War and Society in Colonial Zambia, 1939-1953

This leading study shows how the British colony of Northern Rhodesia organized and deployed human, military, and natural resources during and after the Second World War, from a Zambian perspective. It examines government propaganda, recruitment, the colony's economic contribution to the Allied war effort, and life on the home front.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2022
Publisher: Ohio University Press

This groundbreaking study, written from a Zambian perspective, delves into the intricate details of how the British colony of Northern Rhodesia, later known as Zambia, orchestrated and strategically deployed its human, military, and natural resources during and after the Second World War. The Second World War posed unprecedented challenges to the British Empire, encompassing the colonial territory of Northern Rhodesia. War and Society in Colonial Zambia, through the use of new archival materials and oral histories, presents an African perspective on the colony's efforts to organize its human and natural resources on behalf of the imperial government.

Alfred Tembo, in the first chapter, takes us on a journey to explore government propaganda and the recruitment process for the Northern Rhodesia Regiment, which played a significant role in various theaters of war, including East Africa, Palestine, Ceylon, Burma, and India. The regiment's contributions to the Allied war effort are highlighted, emphasizing the crucial role of the colony's mining industry and its supply of rubber and beeswax following the fall of Southeast Asian colonies to the Japanese in early 1942.

The second chapter delves into Zambia's economic contribution to the Allied war effort. Tembo highlights the pivotal role of the colony's mining industry, which played a significant part in supplying essential resources to the war effort. Additionally, the colony's role as a supplier of rubber and beeswax becomes evident, particularly in light of the challenges faced by Southeast Asian colonies.

The third chapter focuses on life on the home front during the war. Tembo explores the social impact of wartime commodity shortages, the challenges posed by incoming Polish refugees, and the more interventionist forms of colonial governance that emerged in response to these circumstances. The experiences of ordinary Zambians, both during the war and in its aftermath, are brought to life through archival and oral evidence, providing a rich and nuanced understanding of the period.

War and Society in Colonial Zambia is a groundbreaking study that offers a unique perspective on the Second World War and its impact on the British Empire, particularly on the colony of Northern Rhodesia. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Tembo sheds light on the complex web of human, military, and natural resources that shaped the course of the war and the post-war era in Zambia. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on colonial history and African studies, providing a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between imperial power, resource extraction, and local communities.

Weight: 392g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821425107