Angolan War of Liberation: Colonial–Communist Clash, 1961–1974 (Cold War 1945–1991) - AL J Venter
Highly Collectible with an unique background to this relatively Rare book.
- This book is very special...the book was gift inscripted and signed by AL J Venter to a person called "Kaas" an "Old friend" to Venter.
- It was then rededicated by "Kaas" with a hearty message, to the previous owner of the book and signed by "Kaas van der Waals"
- "Kaas" van der Waals was Brigadier-general Willem Stephanus van der Waals, a versatile and decorated former South African military officer, diplomat, and academic. Born in the Netherlands, his nickname "Kaas" (cheese) came from his Dutch origin. His long and varied career included service as a paratrooper, instructor, and military diplomat, with operational service in places like Angola and a role as South Africa's Vice Consul in Luanda. After retiring from the military, he held positions in security and community safety for the city of Pretoria.(See attached pictures)
Angolan War of Liberation: Colonial–Communist Clash, 1961–1974 (Cold War 1945–1991) - AL J Venter
Published by Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2018
ISBN 10: 1526728419 / ISBN 13: 9781526728418
Language: English
Codition: Very Good +. -almost like new.
When a large group of rebels invaded Angola from a recently independent Congo in 1961, it heralded the opening shots in another African war of independence.
Between 1961 and 1974, Portugal faced the extremely ambitious task of conducting three simultaneous counterinsurgency campaigns to preserve its hegemony of Angola, Portuguese Guinea and Mozambique. While other European states were falling over themselves in granting independence to their African possessions, Portugal chose to stay and fight despite the odds against success.
That it did so successfully for thirteen years in a distant multi-fronted war remains a remarkable achievement, particularly for a nation of such modest resources. For example, in Angola the Portuguese had a tiny air force of possibly a dozen transport planes, a squadron or two of F-86s and perhaps twenty helicopters: and that in a remote African country twice the size of Texas. Portugal proved that such a war can be won. In Angola victory was complete.
However, the political leadership proved weak and irresolute, and this encouraged communist elements within the military to stage a coup in April 1974 and lead a capitulation to the insurgent movements, squandering the hard-won military and social gains and abandoning Portugal's African citizens to generations of civil war and destitution.
