Portugal was the first European country to colonize Africa and was also the last to leave, almost five centuries later. During its so-called cultural mission in Africa, the Portuguese faced many insurrections, but none was as serious as the guerrilla war that began in Angola in 1961 and two years later in Portuguese Guinea. While Angola had a stable economic infrastructure, this was not the case for the small West African enclave that would become Guinea-Bissau. The Soviets and Cubans believed that because this small colony - about the size of Belgium - had no resources and a small population, Lisbon would soon back down. They were wrong, as hostilities lasted more than a decade and the 11-year struggle turned into the most intense of Lisbon's three African colonies.

It was a classic African counter-offensive that began in January 1963, but went unnoticed because news from Vietnam monopolized attention. The Soviet-led counter-offensive in Portuguese Guinea would continue and pave the way for the wars that followed in Rhodesia and present-day Namibia.

Pages: 240, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm