The simple, trusting banality of ian smith s words may, in fact, offer more clues to the catastrophe that has been rhodesia zimbabwe over the past halfcentury than any number of political or. This is the memoir of rhodesias last white prime minister ian douglas smith, an individual that unquestionably loved his country and gave it the best years of his life. The book shows that ian smith and the rhodesian front had accepted the principal of black majority rule, and they were attempting to lay plans for it to come about. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
Ian smith, former president of rhodesia, spares few of his opponents as he gives a. Smith s highly anticipated newest book, the clean 20, became an instant new york times best seller, helping hundreds of thousands of people reduce bad sugars from their diet, lose weight, lower blood sugar levels, and. Ian smith s father moved to rhodesia in early part of the 20th century. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. This book tells the story behind the signing of the unilateral declaration of independence, as well as the excesses of power that mugabe has used to create the virtual dictatorship which. Former white ruler smith says he is stripped of citizenship. The extraordinary combat memoir of a rhodesian reconnaissance specialist by dennis croukamp oct 1, 2007 4. In this episode of the crossway podcast, ian smith, author of not home yet. In the book, ian smith sought to explain the reasons why his government made its unilateral declaration of independence, and how rhodesia coped in the face. Croukamp dennis shelved 1 time as rhodesia bushwar. Ian smith, 81, whose 196479 premiership saw zimbabwe, then called rhodesia, declare unilateral independence from britain in a bid to stave off black rule, was in harare on sunday.
Thames televisions flagship factual programme visits rhodesia one of the last countries in africa still under white minority rule. Ian smith last white leader of rhodesia, now zimbabwe, who fought to preserve minority rule the independent revisits the life of a notable figure. This week, from thursday 22 november 2007, rhodesian prime minister ian smith. Smiths book is a superb story of modern african, humanitys deadly. Joshua nkomos zapu and robert mugabes zanu parties overcame their differences to form the patriotic front pf to confront ian smith. Ian smith, the former prime minister of britains rebellious colony of rhodesia, who once promised that white rule in africa would endure for 1,000 years, died yesterday in south africa. To announce and explain unilateral separation from the united kingdom. Smith points to the chaotic situation in zimbabwe after 1980 as proof that he was trying to prevent rhodesia from suffering the. An african childhood by alexandra fuller, cocktail hour under the tree of forgetfulness by. Ian smith only once doubted the wisdom of his decision to declare udi and lead rhodesia into a 15year civil war to protect white rule. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it showcased repeatedly ian smiths integrity, courage, and firmness.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it showcased repeatedly ian smith s integrity, courage, and firmness. Ian douglas smith, the former prime minister of britains rebellious colony of rhodesia, who rose to power and slipped from it, committed to an. We rhodesia could get along without the rest of the world, but without south africas assistance, there would be serious problems, and it had been made clear that there were a number of areas in which south africa could turn the screws on us vorster said that it was necessary to. Ian smith was certainly no racist, nor were most members of the rhodesia front, the ruling political party of rhodesia. He was educated at chaplin high school, gwelo, and at rhodes university, south africa, before joining no. Ian smith has the last laugh in his grave zimbabwe situation. As my dear wife tinta and i were taking a stroll in our neighbourhood which used to be a whites only suburb during the colonial era we started discussing how standards had greatly deteriorated since we and our parents moved into the area immediately. The extraordinary combat memoir of a rhodesian reconnaissance specialist paperback by. Can 876 president of rhodesia, ian smith delivers statement duration.
Ian smith was born on 8 april 1919 in rural rhodesia. Read bitter harvest online by ian smith books free 30day trial. Ian smith describes in an almost blowbyblow fashion the meetings and behindthescenes political wrangling that went on as rhodesia tried to gain its independence, then tried to prevent a takeover of the government by communistbacked insurgent groups. After discussing his early life, smith tells how he sought to keep rhodesia on a. He became prime minister of rhodesia in april 1964, and took his country through the unilateral declaration of independence in 1965. The independent revisits the life of a notable figure. As the prime ministers wife, smith spent much of her time involved with matters of state, so much so that her son alec described her as a trace of perfume on the air to him in those. In the book, ian smith sought to explain the reasons why his government made its unilateral declaration of independence, and how rhodesia coped in the face of sanctions and terrorism until the pressures forced him and his government to accede to the wishes of his adversaries. The world united against 250,000 whites and the official representatives of all 4,000,000 blacks, their traditional chiefs, to destroy rhodesia. Ian smith was very reluctant, but john vorster suggested he come over and read all the documentation that was spread over two boardroom tables. However whilst ian smith acted in what he thought were the best interests of then rhodesia he made some disastrous political decisions as prime minister which directly contributed to the trauma that zimbabwe is suffering from today. That moment of doubt occurred in april 1980, during a meeting with robert mugabe, who the previous day had taken office as the first prime minister of. Reclaiming rhodesia the world united against 250,000.
How did ian smith get in the position to become prime minister of rhodesia. Smith, who ruled southern rhodesia, now zimbabwe, for 15 years, and once ran on a ticket for a whiter, brighter rhodesia, proposed the motion. Smith, 83, the leader of rhodesia, as zimbabwe was known before independence in 1980, said authorities in harare refused to renew his zimbabwe passport, leaving him stateless. Ian smith was not corrupt nor was he a megalomaniac. South africa during the afrikaaner regime 19481994 was nothing more than an african version of the third reich. Smith s highly anticipated newest book, the clean 20, became an instant new york times best seller, helping hundreds of thousands of people reduce bad sugars from their diet, lose weight, lower blood sugar levels, and cut. Smith details his boyhood in southern rhodesia, his enlistment into the royal air force and his active service during world war ii. Was rhodesia s ian smith right african rule will lower the countrys standards.
Before they left england, the brothers agreed that they would both moved to which ever place was better. Ian smith, former president of rhodesia, spares few of his opponents as he gives a forthright account of one of africas most controversial political careers. They called ian smith back later the same afternoon and explained that the americans knew of every sanction busting operation in the world and literally how much petrol, down to the last thousand litres. The man himself, ian douglas smith, confessed that. France and the ussr abstained, but south africa and portugal with its colony mozambique refused and their continued trading with rhodesia was instrumental in keeping the smith government afloat. His fathers brother moved to the us and eventually settled in san diego. Ian smith, former president of rhodesia, spares few of his opponents as heives a forthright account of one of africas most controversial politicalareerssmith. Ian douglas smith gclm id 8 april 1919 20 november 2007 was a politician, farmer, and fighter pilot who served as prime minister of rhodesia or southern rhodesia. Ian douglas smith shelved 1 time as rhodesia bushwar. A very interesting book about a much maligned political leader of the 70s and 80s. Ian smith, first nativeborn prime minister of the british colony of southern rhodesia now zimbabwe and ardent advocate of white rule, who in 1965 declared rhodesia s independence and its subsequent withdrawal from the british commonwealth.
With the rhodesian front then in power, the ian smith racism agenda was put squarely at centre stage. A gifted allrounder, he was educated at chaplin high school, gwelo, and at rhodes university, south africa, before joining no. This book is the autobiography of ian smith, the last prime minister of rhodesia. A slightly shortened version of the original report. He was the countrys first premier not born abroad, and led the predominantly white government that unilaterally declared independence from the united kingdom in 1965, following prolonged. Catalogue for the ian smith exhibition, museum of contemporary art brisbane april 17 may 27 1988. Charts the rise and fall of rhodesia now zimbabwe, a oncegreat nation.
It is a large volume of over 400 pages, and unlike many books focussing mainly on politics, is absorbing to read. Ian smith, defiant symbol of white rule in africa, is dead. Those on the left and often those allegedly on the right often attack the legacy of rhodesia by claiming it was racist. How the renewal of earth fits into gods plan for the world, discusses what the new heavens and new earth will be like when jesus returns. Rhodesia was a tranquil and civilised christian democracy were everyone was welcome and benefited regardless of. The great betrayal ian smith rhodesia and south africa. Ian douglas smith, the tall, stonyfaced prime minister of rhodesia, built a political career on a firm, unyielding policy of white supremacy. He considers the popularity of heaven tourism books and what they tell us about common. This article is part of the the crossway podcast series the new heavens and new earth.
From a wwii pilot to the president who eventually lead rhodesia to independence from great britain. Rhodesias unilateral declaration of independence wikipedia. The great betrayal, by ian smith, 1997, 1st edition, 418 pages, 22 photos, index. Ian smith lived an exemplary family life and in private was a downtoearth, modest man. He also describes the various agreements that rhodesia was party to. Rr7644a rhodesia ian smith profile ever since his unilateral declaration of independence udi from britain in november 1965, rhodesian premier ian smith has tried to. On 11 november 1965, in the wake of a number of failed negotiations with britain, ian smith and his cabinet unilaterally declared independence as rhodesia. His father, jock smith, had emigrated from scotland to rhodesia in 1898, on the eve of the boer war, and settled at. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The great betrayal goodreads meet your next favorite book. Smith would hold the premiership for about the next decade and a half.
1637 695 1581 841 1205 334 1436 1200 1417 526 1608 1237 1260 1377 1626 280 896 268 345 1115 1064 1295 813 547 1587 98 1105 692 758 99 369 938 957 1180