Portugal's Guerrilla Wars in Africa: Lisbon's Three Wars in Angola, Mozambique and Portugese Guinea 1961-74 Paperback – June 19, 2015

This book is an extremely interesting account of Portugal's wars of decolonization in three different places in Africa. The book's point of view is from that of an embedded reporter so there are many personal accounts and personal interviews with Portuguese officers and men.The book really makes a person think. The Portuguese had held their colonies in Africa longer than the United States has held Texas and Angola and Mozambique in particular are failed states since the Portuguese left. Perhaps, America could have subsidized Portugal's Wars rather than waste so much time propping up South Vietnam.This book is really excellent for any person interested in the Portuguese Empire, the Decolonial Wars in Africa, and the Cold War in general this book is for you.

Overall a well-written, well-documented book. The author knows his business. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 for two main reasons:1. Some not-so-factual and contradictory comments about Portuguese policies in Africa and mistakes in conducting the war. Especially interesting when some times the author makes comparisons with the Rhodesian and South-African cases (in a favorable light for these two latter countries), with the outcome for both countries being exactly the same, i.e. losing the war. Furthermore, it can be strongly argued that Portugal did not lose the war (neither did win it) but ended its 500+ year presence in Africa in the worst possible way, by virtue of rushed and unwise policies in Continental Portugal after the revolution in 1974. The author also struggles in understanding why so many black troops (including elite commandos) were so loyal to Portugal instead of embracing the anti-colonial movements, but fails to understand the old saying that was created by the Belgians and British int he 19th Century (in a derogatory way, in their view): "God created the black and the white, the Portuguese created the mulatto"2. For somebody that spent considerable time in Portuguese African territories and in Portugal itself, the use of what intends to be Portuguese words is less than good. A typical trait of some English individuals that can't learn simple words in a foreign language. For instance, the author repeatedly uses the term "Alfares" instead of "Alferes" (a military rank) and "Chef do Poste" when the correct term is "Chefe do Posto". Not a huge problem, but an opportunity for further improving what is already a very good book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. For students of History and Guerrilla war . The author Al. J . Venter Like it or not Venter is a great author who really tells it like it is .

Al Venter is a veteran South African journalist and war correspondent, who traveled widely in all three war zones profiled here. The book is at its best when it draws on his notes and reporting done over a period of years. The result is some utterly fascinating anecdotes and vivid “no [kidding], there I was…” moments sprinkled through the book. Venter's descriptions of convoying across endless expanses of hostile country, for instance, are gripping. He clearly was able to build good rapport with several of his hosts, and evidently respected many of the soldiers he met.This does not mean Venter romanticized or was blind to local sources of resentment against the metropole. As he notes at one point, "[T]he level of colonial exploitation going on in Lisbon’s colonies– and in this regard the Portuguese were ruthless – there would almost certainly have been some kind of an uprising, as there had been many before, but always ruthlessly dealt with." The other side, though, are portrayed as carrying out their wars just as brutally in practice, however elevated their goals were in principle.And therein is one of the book's limitations. "Portugal’s Guerilla Wars" (as the title implies) is about Portugal’s side of the wars. Venter is pretty effective showing how they fought and, to some extent, why. Whether from lack of access or lack of interest, the guerilla perspective gets short shrift--to the extent it is presented, it tends to be one-dimensional and very Cold War in outlook. What the guerillas' goals and perspectives actually were isn't particularly clear.The book's other major flaw is organizational. Events in Lisbon and the “Carnation Revolution” are touched on briefly, but the book is strongest presenting bottom-up reporting from the warzones. As a result, the narrative tends to jump around and is choppy. I'm not sure if this is on the author or the publisher's lack of assertive editorial control, but it made it much harder to read.Still, there’s not very much available in English on this lusophone parallel to Vietnam, and Venter does a decent job with what he has. This is valuable look at the story of how three African countries, troubled in different ways, came to be what they are.6/10 (3 stars)

Easy to read overview of a time not recalls in the west and virtually unknown in the United States. Its recommended as an introduction to the subject it'll help you develop a list to continue your reading. Next time I'm out that way I'm going to hunt him down and buy him a drink

very informative

This was a truly enjoyable work regarding Portugal;s three colonial wars in Africa- I will definitely be purchasing more of A.J. Venter's books and would recommend that anyone interested in the bush wars in Africa seek out any published works by Mr. Venter.

Knowing the authors writing & I haste to say its authoritative as he was one of the pioneers that went trampling about the bush it did not read easily and was more like a cobbling together of all his previous work. If it was well edited then we would have been in the 4 to 5 star range. However, that said, apart from Venter and Mc Cans's book there are very little books and information available on this insurgency that had the exact outcome of the Rhodesians and South Africans with very different reasons.

Un libro muy interesante. Narra la historia y su contexto. Lleno de detalles humanos.Me ha encantado, emocionado y afectado enormemente

Good account.The Portuguese were tenacious but the tide was against them especially when the British began to pull out of Africa.I wonder how many Africans wish that the Europeans never left given the way things turned out since independence?The Americans could have learned a few lessons from the Portuguese when they were in Vietnam.

interesting but not as good as i'd hoped.

Should be read a war a lot of people do not know about made me think.ex boot on the ground.

written by a journalist point of view not a national one