Portuguese irregular forces in the Overseas War
Encyclopedia
In various theaters of operations in the Portuguese Colonial War
arose at the outset the need to create various types of irregular forces to help the Portuguese Armed Forces.
These irregular forces were usually held at the local level of Theater of Operations and included various types in terms of origin and dependence: militias of white settlers, native militias and forces, foreign forces from exile, forces of ex-guerrillas, dependent forces the Civil Administration, forces dependent on the armed forces and forces dependent on the PIDE
.
Officially the totality of these forces was known by Auxiliary Forces. In Guinea-Bissau
, General Spínola
introduced the term African Force to designate the irregular forces composed of natives of the province.
In Theater of Operations, the main irregular forces were as follows:
Portuguese Colonial War
The Portuguese Colonial War , also known in Portugal as the Overseas War or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974, when the Portuguese regime was...
arose at the outset the need to create various types of irregular forces to help the Portuguese Armed Forces.
These irregular forces were usually held at the local level of Theater of Operations and included various types in terms of origin and dependence: militias of white settlers, native militias and forces, foreign forces from exile, forces of ex-guerrillas, dependent forces the Civil Administration, forces dependent on the armed forces and forces dependent on the PIDE
PIDE
In 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS . The death of Salazar and the subsequent ascension of Caetano brought some attempts at democratization, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights...
.
Officially the totality of these forces was known by Auxiliary Forces. In Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
, General Spínola
António de Spínola
António Sebastião Ribeiro de Spínola , GCTE, ComA was a Portuguese soldier, conservative politician and author, who was important in the transition to democracy following the Portuguese Carnation...
introduced the term African Force to designate the irregular forces composed of natives of the province.
In Theater of Operations, the main irregular forces were as follows:
Angola
- Organização Provincial de Voluntários de Defesa Civil de AngolaOPVDCThe provincial organization of volunteers and civil defence or OPVDC was a former militia type force in each of the Portuguese Overseas provinces...
(Provincial Organization of Volunteers of Civil Defence of Angola) - mainly urban militia, consisting mainly of white settlers. - Guarda Rural (Rural Guard) - auxiliary force of Public Security PolicePolícia de Segurança PúblicaThe Polícia de Segurança Pública - PSP is the Portuguese police force that works in large urban areas. Rural towns and areas are under the protection of the Portuguese Republican National Guard...
, dedicated to the defense of companies and farms. - Formações Aéreas Voluntárias (Volunteer Aerial Formations) - aerial militia.
- Grupos EspeciaisSpecial Groups (Portugal)The Special Groups were small military units, set up from 1966 to 1974 by the Portuguese Armed Forces in Angola and in Mozambique. Later Paratrooper Special Groups were formed, units able to conduct airborne operations...
(Special Groups) - auxiliary units formed in 1966, composed of African volunteers, which operated together with units of the Portuguese Army. - Tropas Especiais - (Special Troops) - the name of the Special Groups in CabindaCabinda (province)Cabinda is an exclave and province of Angola, a status that has been disputed by many political organizations in the territory. The capital city is also called Cabinda. The province is divided into four municipalities - Belize, Buco Zau, Cabinda and Cacongo.Modern Cabinda is the result of a fusion...
. - Fiéis (Faithfuls) - force composed of military and police from KatangaKatanga ProvinceKatanga Province is one of the provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Between 1971 and 1997, its official name was Shaba Province. Under the new constitution, the province was to be replaced by four smaller provinces by February 2009; this did not actually take place.Katanga's regional...
, exiled for opposing the regime of Mobutu; these men fled to Angola with their families in a total of nearly 5,000 people. The Portuguese Army selected 2,000 of these exiles and organized them on 3 Battalions of 5 companies each, with these three battalions placed in Chimbila, Camissombo and Gafaria; they had their own Katangan officers and sergeants. - Leais (Loyals) - a force composed by exiles from ZambiaZambiaZambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, black soldiers that were against Kenneth KaundaKenneth KaundaKenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
. - FlechasFlechasFlechas were a Portuguese special forces unit created during the Portuguese Colonial War. Flechas were platoon-sized units consisting of local tribesmen and rebel defectors who specialised in tracking, reconnaissance and pseudo-terrorist operations...
(Arrows) - a very successful unit, controlled by the PIDE/DGSPIDEIn 1969, Marcello Caetano changed the name PIDE to DGS . The death of Salazar and the subsequent ascension of Caetano brought some attempts at democratization, in order to avoid popular insurgency against censorship, the ongoing colonial war and the general restriction of civil rights...
, composed by BushmenBushmenThe indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
, that specialized in tracking, reconnaissance and pseudo-terrorist operations.
Guinea-Bissau
- Corpo de Milícias (Militia Corps) - made up of Africans, mainly for self-defense of villages, they were divided into two types, the Regular Militia, defensive, organized in 45 companies of 200 men and the Special Militias, similar to Special Groups in other colonies, organized in 23 groups of 31 men.
- Comandos Africanos (African Commandos) - units of commandosComandosFor the denomination of "commando" see commando; for the Argentine special operations unit see Amphibious Commandos Group; for other special forces with "Commando" in their names see list of special forces units....
entirely composed by black soldiers, including the officers. - Fuzileiros Especiais Africanos (African Special Marines) - MarinePortuguese Marine CorpsThe Portuguese Marine Corps are a special operations force unit in the Portuguese Navy. The corps is specialised in amphibious warfare, coastal reconnaissance, maritime interdiction and boarding operations...
units entirely composed by black soldiers.
Mozambique
- Organização Provincial de Voluntários de Defesa Civil de Moçambique (Provincial Organization of Volunteers of Civil Defence of Mozambique) - an organization similar to the one of Angola, but in much smaller size and importance.
- Formações Aéreas Voluntárias (Volunteer Aerial Formations) - aerial militia.
- Aviação do Gabinete de Planeamento do Zambeze - GPZ (Aviation of the Zambezi Planning Office) - civil aviation service, but with a paramilitary organization, responsible for giving air support to the security of Cahora Bassa DamCahora Bassa DamThe Cahora Bassa Dam system is the largest hydroelectric scheme in southern Africa with the powerhouse containing five turbines. It is one of the three major dams on the Zambezi river system, the others being Kariba and Itezhi-Tezhi. However, Itezhi-Tezhi is not on the main stream of the Zambezi,...
; - Grupos EspeciaisSpecial Groups (Portugal)The Special Groups were small military units, set up from 1966 to 1974 by the Portuguese Armed Forces in Angola and in Mozambique. Later Paratrooper Special Groups were formed, units able to conduct airborne operations...
(Special Groups) - auxiliary units formed in 1968, composed of African volunteers, which operated together with units of the Portuguese Army; at its height in Mozambique there were 84 groups of 90 men each GE. - Grupos Especiais Paraquedistas (Paratrooper Special Groups) - units similar to GEs, but with paratrooper training; they were organized into 12 groups of 70 men each and were attached to the Air ForcePortuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
. - Grupos Especiais de Pisteiros de Combate (Combat Tracking Special Groups) - special units trained in tracking.
- Flechas (Arrows) - force similar to that of Angola.
See also
- Portuguese Colonial WarPortuguese Colonial WarThe Portuguese Colonial War , also known in Portugal as the Overseas War or in the former colonies as the War of liberation , was fought between Portugal's military and the emerging nationalist movements in Portugal's African colonies between 1961 and 1974, when the Portuguese regime was...