL minorities Kissinger, that friend of both Thatcher and Mugabe, was ensuring that the Khmer Rouge kept a seat at the UN in New York, ate in 5 star restaurants and all while while British troops secretly trained their cadres in exile in Thailand.
search YT for "Margaret Thatcher Blue Peter Khmer Rouge" and you will see her appear on a UK childrens show for pre-teens and explain to the kiddies that the murderous communist KR, that the kids had >Just Heard< would kill anyone for the crime of simply wearing glasses, those KR... were actually just 'good people".
So the west didn't only support a Mugabe who was more hard line and Chinese backed than other candidates.
The West secretly backed the ANC, the West backed Lenin and Trotsky in 1917. Today their banker buddies get just as rich from the resources of a failing South Africa as they do from a China where workers commit suicide in droves (FoxConn suicides), just as rich as they got in the 1920s from a USSR whose people were starving in their millions. Terror and Famine. - China, USSR, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Somalia - its the same >Western-authored< playbook every time... to a greater or lesser degree depending on the prevailing winds.
The West uses deniable associations with brutal nativist movements in order to crush the enemies of the West and fill the mines with human dead. 1920s 1950s 1970s. thats how they won the Cold War - they ultimately controlled both sides from the Get Go.
Now there are many facets and permutations to post independence Zimbabwe and its pointless to caricature any one side in simplistic terms. Much good and bad to be found on all sides of the playing field,
But notice what happened in Zimbabwe whenever things became chaotic or in doubt? Terror and Famine.
The Communist playbook. the Khmer Rouge playbook. the CCP playbook. the same CCP who have made the financial elites in the West an absolute fortune over the years. The Western intelligence playbook. It never was about Communism vs Capitalism for the ultimate powers that be. if anything Communism garners the banks more money in the long run.
Fantastic!!! But the puzzle is still missing some pieces, keep up the excellent work. Thank you All.
Thank you so much gentlemen, Especially Richard. I'm sorry I don't know your Surname. It was a pleasure hearing of the conflict from your perspective. to the rest of you , thanks . Keep going Hannes 👍
Well done gentlemen, that was the best interview ever. I'ts true, I'm sure that the whole debacle in Zimbabwe would have been avoided had the fighting men sorted it out.
Britain who once ruled India, is now ruled by an Indian.
The thing is that the war was of its time. Its very hard to imagine a clash between opposing forces in Southern Africa just being left alone by the great powers and so outside interference was always on the cards. Unfortunately.
As for Sunak its an interesting thing. British people view these things differently: My dad was old school, in the merchant marine, saw active service and riot duty all over the former empire. When Thatcher said that she may offer an escape route to millions of Hong Kong Cantonese in the 80s my dad was ecstatic, those smart anglophile cantonese were going to arrive en masse and revitalise our economy, education and our civil service.. never happened but. we don't care the ethnicity nor the morals we just care about their ability and the results for our country. thats it. But the issue is that the UK is falling apart because the system is designed to abet it's falling apart. our leaders are nobodies: bland, ambitious and self serving middle managers without a clue. Truss, Starmer, Sunak, miliband, all useless,, all by design. Theres no folly here, its all malice. we are ruled by the same people from the shadows who scuppered Rhodesia from the shadows.
And as for the comments about "hu-whyte supremathy!!" ha ha ha - good one - your virtue signal has been received and (dont worry) your reward WILL be sent to you by post. bear with us.
@@powerbite92 Really nicely put. Well said
Brilliant guys much appreciated thank you for sharing
Very good talk and probably quite unique, I like the way Darrell’s story about “Luke” hits home home with richard, if you watch it again you can see a bit of thought and emotion come out of him
I love how men can fight each other to death , then days , weeks , years later become best friends !! Not so easy with women 😉
Great respect to the whole panel. To Richard, you have such a good memory, and such rich history is never told anywhere, kudos to you. To the organizers please have another episode of this interview!
Yr show is on another level ! Best best !
Can you imagine at the age of 49, I find myself learning real history. History that shaped the ways of he quality of my life. Today it's over 25 years since I left Zim for the UK, only to find out that their involvement was indeed one that contributed to the state of Zim today. Sad and painful history. So much time lost in the diaspora., far from family, relatives and friends!!!!!
But the hope is getting stronger, Zimbabwe will stand.
Amazing! incredibly interesting, thanks so much for this war history and thanks to everyone involved with this interview. An education! Great job everyone 🙏 Please do more! It would be great to see more interviews and stories by Tony Ballinger, a wonderful personality and an asset to this channel forsure! 👍 Appreciate
Fascinating to learn about the role of MI6 in funding ZANU and the influence of the likes of CIO Director Ken Flower. I can understand why Richard did not want to talk about certain issues like the murder of CDE Tongo. I have attached the link to an interview given by Dumiso Dabengwa in which he gives a more indepth insight into the death of General Tongogara starting at minute 7:57 czcams.com/video/AoSgqwelgFA/video.html
Thank you
Hannes, “Darrell, I don’t wanna give it all away now… but who’s what?…73 now?”. Sharp-shooter-Hannes🤣‼️
Guys this is really fascinating conversation. Personally, I am amazed that so much of what has been shared during this interview, and others, was never published or discussed amongst the Rhodesian public. Sadly, the press was, either ignorant or, censored heavily. The photographs are wonderful additions as are the maps. However, to make this more impactful, or easier to follow, would it be possible to present maps/diagrams with routes showing the migration of movement by both sides. Thank you so much and I look forward to the next interviews. Thank you all very much.
Wow what an interesting interview. Thank you guys.
This man Darrell Watt is not who you want as a father-in-law haha. Siyabonga Bab'u Ngwenya such insightful information from you on the history of our warfare. Sir Clive Middie great information to gather, I'm from Victoria Falls born in '95 didn't know how much involved my town was back then. You all shed the light on the war gentlemen. God Bless.
I'm glad these stories are still coming out. More than ever, we need to see the machinations of those who have their own ambition. The world involves itself more easily now than ever before. Young people are fed information and miss out on the truth. History should be harsh on both sides. So we learn.
Richard you said something that everyone should think about. Salute to all gentlemen in this interview.
Another reverting interview, I hope you continue with the same panel because I feel so many events were not thoroughly covered.I like the brutal honesty of Darrell, especially when he tackled the racism in the army.
I don't understand when people blame Britain for its role in ending the war in Rhodesia, it was an open secret, since the end of World War 2 that Britain was convinced/coerced by the USA to do away with its colonies, that is why among other reasons Ian Smith rebelled against the crown in 1965 11 November after 11 pm. Britain was clear , give back all colonies and maintain them in a subtle way, Smith failed to read the tea leaves , he was so stuck in the evolution theory, which sounded very condescending, racist and had no place in the newly established then United nations.
I'm trying to understand the subtleties of what you're saying. What you say may stand up but.. the question is WHY give up Colonial control? For reasons of virtue? The US wanted these places "liberated" for moral reasons?
But maybe you mean that the West wanted, as you say, a 'subtler' version of hegemony to replace colonialism?
Because the west didnt only support a Mugabe who was more hard line and Chinese backed than other candidates.
The West KEPT supporting communist factions who displayed merciless racist attitudes, who genocided minorities and who cratered those countries through their totalitarian approaches.
CCP China was ironically created by Western bankers and had insane racist ideologies,
The West backed the crazy and genocidal Stalinists in Somalia and the West backed the Khmer Rouge who wiped out whole minorities in Cambodia.
Even as the media was reporting a genocide which wiped out 95% of the Khmer upper classes 40% of their entire population and ALL minorities Kissinger, that friend of Thatcher and Mugabe, was ensuring that the KR kept a seat at the UN in New York and that British troops secretly trained them.
search YT for "Margaret Thatcher Blue Peter Khmer Rouge" and you will see her appear on a UK childrens show for pre-teens and explain to the kiddies that the murderous communist KR, that the kids had Just Heard had killed anyone who wore glasses, were actually just 'good people".
The order to kill the Tsar and then murder around 20 Million Russians just for the crime of being ... Russian came from Kissinger's pals on Wall Street.
So if the Dalai Lama, the Falun Dafa, any Shona dissident or educated Khmer, any Rhodesian or any Ian Smith or Ndebele gets told by the "West' that "hey colonialism's bad, you're racists" what should they think?
We now know that the Wests alternative and 'subtler' approach was to use deniable associations with genocidal and insane nativist movements in order to crush the enemies of the West and fill the mines with human dead. Why should anyone named above agree to that?
Maybe they DID all read the tea leaves..
And thats why they all resisted, the ones who didnt go meekly to their slaughter.
Thank you for bringing humanity, kindness, compassion and respect to these great men. How it really happened
Damn, that was enjoyable, thank you John/Hannes.
NATJOC sold out Rhodesia in 1978 just before the first Viscount tragedy, we aren't sure who all were directly involved, but know the British were approached through Flower and Robinson what the British position would be if the military staged a coup and returned Rhodesia to British rule (Ref CAB papers). This in effect compromised all future operations, as the British now had massive leverage over the sell outs in NATJOC. This is why the SAS operation to get Nkomo failed, this why operation Quartz never went ahead, this is why the Mugabe assassination attempts never succeeded and it also explains why Ops Miracle and Uric were met with force and evasion. Had Nkomo joined the March 1978 internal agreement with moderate African leaders, it would have ended the path for Mugabe to power. We also know that Giles (Rhodesia's constitutional expert) was murdered in London and did not commit suicide by jumping out his hotel window, and why Josiah feared for his life, as the powers that be wanted to eliminate all opposition to Mugabe. By that stage Nkomo had been successfully implicated in the Viscount tragedies and side lined by the CIO and was no longer a threat to Mugabe and British interests. When Nkomo's life was later threatened he fled to his masters in London. The British had long established sell outs in the SAS, and RLI, Air force and HQ, which is why Selous Scouts offices (Reid Daly) was bugged (Dennis Croucamp to me). The Scouts was a unit that was hard to get sell outs into and the established HQ sell outs used all means to discredit and side line the Scouts and Daly (Ref Ken Flower papers).
Your comment is very interesting, I imagine not just for me but for others reading or commenting on here.
I wanted to ask you two questions which you may not choose to answer, its up to you, but it would be helpful to others if you were to answer them.
(The first is the more important one, the latter you may not know the answer to.)
Firstly, Im wondering if you are you saying .. or if you are aware of.. any aspect of further foul play or hidden hand (beyond Zipra attack) in either of the downings of the Viscounts?
If so, why would ZAPU or ZIPRA command not have protested the accusations around these acts?
Secondly, perhaps tangentially, Mac McGuinness has been mentioned as someone who, among others, had a hand in protecting Mugabe whilst he was still in Rhodesia.
He died in 2011 when he was murdered in his home in South Africa.
That may have been yet another sad statistic in the random deaths and murders that South Africans are experiencing but.. are you aware of any extra aspect to this death? Was it in any way connected to his former work or associates?
I understand if you feel you cannot speak on anything you do not feel you have much direct insight into.
Regardless,
Many Thanks for your info and for any further information.
To do this series takes a lot of courage as it’s very easily criticised as the “whites” are doing this!One must never forget that there was a lot of black on black violence starting in the 50s but the nationalist parties and this continues to this very day by Zanu PF,they have murdered temps of thousands of blacks Rhodesians and Zimbabweans!
Nkomo admitted the viscount attacks laughing about them
Cde Richard, thank you for sharing with us, we could see you have a lot we may never know, and a lot of fighting could have been avoided with the white Rhodesians, nonetheless thank you all for the production series. It's true we still have a lot of unfinished business. Someday we will find each other as Zimbabweans with a love for our country, prepared to defend it🇿🇼✊
Seriously interesting have been there during those times ,good to hear from the other side too. As an aside today I went to a customer whom had "The Great Betrayal" book by IDS and it was signed by IDS to his wife Janet. (He purchased the book at a used bookstore). Keep up the good work and some more stories from the other side please
Excellent
I like the fact that you brought all parties into the interview. I wish had such dialogue in the early years of independence. Instead of listening to one sided stories
Excellent JOHN
I met Darrell in 1982. He was doing professional hunting. He was supremely fit.
Brilliant
This is brilliant. Ver good to hear more about the Zimbabwe liberation struggle. The truth always comes out no matter how you try to oppress it. I look forward to the books written about the struggle. I know it can be hard for the guys like Richard to speak free because of the fear of what might happen to him.
Oh boy, if Zimbabwe hasn't been a great free liberated country to live since the 70's! What a laugh.
Good work getting a voice from the other side on the channel,will there be more from Richard and maybe others from ZIPRA/ZANLA spokes people in the future?. I know it would probably be too sensitive to talk about in the first interview with a Zipra soldier but getting their opinion on the viscount shoot downs and Westlands farm would be quite interesting.
Amazing interviews ! More of this John!
I was in Guard Force and Intaff from Oct 1978 to Sep 1979. A decade later I wrote a doctoral dissertation about the internal settlements in Rhodesia, Namibia and Natal. For the former, I relied heavily on published accounts of the war--mostly from Galago Press--and so I found this to be fascinating.
Hi Thomas, I don't suppose you still have a copy of your dissertation? I'd love to have a read if so.
@@Brookmier It was never commercially published. I retained one copy for myself, which I've loaned out to a Harvard historian writing a biography of Kissinger. If, and when, I get it back I'll be keeping it for my own use. But you could get a copy through the University of Southern California: Thomas G. Mitchell, "Black Men, White Faces: Internal Settlements in Rhodesia, Namibia, and South Africa" (1990). But you would probably find it boring as it has little of military events. And it would probably be quite expensive to copy. But maybe they have it on microfilm.
Thank you for such a fascinating and informative program
Explains a lot, thanks.
Its like the bloody CIA in our war in Angola. Love what you guys are doing here.
Omg this is so amazing. Love the questions, conversations, this is a real treat
Would love to hear more from Richard, about how to solve things now
How different things could have been without the politicians!
Currently reading Hannes Wessel's A Handful of Hard Men and just found this channel. All the content/interviews are an amazing compliment to the history of the war in Rhodesia. It is refreshing to see honest accounts from those who lived it. Although there is little from ZPRA/ZANLA/FRELIMO accounts (notwithstanding this obviously) I found the majority international or so-called "popular" histories portray Rhodesia as irredeemable mercenary villains, which couldn't be farther from the truth. Great work!
I've just finished it. Superb. I had no idea how ruthlessly the British government shafted the Rhodesians. And why? I can't think of any other country or ethnic group that has the kind of self-hating streak as some white British types.
This was a brave decision, and I am not yet sure that it was right. From the start (with, I believe, one exception), this channel has had as it focus the telling of the story of our war from one side. It has become justifiably successful because many of us can relate to the experiences being retold and relived. There is historical value in learning of the perceptions and experiences of “the other side”, but I see no plausible benefit in having joint interviews. They do nothing for “healing” or reconciliation, to the extent that this is even still needed. We were all pawns in this conflict, but it does not follow that there is any benefit to us-or to this channel about which I care-by artificially bringing two sides together-where all enmity has long since evaporated-and getting them to talk about two totally separate existences. My constructively intended tuppence.
This was a good one
Best ever interview ever product by the team . Thank you broth
Salute captain Watt
Excellent discussion, great to have Richard to share his stories too. I am sure he has a lot more. As others are writing in the comments it will be great to hear more from the other side too.
Good work capturing our history
Very good,I NEED MORE,THANKS
Thank you too!
Thank you uncle Richard
More of this please Hannes and John.
"The African is indeed my brother,But my junior brother"
Dr Albert Schweitzer
😎👍
I fully agree with the fellas. I was in Gonarazhou when Inkomo was in detention down the track a bit. I experienced many things as a young fella which was a long time ago. So
Yeah. Thanks
Fantastic 👏. Thank you.
Glad you liked it!
This is excellent and would love to hear more from Darrel and his incredible time in the war