Women in the Rhodesian Security Forces during the Bush War (1965–1979)

This article is devoted to the study of the history of women's service in the police and armed forces of Rhodesia (Rhodesian Security Forces).The research materials are based on the memories of direct participants in the events, as well as other information, mainly provided by veteran online associations of the Rhodesian army and police.The structure of the article contains three main sections ("Rhodesian police women before 1965", "Rhodesian police women after 1965", "Rhodesian military women in 1975-1979").The author has studied the history of the development of women's service in law enforcement agencies from temporary auxiliary police units during the Second World War to the possibility of full-time service in the armed forces during the bush war.The work is also accompanied by a large body of photographic material showing the process of women's service in the Rhodesian Security Forces.In conclusion, the author notes that the first full-fledged experience of women in the security forces was gained during the Second World War, which was then developed in the interwar period, and with the declaration of independence of Rhodesia in 1965 and the beginning of a protracted war with the rebels, the need for female personnel only intensified.