Book contents
- Black Soldiers in the Rhodesian Army
- African Studies Series
- Black Soldiers in the Rhodesian Army
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Figures
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Creation of Black Rhodesian Soldiers’ Regimental Loyalties
- 3 ‘The Rhodesian Army Was the Best in Everything’
- 4 Racism and Soldierly Loyalty During the War
- 5 The Impact of the War upon Soldierly Loyalties
- 6 ‘They Just Follow the Government of the Day’
- 7 A New ‘Government of the Day’ Dawns
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
- African Studies Series
1 - Introduction
The Loyalties of Colonial Soldiers
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2024
- Black Soldiers in the Rhodesian Army
- African Studies Series
- Black Soldiers in the Rhodesian Army
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Figures
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Creation of Black Rhodesian Soldiers’ Regimental Loyalties
- 3 ‘The Rhodesian Army Was the Best in Everything’
- 4 Racism and Soldierly Loyalty During the War
- 5 The Impact of the War upon Soldierly Loyalties
- 6 ‘They Just Follow the Government of the Day’
- 7 A New ‘Government of the Day’ Dawns
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
- African Studies Series
Summary
Black Rhodesian soldiers’ loyalties – as opposed to motivations for initial enlistment – were premised upon a shared sense of professionalism. Inherent to this ethos was their soldierly prowess, honed through continuous training and operational experience, which was also co-constitutive of a deep, emotive sense of mutual obligation between fellow soldiers. Furthermore, these soldiers were socialised into a distinctive military culture, which created a powerful, emotive regimental loyalty that incorporated traditions to create an accentuated sense of in-group belonging and homogeneity that bound them to their regiment, and thereafter the wider army. professionalism and regimental loyalties of these troops ensured that they remained steadfast during combat and in the face of the surge in popularity of the nationalist challenge to white settler-colonial rule.
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- Black Soldiers in the Rhodesian ArmyColonialism, Professionalism, and Race, pp. 1 - 50Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024