Bukavu - Congo '67

Danny and the Counts - Ode to the Wind

In 1967, as the now President Mobutu continued to solidify control over the Congo in pursuit of his eventual dictatorship, the exiled Prime Minister and former rebel Moise Tshombe attempted to return to the Congo to rally his fellow Katangese against him.

Two-hundred or so mercenaries, led by the settler-turned-mercenary Jean Schramme swapped sides, aiding the Katangese in their uprising. Which fell apart when Tshombe was arrested. Schramme decided to gather up whoever he could and hold out in the resort town of Bukavu until help could arrive, eventually deciding to turn themselves in to the Rwandan government, who refused to repatriate them to the Congo.

After the uprising ended, Mobutu began a campaign against not just the Katangese, but many of the Congo's ethnic groups he saw as disloyal, every Katangese that had taken part in the uprising and later accepted his offer of "amnesty" was executed upon their return.

[redtv]

Damn. 10 months already. I hope you're alive and fine. Thanks. (At least if you're reading this please let us know)

[henriquekonradt]

Brazil '64 would be a nice idea for a video some day. There is plenty of footage and outstanding songs of that time too!

[ColonelBummleigh]

Well done Majorsamm,
Please come back.Much missed.
And thanks for all your outstanding work - it's something other than else :^)

[larkenkuznetsov]

Black and white video, scruffy sounding old school recording. A match made in heaven, just like usual for MajorSamm!

[harmlesscreationsofthegree]

These things will never be forgotten, thanks to Samm. The amount of times these pieces have lead me to research a particular conflict and go on a journey of learning, is innumerable. I rewatch some regularly, there’s something almost hypnotic and soothing about the way the music works with the images and vice versa. Masterful, sir.

[snatchANrun]

Miss you MajorSamm hope you are doing good man.

[zaccrowe]

Samm, I’ve been a follower for several years. I want to thank you for all of your content you have shared with us. Every video is a classic forgotten time piece. You have the best channel on YouTube, thanks again.

[yryes]

Stanleyville mutinies! Excellent. Will make a great companion to your previous Congo mercenary videos. Good work as always.

[jamesivie]

I remember the conflict in the Congo as a young man. I followed the action to the extent that I could.

[CaptainMartinWalker]

MajorSamm graces us with impeccable content yet again.

[vednacold]

Ah, Bukavu...Great place, I've been there twice. Thanks for the new vid, MajorSamm!

[kermit_]

I said it before and I say it again best channel on this platform, keep up the magnificent work Samm!

[traveldude]

These videos are just so high quality. I love seeing and learning about the unpopular conflicts of humanity, .

[airosoul]

Worth noting that one swiss-polish former R.A.F. pilot (12 confirmed kills) and also former Commander of Catangan Air force in '62 was fighting for Biafra with an old B-26 which was essentially all of biafran Airforce. A Madlad abslutely worth looking up; "Mr.Brown" Jean Zumbach.

[alexiswashington]

literally the only channel I always hit the like button immediately after starting the video, that's a compliment majorsam

[leonardotorres]

Tus vídeos son muy extraños, de conflictos olvidados, pero eso los hace muy interesantes de ve ver! Son geniales, saludos 🇦🇷

[Jonnywiseguy]

More music like this is absolutely opening a door into a whole new world of perspective.
Keep it coming, man!

[ryannolfe]

Your videos are literally my entire playlist. Keep em comin!

[JMARCO-tyow]

God bless these boys. Not just Europeans, but Katanguese as well. After the Mobutu coup they migrated to Angola and fought shoulder to shoulder with the Portuguese (the "Katanguese Faithfuls" force). Absolute chads!

[mrzipperface]

What I love about MajorSamm's videos is that you get to see the real face of history. Another cracking video Major.