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Captured Rhodesian Terrorist Uniform - Strichtarn Camouflage


Nkomo
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This is a Strichtarn uniform that was supposedly captured from a ZIPRA (Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army of the Zimbabwe African People's Union) soldier/terrorist in Rhodesia in the late 1970s. The uniform itself looks to be a tailor made piece that originated in Mozambique and was given as aid to the Marxist group ZAPU.

 

I have shown this uniform to a fellow collector before it arrived and we weren't sure if the rain pattern was EG or Polish. After having it in hand, the camo appears to be EG in origin. If not, it may be a copy of the EG rain pattern. However, I am pretty confident the fabric was EG in origin and sewn in Mozambique.

 

Unlike uniforms used by SWAPO-PLAN(South West African People's Organization People's Liberation Army of Namibia), this uniform does not appear to be EG manufactured as it does not follow any known cut uniform they used.

 

I am including pictures of a FRELIMO soldier (Frente de Libertação de Moçambique) in Mozambique and two pictures of Samora Machel (FRELIMO Commander and President of Mozambique) wearing a similarly cut uniform.

 

 

131894907_398281208293568_514969024478190810_n (1).jpg

131907202_825283904925725_2140020435037448251_n.jpg

131917370_715265002439498_1260194019083572528_n.jpg

131911086_726454568247152_1560501711187995467_n.jpg

131893781_208233497497763_4728862272158260102_n.jpg

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X9A5B99A1-F20A-4B21-8A89-174814F6EC13.png.2a287d375605623bfd6a99bf05a24c5c.pngGreat uniform,

I would’ve attributed it to ZANLA rather than ZIPRA as it is/was a FRELIMO Combat uniform.

the Freddie’s worked together with Mugabe’s ZANU party and army providing support and protection around the training camps throughout Mozambique.

Ive got a ZANLA set made in the camps, (which I’ll post soon)these camps were very sophisticated with workshops, schools and stores what wasn’t supplied by various Communist Organisations was made by tradesmen and women. Webbing, packs and clothing.

A6AA63B3-83D8-4C2B-A8DF-16B3F07C5138.png.036ba850524a990d30bf729540d256a9.png

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9 hours ago, Kia kaha said:

X9A5B99A1-F20A-4B21-8A89-174814F6EC13.png.2a287d375605623bfd6a99bf05a24c5c.pngGreat uniform,

I would’ve attributed it to ZANLA rather than ZIPRA as it is/was a FRELIMO Combat uniform.

the Freddie’s worked together with Mugabe’s ZANU party and army providing support and protection around the training camps throughout Mozambique.

Ive got a ZANLA set made in the camps, (which I’ll post soon)these camps were very sophisticated with workshops, schools and stores what wasn’t supplied by various Communist Organisations was made by tradesmen and women. Webbing, packs and clothing.

A6AA63B3-83D8-4C2B-A8DF-16B3F07C5138.png.036ba850524a990d30bf729540d256a9.png

I would agree with you on usage, but am merely going by what the seller said, mate.

 

Great reference pictures!  Any idea how hard it would be to find one of the Strichtarn caps?

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Any terr kit was always hard to get, the Special Branch intel guys would swoop in and grab all souvenirs trying to keep all the kit each terr wore to document what individuals carried. This would then be relayed to the Selous Scouts so there psydo teams would look legit, these teams would infiltrate and meet with real terrorist to gain info. Which is why a lot of this gear comes from ex Selous Scouts.

Hats used to be the easiest to hide so there should be a few around South Africa’s version of eBay “Bid or Buy”is a good place to look but purchasing from there could be a mission.

most vets still living in Zimbabwe brunt all their gear in the early 80s to avoid going on a long unpleasant holiday in a govt hotel, these hats used to be favourite fishing hats but when the arrests started they all fell into the lake.

 

sorry bit long winded just to say no l don’t have one either, cheers

Tony

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3 hours ago, Kia kaha said:

Any terr kit was always hard to get, the Special Branch intel guys would swoop in and grab all souvenirs trying to keep all the kit each terr wore to document what individuals carried. This would then be relayed to the Selous Scouts so there psydo teams would look legit, these teams would infiltrate and meet with real terrorist to gain info. Which is why a lot of this gear comes from ex Selous Scouts.

Hats used to be the easiest to hide so there should be a few around South Africa’s version of eBay “Bid or Buy”is a good place to look but purchasing from there could be a mission.

most vets still living in Zimbabwe brunt all their gear in the early 80s to avoid going on a long unpleasant holiday in a govt hotel, these hats used to be favourite fishing hats but when the arrests started they all fell into the lake.

 

sorry bit long winded just to say no l don’t have one either, cheers

Tony

Tony,

  I always am appreciative of information like this because it is invaluable.  Thank you for the reply.

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As promised this set came from a live donor! She was trained in East Germany then got back to Rhodesia through Mozambique and then was part of the transition teams after The ceasefire agreements.0ECA6293-D6EE-44F6-901E-54A5F3C5D270.jpeg.5893592145a872442fa247daaa2faff5.jpeg

 

917DEF4F-82AE-4942-93FA-2131A6FD6820.jpeg.32ae232f8c9f9ebd6412d6537f66f8d1.jpeg
 

2038294B-2575-4634-B806-220EAF7B9848.jpeg.973767a32702b8907e269ddf48915aa0.jpeg

 

55FC368B-67B3-4FFF-AFB1-E7FB026F5C47.jpeg.f4cd628922b01d8bcee47be9f0e4c603.jpeg
this uniform has been made in the camps by artisan tailors within the ZANLA organisations, it is missing an epaulette but this maybe part of the system used to spot imposters.980E7136-865F-40EB-A69C-E014CDA0DB00.jpeg.3f124f852305823efaaec41a1cb0966e.jpeg

 

BB44820F-5573-4DE3-8F08-7205A312891E.jpeg.8576a35bbf83f2e2f63d72ee3f52fb15.jpeg

 

FA6B73FF-EDEC-47F1-821C-0150FFCEFED4.jpeg.0b97fd1f1237fca4b7dc50d1d78a2f12.jpeg

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