Angolan War of Liberation: Colonial–Communist Clash,

Angolan War of Liberation: Colonial–Communist Clash, 1961–1974 (Cold War 1945–1991)

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 Portugalâ‚¬s African citizens to generations of civil war and destitution.
Country USA
Brand PEN AND SWORD MILITARY
Manufacturer Pen and Sword Military
Binding Paperback
ItemPartNumber 20 colour & 60 black and white illustrat
ReleaseDate 2018-10-30
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781526728418

Country	USA
Brand	PEN AND SWORD MILITARY
Manufacturer	Pen and Sword Military
Binding	Paperback
ItemPartNumber	20 colour & 60 black and white illustrat
ReleaseDate	2018-10-30
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781526728418

Angolan War of Liberation: Colonial–Communist Clash, 1961–1974 (Cold War 1945–1991)

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