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Mau Mau Rebellion (Hardback)

The Emergency in Kenya 1952 - 1956

Military > Post-WWII Warfare P&S History > By Century > 20th Century

By Nick Van der Bijl
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 250
Illustrations: 16
ISBN: 9781473864573
Published: 5th April 2017

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In the press!

As featured by Mail Online - Incredible pictures reveal British soldiers suppressing the Mau Mau rebellion in the harsh African jungle during the Kenya Emergency 

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In The Mau Mau Rebellion, the author describes the background to and the course of a short but brutal late colonial campaign in Kenya. The Mau Mau, a violent and secretive Kikuyu society, aimed to restore the proud tribes pre-colonial superiority and rule. The 1940s saw initial targeting of Africans working for the colonial government and by 1952 the situation had deteriorated so badly that a State of Emergency was declared. The plan for mass arrests leaked and many leaders and supporters escaped to the bush where the gangs formed a military structure. Brutal attacks on both whites and loyal natives caused morale problems and local police and military were overwhelmed. Reinforcements were called in, and harsh measures including mass deportation, protected camps, fines, confiscation of property and extreme intelligence gathering employed were employed. War crimes were committed by both sides.

As this well researched book demonstrates the campaign was ultimately successful militarily, politically the dye was cast and paradoxically colonial rule gave way to independence in 1956.

★★★★ Despite its five year duration the Kenya insurgency is one of the least written about post-WW2 conflicts. In this comprehensively researched book, author Nick van der Bijl sets out the causes and consequences of the rebellion.

Read the complete review here.

Peter Weedon, Amazon

The story is told clearly and concisely and the drama is tense. This is modern history and is imparted extremely well. For those who don't know anything about this period, they will be shocked by what they read.

Gun Mart, October 2017 - reviewed by John Norris

The visual section consists of 38 black and white photographs of the time in which, if you look closely, they tell us more than what the naked eye might look like.

An interesting book on a hot topic.
Read the complete Spanish review here.

José Manuél Rico Cortés (Mister JM) - Miniaturas JM

The volume is a largely objective, eminently readable and well-researched work which gives an immediacy that is unusual. This reviewer found Chapters One (British East Africa) and Two (The Colonization of Kenya), particularly interesting

Reviewed M K Rimmer (NZ Crown Mines)

After the end of WWII, the second Labour Government embarked on a program of managed decline for Great Britain. This started an indecent rush to abandon the Empire. Often described as the Mau Mau Rebellion, this saw Kenya engulfed in civil war as the Kikuyu sought to take over at the expense of other tribes and the Asian community – Strongly Recommended.

Read the full review here.

Firetrench

As featured 'on the shelf' by Neil Smith

Wargames Illustrated, June 2017

Never before seen images have revealed the harsh and treacherous landscapes British soldiers had to endure during the Kenya Emergency as they sought to suppress the Mau Mau Rebellion.

The Daily Mail 7/4/17

About Nick Van der Bijl

Nick van der Bijl is a former soldier. He has written numerous books including Nine Battles to Stanley, Victory in the Falklands, Operation BANNER, Confrontation and The Cyprus Emergency. He lives at Mark, Somerset.

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