John Padbury, a former Rhodesian Special Branch detective inspector, examines the demise of Rhodesia in the face of African nationalists determined to liberate their country from colonial rule through the barrel of a gun. Analysed are the consequences of the Rhodesian Front Government’s intransigence, racial policies and failures to listen to their intelligence commanders and the impact this had on political decisions and military operations.

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The successes and failures of the insurgents’ and Government forces’ strategies and tactics are analysed in detail.  In the battle for Hurungwe, Padbury's diaries unveil his innovative and successful asymmetrical warfare strategies  to recruit, train, arm and permanently deploy local residents to protect their communities - a political and military initiative the Government dismissed until it was too late. Despite the dire defeat facing the Security Forces and against overwhelming odds, this was a viable solution to the civil war and holds relevance for similar conflicts elsewhere.

 

In this true, fascinating account, Padbury, describes  the political background and developments from top secret Rhodesian documents as well as previously not seen British top secret documents and personal diaries of senior British politicians of the day. Lord David Owen, British Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary (1977-1979), contributed to and reviewed the book. The book includes original battle plans, maps, images, and eyewitness accounts.

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