With the imminent withdrawal of Portugal, the liberation forces of Angola began fighting each other in November 1974, in Luanda, but it soon led to the dividing up of the whole country.
On the 15th January 1975 a treaty between the belligerents was signed to enable 11 November 1975 as the official date of Independence and a transitional government was implemented.
This lasted all of one day and the parties were fighting one another again, trying to seize and control strategic assets before independence.
In March the FNLA with the backing of the US via 1200 troops from Zaire were approaching the capital from the North.
The soviet backed MPLA had gained control of the capitol by the 9th of July but did not look like they could hold it against the approaching CIA backed FNLA. They now called increasingly on Cuba to assist with training troops.
Cuba also assisted training PLAN or SWAPO fighters in Zambia to infiltrate SWA. Cross border counterinsurgency raids escalated as a result.
South Africa secretly bought US $14 million worth of weapons with the assistance of the CIA to arm the FNLA and UNITA. These arrived in August.
On the 9th August 1975, SA moved troops 50 km into Angola to secure the hydro-electric complex they had funded and were dependent on.
By October, with the Cuban help, the MPLA was gaining ground against UNITA in the south and center of the country and UNITA would not be able to capture the capital before independence.
It was under these circumstances that Operation Savannah was initiated.
It was to be a top secret operation where South African troops and armor were to be heavily involved in assisting UNITA while pretending to be American mercenaries.
The conscripts currently on border duty were told they were eligible for a secret mission of a couple of weeks into Angola to assist UNITA gain territory before independence but that it was to be a volunteer mission.
All those that did not want to could be excused.
Thereafter the briefing began. They were to wear green prison uniforms, only one set was necessary since they wouldn't be long etc.
They were not to wear South African uniforms, boots or carry personal firearms, equipment etc. and speak only English, while referring to home as the "States". Any South African products were to have all labels removed and all hardware carried no insignia.
They were flown too Bloemfontein in the center of South Africa to fetch and drive a convoy of Eland Armored cars to the operational area.
These were then flown to Central Angola to Silva Porto (Kuito) and prepared to defend Nova Lisboa (Huambo) for UNITA.
This fighting group was code named "Foxbat"
On the 5th of October this mobile attack unit clashed with and halted the advance of the MPLA and Cubans.
Meanwhile leaderless FNLA troops that had made their way southwards were joined up with South African special forces (Recces) to create task force Zulu which crossed into Angola on the 14th October driving MPLA forces out of the Border regions and then from South Western Angola.
The MPLA was ill prepared for semi-conventional tactics and melted before the South African onslaught in the South.
Zulu advanced roughly 80 km per day, with the light armored column quickly assuming attacking positions and unleashing overwhelming firepower every time they made contact with MPLA forces. The territory the MPLA previously gained from UNITA was quickly relinquished.
Task force Zulu was incredibly successful and had advanced 3,159 km in thirty-three days and had fought twenty-one battles / skirmishes in addition to sixteen hasty and fourteen deliberate attacks. The Task Force accounted for an estimated 210 MPLA dead, 96 wounded and 50 POWs while it had suffered 5 dead and 41 wounded.
Meanwhile back home parents new nothing of their sons bleeding and spilling blood on the white sands of Southern Angola.
Most eves were on the Fall of Saigon and the events further afield, little did they know of what their own sons were facing as a strict secrecy blackout was maintained in South Africa. Meanwhile the American Ambassador to the US watched South African troop movements and battles on news channels in America.
Quoted text from Wikipedia page on ops. savanna
Other posts in this series
The piece of the cold war nobody told you about - Africa's forgotten war
The Air Battles
The SA Fighter Aircraft
The SA Bomber Aircraft
The conflicts deep roots and start
Regional Tensions
Africa's forgotten cold war - Angolan War of Independence.
Africa's forgotten cold war - Mozambican War of Independence.
Africa's forgotten cold war - Rhodesian Bush War
Africa's forgotten cold war - The Angolan War of Independence transitions to the Angolan Civil War
Wars are cruel. Why do we have the borders, why do we fight for land when we all know that we cannot take anything when we die.
An eternally good question
This is all great - I know nothing about this region or its modern history.
You should consider doing an audio version of this. I'm always looking for new history themed podcasts and it wouldn't involve more than a fairly inexpensive microphone and basically reading this post aloud.
Anyways, good stuff
Thanks for sharing this. The Cold War Era was nothing but a front for the US to continue the subjugation of the poor peoples in the world. Many colonized peoples turned to communism to liberate themselves from the bonds of the imperial powers of France, Germeny, Belgium, UK and United States. It was Fidel Castro that sent doctors and military aid to liberate these oppressed peoples, not the united states. Now many of these places are destabilized because of the puppet governments that the US propped up in order for us to continue gut these people and their lands for resources and cheap labor.
I think the situation is more complex than this.
Disgusted by our current social conditioning. What good does more war do for the planet. People are just blindly following other people that have zero morals. The only thing this will achieve is a de evolution and waves of death everywhere. The USA is going towards a large scale war too. Things are just looking disgusting.
Hope things change
I was born in Angola moved to Portugal and currently living in England. My only advice to you is learn your history. Not everything your told is the truth...
Please elaborate... I would love to see another side... as we all know history has many facets and this conflict was truly complex
I would also love to hear your version of the truth. To simply tell someone to "learn your history" is very vague and could come across as extremely lazy. It would have been great for you to dispute the specific details so that others could benefit from your studies or recollection of the same history. @gavvet did not give opinions or political rhetoric. He simply stated historical events as he has learned them. Of course there can be error as with any recounting of past events. To say something is not "truth" rather than "incorrect" implies it is a lie. Please help us to understand your position better. Thank you in advance.
So you are from South Africa :P Awesome stuff! As am I :) It's really awesome to see someone with so much influence to be posting to regularly! Respect.
good story. I was traumatized by the war because in our area of Aceh the 1.5 century war against the country of indonesia, dutch and japan. I am traumatized ... my family has died in that war. The loss of life for women and the crown for women. War emang kejam.2015 we are peaceful from war.
So crazy that all of this went down without anyone back home knowing.
Zulu, Foxbat, X-Ray & Orange.
nuff said..
The other two come in the next installment... when things start to fall apart.
good information!
usa seems to behind every war
As long as there's something in it for them. There's been too many massacres that it watched happen because there wasn't enough in it for "u.s" to get involved. Its amazing how convenient the phrase "we can't fight everyone's battles for them" is thrown around but when a battle with massive strategic interest for "u.s" pops up, the U.S is all over it like white on rice... And there's usually Russian's own team with their own unique uniforms and talented war criminals on the field of war -- ready to face off against the U.S... While the citizens of country "X' serve as pawns in the whole match, being slaughtered (Syria)... It's really disgusting.... Thanks for sharing this @gavvet
Self interest in all of this is very self evident... its the reason most fights, even in the animal kingdom, occur.
Thank you @gavvet, I am sitting back thinking of Angolsh...
Used to work beside a guy who was involved in this South African Para. Said the border and country names changed often and even though he was probably explaining it well i couldn't keep up.
Awesome
Just like several other instance of Cold War, the Nicaraguan Revolution is one that comes to mind. This was an instance where the US had to back the Nicaraguan rebels known as Contras while the Soviet backed the Sandinista Junta. This Angolan case is quite interesting and it is another one of such battlegrounds where the US and USSR continued the Cold War between them through proxy nations. @gavvet Thanks for taking us back in time. Great post!
History is always manipulated!
@gavvet However another peerless post from your corner. Always a pleasure reading your articles. The kind of picture you paint through your articles is absolutely flawless. The presentation of your articles is also fascinating. The War you have talked about has deep implications in history. Keep sharing such vital stuff bro
That was some epic info about operation Savannah
This post received a 4.7% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @bleujay! For more information, click here!
You give out a lot of information and historical data. Keep going!
War is not good for all people.please please stop it.
Stories that are beneficial for the steemian and good stories
Good post , waiting for more like this from u.Upvoted followed u.
Why wars everywhere, the pbb leader must move in this, do not just be silent without any action, we want peace around the world, to friends in angola, patiently you guys may god will reply to all the actions they do with you ,, we are here praying for your peace on earth afrika
que terribles acontecimientos! gracias @gavvet por compartir la informacion, estas al tanto siempre de todo! saludos ya vote, y te segui. si votas por mi comentario te lo agradeceria mucho hermano. saludos
Upvoted. Thanks.
good post
crazy things going on in africa! thanks for sharing man
Do the US or USSR(Russia) have any influence still in Africa?
Seems like some intense battles had occurred.
Both countries always at it during the cold war trying to spread their sphere of influence.
Good post @gavvet .. i really expect support from you, because here i am new beginner.. please upvoted
Make love not war!
A very nice artical and i really appreciate your hard work that you put to collect and compile all the useful details for us thanks,keep it up @gavvet
follow me pls. i have good stories just like you !
A lot of terrible events happened in the past.
The only important thing is wether it is possible to use this knowledge to improve people's lifes in Africa today.
Thanks for this epic history lesson, so much of our past is lost. I knew there was a huge media silence here as to what was happening, but had no idea it was being reported on in the US. Kiff post!
All follow me please! Good luck.
plise follow back
Wars are shit, when will the world understand this😢
If we don't end war ..War will end us !
good information. At the moment it seems the world power are going for ww3. Lets hope not.
Thanks for sharing again @gravvet
It's interesting to learn about my country's history..
For the bastards to take power it is enough that the little people stand at a distance, in silence
informative post :)
Wow amazing post. African Super war
Yes good Information
hate war :-( Wars are cruel. so many innocent peoples die in it....
What an incredible story @gavvet, keep it up!!
The portuguese government recognized PAIGC in Guiné-Bissau and FRELIMO in Moçambique as the movements that should rule the countries, but not in Angola, there were big divisions that culminated in a civil war and the story you just told us is one in many.
During late 1974 and 1975 half a milion portuguese fled the colonies, alot went to South Africa but majority returned to Portugal, 500 000 is a big number considering the population in Portugal at the time was like 5 million.
Peace, Carlos
I had a very long comment, but I don't want to make such a big controversy, the logical question here is what the hell were South African and Cuban troops doing in Angola which is 500 miles from South Africa and at least 5000 miles from Cuba? And the removal of all visible connections to South African forces reminds me of the uproar a few years back because the Russians did the same thing in Ukraine, seems that history repeats itself.
good post
thanks for sharing
do u think war will end one day ?