The Great Betrayal

The Great Betrayal: The Memoirs of Ian Douglas Smith is a 1997 autobiography written by Ian Smith, focusing on his time as Prime Minister of the British self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia, later Rhodesia (April 13, 1964 - June 1, 1979).^[1]

The memoirs cover the time period during which Smith's government attempted to preserve white minority rule in Rhodesia through political and military means, including a Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom, and the termination of Smith's government with the resumption of British rule and the recognised independence of Zimbabwe in 1980. In this book, Smith sought to explain the reasons why his government declared its Unilateral Declaration of Independence, and how Rhodesia coped in the face of sanctions and terrorism until the pressures forced him and his government to accede to the wishes of his adversaries. Smith points to the chaotic situation in Zimbabwe after 1980 as proof that he was trying to prevent Rhodesia from suffering the same fate as other majority-ruled African states.

It was republished in 2001 with the title "Bitter Harvest: The Great Betrayal". After Smith's death in 2007, the book was also reprinted in May 2008 with a foreword by Rupert Cornwell, and a brief postscript.

Ian Smith Prime Minister of Rhodesia (1964–79) Leader of the Rhodesian Front and successors (1964–87) Leader of the Opposition of Zimbabwe (1980–87) 8 April 1919 – 20 November 2007 Pre-premiership Royal Air Force service Southern Rhodesia Liberal Party 1953 federation referendum Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland United Federal Party Cold War Wind of Change Decolonisation of Africa No independence before majority rule 1961 constitutional referendum Rhodesian Front Premiership 1964 independence referendum Rhodesian mission in Lisbon Unilateral Declaration of Independence (signatories) Harry letters affair Beira Patrol 1969 constitutional referendum Rhodesian Bush War 1975 Victoria Falls Conference 1976 Geneva Conference Internal Settlement Air Rhodesia Flight 825 1979 constitutional referendum Air Rhodesia Flight 827 Post-premiership Government of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Lancaster House Agreement Republican Front Conservative Alliance of Zimbabwe General elections 1948 1953 1958 1962 1965 1970 1974 1977 1979 1980 1985 Books authored The Great Betrayal (1997) Bitter Harvest (2001) Family Alec Smith (son) Clem Tholet (son-in-law) Category Commons

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