Njohn peters congo mercenary books

Thomas michael mad mike hoare born 17 march 1919 is a british mercenary leader and adventurer known for military activities in africa and his attempt to conduct a coup detat in the seychelles. Mike hoare, bob denard and john peters found themselves far more. Congo crisis during the congo crisis mike hoare organized and led two separate mercenary groups. This is part of a larger collection of items belonging to a south african mercenary who served with the british parachute regiment and then went on to become a decorated mercenary officer of 5 commando of the armee nationale congolaise anc in the congo from 1966 until it was disbanded in 1967 at this stage i am still researching and am awaiting a. If the pulitzer committee gave a worst reported war prize, katanga would be a shooin. The nigerians had egyptian pilots loaned to them by the russians, and john peters, a brit who had also been in the congo. The murderous john peters was put in charge of 5 commando during its mostly garrison duty until being disbanded in may 1967. The novel centers on an expedition searching for diamonds and investigating the mysterious deaths of a previous expedition in the dense tropical rainforest of the congo. Axis history forum this is an apolitical forum for discussions on the axis nations and related topics hosted by the axis history factbook in cooperation with christian ankerstjernes panzerworld and christoph awenders ww2 day by day. Hoare led two separate mercenary groups during the congo crisis. For other people with similar names, see john peters disambiguation. Memories of savage mercenary actions in the congo were still fresh in african minds when the nigerian civil war began and at first, there was reluctance to use them. This is part of a larger collection of items belonging to a south african mercenary who served with the british parachute regiment and then went on to become a decorated mercenary officer of 5 commando of the armee nationale congolaise anc in the congo from 1966 until it was disbanded in 1967.

A bit dated now with recent events in the balkans and iraq but does give an account of the heyday of the mercenary. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. When the lions fed saint john hostages in the congo 1964. A mercenary, sometimes known as a soldier of fortune, is an individual who takes. Though he is best known as a mercenary leader in the congo and the seychelles, his two new books describe his nonmilitary adventures on land and sea. Moise, prime minister of the congo, during the armed rebellion four years after the countrys independence. The dedication is to dave, who i presume to be dave braham, as the inscription refers to their time together in the congo 19651967 see photo.

While the word mercenary has pejorative connotations in the western world, the mercenaries that hoare shaped and commanded bring to mind henry vs st. European mercenaries interviewed about killing congolese. John peters who took over command of 5 commando from mike hoare. Congo mercenary, initially written in 1967, describes a facet of congolese history that, even today, is known by relatively few observers. Peters born june 2, 1945 is an american film producer and former hairdresser. A massive man of very few words, john peters prefers to let his actions speak for him. Mercenaries in asymmetric conflicts by scott fitzsimmons. In 1964 tshombe then prime minister of congo hired major hoare to lead a. European mercenaries face death penalty in congo the guardian. Latest additions to the mercenary wars and the soldiers of. But biafra and congo were the two main mercenary wars that brought attention to the white soldier of fortune in africa. In 1964, congolese prime minister moise tshombe hired major mike hoare to lead a military unit called 5 commando, armee nationale congolaise 5 commando anc later led by john peters. Congo mercenary kills rebel prisoner to spare him torture. As youd expect from the title mike hoare features quite a lot in this book.

I had read the authors better known book, congo mercenary, about his later service in that country. Congo is a 1980 science fiction novel by michael crichton. I am working on a book about the congo wars of the 1960s that will cover the katanga secession in 1960, the simba rebellion of 64, and jean schrammes mercenary revolt in 67. Mulundu requested the death penalty for each of the five charges against the two defendants. In congo mercenary, mike hoare tells the true story of his resolute band of mercenaries 5. Michel is a member of the french foreign legion parachute regiment, he is thought to be loosely based on famous french mercenary bob denard. The rise of the worlds most powerful mercenary army hardcover by. The battered and bruised face of former raf pilot john peters was flashed across the world after his plane was shot down during operation desert storm in. Congo mercenary s personal memoir by hoare, mike and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Mike hoare led two separate mercenary groups during the congo crisis. Get free shipping on congo mercenary by mike hoare, from. Jul 11, 2011 hi, the golden age of modern mercenaries was in 1960s and 1970s, especially in africa. In fact, he probably spent as much time in the brig as he did guarding it.

List of books and articles about belgian congo online. If you go to the book section of this site you will find all of mike hoares books. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. In 196465 soldier for hire mike hoare and a handful of mercenaries defeated a. From bokassa and operation barracude to the days of eufor, battle for cassinga. What conrad saw on the congo in 1890 while serving briefly as a steamboat skipper burnt in his soul for eight years until, in a few hectic months, he ran. Another great warlord of medieval europe was the breton knight bertrand du guesclin, a man so fearsome that he was nicknamed the eagle of brittany and the black dog of broceliande. Hugh van oppen served in the royal tank regiment in korea and egypt before joining the nor thern rhodesia police and later the royal rhodesia regiment, where he won a british empire medal for the nkata bay in cident in nyasaland.

They proceeded to terrorize stanleyvilles 300,000 congolese residents and. Congo mercenary by mike hoare tells the true story of his band of white mercenaries hired by mr. Shortly after the chaotic dissolution of the belgian congo. Sep 15, 2008 congo mercenary, initially written in 1967, describes a facet of congolese history that, even today, is known by relatively few observers. Originally published in 1967, and now including a new foreword by mike hoare, congo mercenary is a wellwritten and historically important account of one of the most brutal rebellions in africa, as well as an accurate and gritty depiction of the mercenary life. The republic of congo often gets obscured by the cultural and political exploits of its larger namesake and neighbour and by the other francophone nations of west africa. With that said, this is a welldeveloped book series, which will undoubtedly leave you the reader glued to your seat. Kurtz, a mysterious personage who dominates the unruly inhabitants of the region. The epithet mad mike hoare comes from broadcasts by east german radio during the fighting in the congo.

I just watched the siege of jadotville on netflix because it looked interesting and i had never heard of the true story before. See more ideas about congo, african and congo crisis. Congo lies astride the equator, and virtually all of the country is part of the vast congo river drainage basin. Wild goose the life and death of hugh van oppen, 5. David admitted that his writing ideas are quite random. John peterseither a veteran or deserter of the british special air service who. Photos of mercenaries in 1960s and 70s axis history forum. Shortly after the chaotic dissolution of the belgian congo, president moise tshombe proclaimed katanga, one of the territorys wealthiest provinces which had accounted for nearly fifty per cent of congolese revenues, an independent and autonomous nation. Once again, a journalist familiar with african politics, economics and culture tells a shocking story of widespread corruption, greed and bloody violence, this time in a region rich in tin and coltan. Faced with this situation, the congolese government hired legendary mercenary leader mike hoare to quell the uprising and bring order to the country.

How extensive was the use of white mercenaries in the post. Armee nationale congolaise 5 commando anc later led by john peters. If you have any photos or links, i would appreciate it a lot, especially from nigeria. After everybody else, including the united nations troops, had failed. Peters was born in van nuys, california, the son of jack peters, a cook who owned a hollywood. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. During this time he married phyllis sims, an airline stewardess. Soldiers of fortune, witch doctors, guns, and belgian colonialism. For the next decade, the closest hoare came to mercenary activity was by serving as technical advisor for a movie about his african adventures, the wild geese, starring fellow wildmen richard burton and richard harris. The use of europeans as mercenaries in africa during the post colonial period was a feature of the times. The dogs of war 1980 frequently asked questions imdb. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel.

Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. A list of known soldiers of fortune who served in the congo conflict. Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting. In a heretical book entitled call africa 999, nugent wrote people the world over have read tens of thousands of words on the congo and katanga only to end up asking. As they mopped up eastern congo together, peters almost captured guevara in camp, forcing the communists famed idol to effect an ignominious escape to tan zania.

He ran 4 and 5 commando along classic british army lines, developed them into an effective fighting force, and steered clear of the weirdness of many euro mercs of the time. Dark allegory describes the narrators journey up the congo river and his meeting with, and fascination by, mr. In those days, honor was not yet a dirty word as it is in the us these days. After the war, he completed his training as a chartered accountant, and qualified in 1948. Mercenary warfare in congo, nigeria, rhodesia todays zimbabwe, angola. Ive read all of mike hoares books about the congo and they are generally very enjoyable and entertaining. It is for these reasons that the congo mercenary is being studied. List of books and articles about stanley and livingstone. Operation dragon rouge at exactly 0600 hours on the morning of november 24, 1964, as the sun was breaking over the former belgian colony of congo, five fourengine turboprop lockheed c hercules transports appeared only 700 feet above the sabena airport on the outskirts of the city of stanleyville. The road to kalamata deals with his earlier service in 1961 for the nascent province of katanga which was enjoying a short lived independence from the congo. Chris hoare, the son of congo and seychelles mercenary mike hoare, with the biography on his father, which he is due to launch next month.

Jan 20, 2008 tim butchers top 10 books about congo. Books about mercenaries adventureres and military history. Jonas ambler is a rich businessman whos wife is killed by kidnappers. What are the best books about the belgian congo and king. Jul 28, 20 the exploits of soldiers of fortune have been told in countless books and films, but rarely do the accounts linger on the manacled, humiliated mercenary rotting in a jail cell, or the halfnaked corpse being dragged through the bush. It goes into detail about the planning and execution of all of the campaigns that hoare participated in. In the mid1970s, john banks, an englishman, recruited mercenaries to fight.

Arguably the bestknown mercenary of the medieval world is the englishman john hawkwood, the leader of the white company. Soldiers of misfortune the history of mercenaries main. With great power and compassion, king leopolds ghost will brand the tragedy of the congo too long forgottenonto the conscience of the west. Buy congo mercenary by mike hoare with free delivery. Tim butchers top 10 books about congo books the guardian. Mercenary by colonel mike hoare and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Echoing what christine wrote above, the peoples republic of the congo is what is boxed, and the description says that this is for books partially or fully set in either the peoples republic of the congo or the democratic republic of the congo. He turned 100 years old in 2019, despite his lifelong philosophy that you get more out of life by living dangerously. Congo mercenary by hoare, mike and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.

During that long, hot summer of 1964, ivan smith, a mercenary volunteer in the armee nationale congolais, came to witness and understand fear, the law of the jungle and the lust for killing that permeates africa. He emigrated to durban, natal province, union of south africa, where he ran safaris and became a soldierforhire in various african countries. In later years hoare took pride in saying, i was the only man known to have beaten him in battle. Sailing into the middle of the story was a young congo river steamboat officer named joseph conrad. Congo mercenary is the most actionpacked and detailed of hoares works. The golden age of modern mercenaries was in 1960s and 1970s, especially in africa. The congo mercenary a history and analysis, stephen john gordon clarke on.

On april 5, 1961, the secretarygeneral criticised belgian mercenaries for their service. John peters, commanding officer of 5 commando, had refused a. John was, in some ways, the most widely known terrorist in recent history, but in other ways remains one of the least known members of that rather exclusive group of people. Rhodesian raid on chimoio and tembue 1977, france in centrafrique. There has been little use made of the mercenary, the truly professional soldier, in modern times. Thomas michael hoare 17 march 1919 2 february 2020, known as mad mike hoare, was a. With olivier gruner, john ritter, robert culp, ed lauter. John peter nugent was the newsweek bureau chief for africa.

The guy, who scan for me in the internet place didnt made his best work today, so sorry about the bad quality of the photos. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery. Despite a great deal of publicity, the mercenaries played a relatively minor role in the nigerian civil war, except for air force pilots. Wild goose the life and death of hugh van oppen, of 5 commando, the congo mercenaries.

Nonetheless, the literature of this nation deserves acclaim in its own right, as these three writers pro. Army mp, he has a concerted lack of respect for authority and angers easily. And looming above them all, the duplicitous billionaire king leopold ii. Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through timesmachine. Mercenaries, guns, and witch doctors katanga, the congo wars. South africas controversial crossborder raid, angola 1978, and several more.

Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Apr 06, 2015 patrice lumumba, just released from prison, showing his injured wrists what does it mean to have courage. Jeremy scahill shelved 8 times as mercenaries avg rating 3. After the war, he was a mercenary in the belgian congo for a while. In congo mercenary, mike hoare tells the true story of his resolute band of mercenaries during the congo war. Mercenaries, guns, and witch doctors katanga, the congo. Mike hoares first mercenary action was in 1961 in katanga, a province trying to break away from the newly independent republic of the congo. This book accurately portrayed being a mercenary in the congo and it is just a damn good read. Many of the myths of the modern mercenary started in the congo. States have usually found revenue enough to maintain an army and often conditions are so good there that, with the added prestige, a soldier becomes one of a select elite. A member of mad mike hoares 5 commando group he and his companions were nominally soldiers but there was little in the way of campaigns, tactics and discipline.

The history of the mercenary from the congo to the. Most of us might first think of those who put their lives on the line in defense of an ideal. It was excellent, and i will be returning to it again. He hires a mercenary to find and kill the kidnappers. While other mercenaries fought and died, hoares attempts to involve himself in the nigerian civil war, the persian gulf, angola, and mozambique were. Congo by michael crichton and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.

I came very close to enlisting in the rhodesian army or becoming a mercenary in angola. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. My question mostly comes from the postmovie credits where they said the french mercenary leading the attack on the village rene something i think inspired and led. In july 1964, after four years of uneasy independence, the democratic republic of the congo was engulfed by an armed rebellion that spread throughout the country like a bush fire. My book will tell the story of the wars that ripped apart the congo in the 1960s and pitched cia agents. North central congo is made up of a large plateau average elevation. It has been argued that the colonial powers had during the training of native troops instilled in them a sort of lack of selfconfidence that they were not the equal to european troops. The story of a congo mercenary ivan smith in the books category for sale in durban id. After everybody else, including the united nations. The john pearce fiction series has a total of 12 books.

The scourge of the simba rebels in the congo in the 1960s. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. He is thought to be loosely based on john peters, a former sas soldier who served as a mercenary with mad mike hoare during his campaign in the congo in the 1960s. White mercenaries training in kamina for fighting in the congo. Popular mercenaries books showing 150 of 944 blackwater.