Hannes WesselsA Handful of Hard Men: The SAS and the Battle for Rhodesia

PREFACE:I thought I would quickly preface the book review with a little overview from a historical and broader political view. Rhodesia was a war of both colonial rule (black/white) and a proxy war during the Cold War. A small nation, struggling not only to define itself as the sun was setting on the British Empire, but also to gain a resolution peacefully. Many in Rhodesian (black and whites) saw what happened in the Belgian Congo and other nations when given independence (factions killing for power, death, and complete decay and despair). Rhodesia thought that working (within the nation) and with the U.K, they could eventually find a peaceful resolution. What they didn’t expect was the outside factions lead by two radical (yet opposing) political parties that would stop at nothing for control.If one were only to read Western propaganda at the time, it was just about White majorities ruling over blacks. While true, there were some key facts that many in the West were not told (for obvious reasons - as the book will speak too); blacks could vote, blacks did own farms, and even during the war blacks fought for Rhodesia in several units. In fact, in 79, they had voted for the first black leader. Additionally, which is not covered by the West during the time was the tribal battles (black-on-black) for power. Even the two forces backed by Russian (ZIRPA) and backed by China (ZANLA) even fought against each other, while supposed to be fighting a two-front war against Rhodesia. The blacks in Rhodesia were from several different tribes, as were the blacks from Zambia and Mozambique. Unfortunately, the Western (predominately white) press, also facing the sweeping Civil Rights movement in the States focused only on White vs. Black. Any mention of multiple black factions (fighting each other for power) was lost in translation out of ignorance or for political gain. This is not to take away from the colonial rule and some of the justifiable criticism, but it is important to gain a broad objective view and to know ALL the players and their agenda. The war of Rhodesia was far more than a black vs. white colonial war, it was a proxy war like many others between the East and West of the cold war, it was a battle for power from opposing black tribes, it was about a ruthless dictator that would stop at nothing to take control.Mugabe became the powerful leader of the political faction ZANU (military force was ZANLA) and eventually later in the war establish a partnership with his political rival faction ZAPU (military force was ZIRPA). He played the black oppression colonial rule card to the max with the U.S. and U.K who backed him, while at the same time presenting himself as a great Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader working with Cuba, Russia, China, and North Korea. Uniting the two-black political and military powers against Rhodesia, having the Eastern super power military support, and winning the political support of the U.K. and U.S. – he eventually took control of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in late 79 in London with the Lancaster House Agreement, which ended the war and the country of Rhodesia. Today he is still in power and Zimbabwe is poor decaying nation. He is considered a ruthless dictator that has committed atrocities not only against whites, but against black tribes that oppose him. The nation is corrupt, faced hyperinflation, and is a failed state.Clearly Mugabe and the Rhodesian war is a dark chapter in Western history that is either skipped over or heavily edited to lessen the West’s obvious support for such a ruthless person and the atrocities committed during the war and even atrocities to this day (recently the supported killing of white famers to take the land).Book Review:While the book is a stream of combat operations throughout the war, it does an excellent job of also tracking what was happening politically – both domestically in Rhodesia and internationally, which clearly defines the broader end of Rhodesia. Clearly the Rhodesians are aware of the political backing of the West and the military backing by the East. They even at the time refer to operational areas supported by foreign powers as the “Russian Front” and actively seek, capture and/or kill actual Russian military.The book is the best I have read on the actual ground campaign in Rhodesia and one of the best military special forces operational books (regardless of conflict). Unlike other well written books, which usually follows an individual and their thoughts – this is a story of multiple operations told in both first-person narratives and reflective third person by those in the operational combat theater.While reading the book, one must also consider that the Rhodesian forces are under heavy sanctions, with limited support. Initially only Portugal (via colonial Mozambique) helps aid Rhodesia, but that soon ends as Mozambique becomes independent. Limit support comes from the south via South Africa, but again – small arms and ammo is one thing, heavy equipment is another.The Rhodesian forces are out-numbered in many cases 10:1 or more and out gunned and out equipped. Rhodesian air force of helicopters and planes are old and held together by MacGyver type mechanics and in many cases the ground forces steal weapons and ammo off the dead soldiers to replenish supplies.Yet with the odds stacked against them in man power and equipment, facing a multi-front battle that is backed by Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba – while the West (U.K. and U.S.) squeeze them with sanctions, propaganda, and political muscle – the Rhodesian forces continue win on the battle field, and when I mean win – I mean they CRUSH the ZIRPA and ZANULA forces at every turn.Example, 4-man stick operations carrying 100lb loads doing forward recon for 4-6 weeks at time and taking on repeated fire-fights against 40-50 well armed forces and winning repeatedly. Many times, they lost so much weight, their uniforms would be falling off and rotting off them by the end of an operation. They knew how to savage for food, weapons, water to stay out for far longer than what todays special force operators would permit or expect. As boys they grew up in the “bush”; tracking animals, fishing, camping, living off the land. They could track anything for days and they could also cover their tracks from being followed. It was their “bush craft” skills that made them deadly, they would track enemy for days, circle around, and lay a kill zone and wipe them out. Rinse and repeat – until they could barely walk. It was their land, they grew up on it, they knew the wild life and the geography, what plants were safe to eat and what others were deadly, how to hide, and how to track animal and man. A silly thought crossed my mind when I was reading this book – imagine a group of Crocodile Dundee type characters that could live in the bush with only a knife for months at a time and then train them as special forces, well that’s what these guys were.The Rhodesians (and their various special forces units) were annihilating and embarrassing the enemy in mass. Deep penetration forward recon taking out complete camps of 100s and 1000s of soldiers and the expensive modern equipment that was given to them by Russia and China. There are several massive raids that create so much embarrassment not only for Mugabe, but for China, Russia, and the U.K. How can these handful of men wipe out entire battalions and even armored units? I have read from other sources, that Russia was so upset with defeats and losses (even the losses of their own men who were sent there to lead/train the ZIRPA forces) that they began to despise Mugabe and even started pulling support towards the end of what they deemed a losing war.Sometime ago I had once asked a gentleman who was raised and lived on a farm with his family in Rhodesia (who btw way still considered himself a proud Rhodesian), “How come the Rhodesian military was so effective?” (I had read at the time they were considered the world’s finest fighting force). He paused and his faced changed to a very steely and cold look (I could see my question conjured up bad memories); “When you have to defend your family and your land with whatever you have to fight with and do it every waking hour and every sleepless night – you become pretty damn good at killing.” That was over 20 years ago and I will never forget his resolved strong words.As a Veteran and someone well read on military operations from WWII to the present, as well as having friends and associates servicing both in the U.S. and foreign military services, the impressive fortitude of the SAS and other Rhodesian operators is unmatched. Nothing to take away from the U.S. Navy Seals or other elite operations around the world, but the Rhodesian SAS with inferior arms and support – going against overwhelming odds and taking repeated unfathomable risks are probably pound for pound the most effective fighting unit in the modern age. They have set the bar that few will ever achieve or hope to.Lastly, Darrell Watt – a Rhodesian SAS operator is certainly one of the best special forces operators to walk the planet. If there was ever a guy you wanted to have your back or lead you on a mission, this is the guy.

One of the first things that I appreciated about this book was that it was not the Author writing about how heroic the Author was…. Even though Hannes Wessels certainly has enough material in his own life to legitimately pen such a book.Very quickly it was apparent that Hannes was writing about men he knew and admired; in particular Darrell Watts. The exploits of these men, set to the complex history of a gem in the African continent once known as Rhodesia.Hannes Wessels, like so many other Rhodesians, has deep pride in the nation he was born into. The complexities of post colonial southern Africa are impossible to understand without having experienced them. This is true the world over. Domestic issues cannot be appreciated by outsiders. It is unfair to judge from the other side of the planet while sipping a mocha latte.To quote a wise man: "Rhodesia found itself on the wrong side of history"History will be forced to acknowledge that the abandonment of Rhodesia and her values has turned out to be one of the greatest injustices that Africa, if not the world, has ever seen.These men fought against insurmountable odds under conditions that modern militaries have not experienced. Isolated, condemned, surrounded. Hard Men indeed.Had the battlespace been Vietnam, Europe or the middle east, then these men would have many movies made about them.Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae are known as patriots fighting on their homeland. The Spartans pale in comparison with Rhodesians.Reading about the treachery and betrayal made me sweat. Reading about Darrell Watt tracking terrorists for days made me realize I cannot call myself a soldier next to him. Long Range Patrols? Not like this...I have learned that Darrell Watt is only one great soldier among many great soldiers, forced to step up and perform against odds that modern militaries would baulk at, even with todays tech. WDWThis book gave me a thirst to learn more about Rhodesia and the bush war. Hannes Wessels has done all involved a great service.Read, learn, investigate and reach your own informed opinion.Nemo me impune lacessit.

This is a book full of first person/soldier accounts of the bush wars fought in and around Rhodesia in the 60s and 70s. The Rhodesians knew that if they surrendered, at the very least the Communists would have taken all their property-farms, money etc. So they were well motivated. And they were also extremely well trained.In the end they had no choice but to surrender to the Communists and accept Black Rule. The David vs. Goliath struggle could only go on for so long. Look at modern day Zimbabwe today. Its another 3rd World backwater. And the same thing is happening in South Africa.Communism brings oppression and economic ruin. Look at Venezuela today. And yet there is a growing socialist/communist movement in the United States right now. Look no further than Bernie Sanders. Lets hope that freedom loving Americans can do what the Rhodesians failed to do, stop the Marxists. The alternative is to open some bank accounts overseas and get out before Bernie and Friends take it all.