Zambian Civil War

The Zambian Civil War was a civil war in Zambia fought between the communist People's Liberation Army and Egyptian Khanate (supported by Congo and Zimbabwe) against the democratic forces of the State of Zambia and the Independent State of Egypt (both supported by Rhodesia, the British Empire, and Nyasaland). 
== Background ==
=== Independence War (1957–1960) ===
During the late 50's, people living in the Federation of Zambia saw how successfully Rhodesia was able to achieve independence and began plotting to achieve their own independence, so underground groups started popping up such as the Zambian National Independence Union (ZNIU) and the Egyptian Independent Statehood Commission (EISC). In 1957, ZNIU, ZPIP, GKRP, and ZRU declared independence and started their own armed wings like, ZNIU-ZPA, ZPIP-ZPIA, GKRP-ZKA, and ZRU-ZRA. The Zambian forces made great gains against the federation's forces who were led by Kyle DeFonte. A couple months after the Zambians declared independence, the EISC split into two more groups, the Union of Egyptian Republicans (UER) and the Party for the King's Restoration (PKR). After the split they all unilaterally declared independence from both the Zambians and the British. After the about one year of war, some Egyptian loyalists formed the Party for the Reintegration of Egypt into Zambia (PREZ) and formed the Protectorate of Northern Egypt, though this move was widely unpopular and found themselves at war with all of Egypt. The war continued on until the 11th of October 1960.
=== Treaty of Totham ===
All forces involved in the Independence War signed the Treaty of Totham which recognized the independence of Zambia and Egypt. The treaty also stipulated that Egypt would have to merge with the Protectorate of Northern Egypt and have one unified governing political party. The Egyptians did just that and merged the EISC, UER, PKR, and PREZ into one party called the All-Egyptian National Congress (AENC). The treaty also stipulated that all armed wings of Zambian political parties must merge into one unified armed forces.
=== Zambian Purge ===
After about 9 months of trying to merge the ZRA and ZKA into the new PLA failed, the PLA began the Zambian Purge which murdered around 250,000 ZRA and ZKA soldiers and their families. After this purge came to light, Rhodesia, Britain, Nyasaland and Egypt sent a warning to the PLA to stop or they will intervene. The PLA took this as a bluff and continued butchering many people until word came back to headquarters that Rhodesian bomber aircraft had been seen bombing Somna.
== Early war (September-December 1961) ==
=== Operation Long John ===
Rhodesian Field Marshal Peter Walls began efforts for rapid deployment of soldiers across Egypt and southern Zambia. Walls began Operation Long John on the 15th of September 1961 that began the first major offensive operation that had Egyptian and Rhodesian forces take Somna, Zayani, Belepa, and Farasitra within two months.
=== Encirclements and great marches ===
While the Egyptians and Rhodesians were capturing major cities, most of ZRA and ZKA troops were stuck in Northern and central Zambia and being hunted down by the PLA. While they were being hunted down, the encircled troops began to do something drastic, march all the way down to the Kaspivrov river and cross it into Egypt. Most troops that participated in these marches did not make it to the Kaspivrov but instead were either captured or killed. 
=== Operation Khopesh ===
Egyptian Head of State and Field Marshal, Nasser Yacoub, planned Operation Khopesh, which was made to combat PLA forces that occupied the strategic cities of Tuymasnovy and Miarodvinsk. Marshal Nasser ordered five of his best divisions, numbering around 100,000 men, to attack Tuymasnovy and take it no matter the cost. The generals under Nasser were afraid to disappoint him because there were rumours that Nasser killed generals that disagreed with him (though this was most likely PLA propaganda), so the generals sent in waves of men to take Tuymasnovy. The overall casualty count of around 10,000-15,000 dead or wounded. Though the battle was a victory, Marshal Nasser felt saddened at the men and material that had just been lost. After a day to resupply his forces, Nasser ordered an attack on Miarodvinsk. This would turn out to fatal mistake, because Miarodvinsk had just been reinforced with 3 new Zambian divisions who had been trained by the 1st Zimbabwe Mechanized Infantry Brigade, also known as "The Panthers". The Panthers were know for their brutal massacres during the Zimbabwe Communist Coup. By the end of the battle, only 48% of the original force that attacked were left. Nasser felt embarrassed and furious for losing Miarodvinsk.
== Comeback (January-May 1962) ==
=== Siege of Chete ===
The strategic city of Chete fell under siege on the 5th of January 1962 by the PLA. The PLA knew how much the city meant in terms of supplies and culturally to the Egyptians, so they sent 10 divisions to take the city from the small garrison of 2 half-strength Egyptian brigades. The assault on the city did not go as planned due to the fact that the Egyptian forces fought harder than they had ever done before and that fighting spirit allowed they to be reinforced by 7 Egyptian divisions and 2 Rhodesian tanks divisions. These reinforcements proved critical to the defence of the city. After the successful counterattack on March 2nd, the combined Rhodesian-Egyptian forces went on the offensive towards Matoto.
=== Matoto Offensive ===
The main objectives for the Matoto were the capture of Matoto, Severorilsk, Edinwe, and Gwevane. The combined coalition forces took Matoto by 13 May 1962, and captured Severorilsk and Edinwe on the 21st. Though the coalition could not take Gwevane, Rhodesian high command thought they had the war in the bag, however, they did not receive the report that the PLA had 35 new full strength divisions which included, 20 infantry, 10 mechanized, and 5 armoured. 
== Downfall (June-December 1962) ==
=== Fall of Somelsk ===
The new PLA units were deployed all across the front, however, 18 divisions were sent to attack the Egyptian capital of Somelsk. The Rhodesians became aware after some recon planes spotted the convoy heading across the Kaspivrov towards Somelsk. Field Marshal Walls quickly alerted the Egyptians and the allied Zambians to head towards Somelsk. By the time the PLA forces got to Somelsk there were already 25 coalition divisions waiting there for them. The battle began on the 1st of June 1962, it began with heavy fighting in the northern Sozran Forest. Within two weeks of the battle there were already 60,000 dead due to the violent fighting and trench warfare. On the 13th of June, 3 more divisions from the Nyasaland Royal Army under the command of General Hector Hunter entered the bloodbath. On the 20th, PLA and Khanate forces broke through the lines at Sozran and began to envelope the coalition forces. Although Walls tried to stay as long he could and stop the enemy from taking the city, he failed and withdrew all Rhodesian forces on the 23rd. Nyasaland forces would try and take back the city on the 26th but failed horribly and lost a whole battalion.
Category:Coryia
Category:Coryia Wars
Category:Civil Wars
Category:Wars