Editing History of Zimbabwe (section)

=== World War I ===
{{Main|Southern Rhodesia in World War I}}
As a British territory, Southern Rhodesia immediately joined [[World War I]] after the UK declared war on the [[Central Powers]], in August 1914. Rhodesia was noted for its patriotic zeal in joining the war.<ref>{{Cite book |last=McLaughlin |first=Peter |title=Ragtime soldiers: the Rhodesian experience in the First World War |date=1980 |publisher=Books of Zimbabwe |isbn=978-0-86920-232-6 |location=Bulawayo}}</ref> The main priority of British forces in Southern Africa was the capture of the [[German Empire|German colony]] of [[German South West Africa|South-West Africa]], modern-day [[Namibia]]. A Rhodesian unit was sent to guard [[Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe|Victoria Falls]] from a possible German invasion via the [[Caprivi Strip]]. Meanwhile, a force was sent to assist British forces in South Africa suppressing the pro-German [[Maritz rebellion|Maritz Rebellion]]. Afterwards, Rhodesians participated in the [[South West Africa campaign|invasion of German South-West Africa]].

Following the British victory over German forces in Southern Africa, many Rhodesian units, mostly white, were sent to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] in Europe, where they took part in major battles of the war. A small number of Rhodesian soldiers saw action in the [[Macedonian front|Salonika Front]] in [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]], and some even joined the [[Royal Flying Corps]]. Other Rhodesian regiments were sent to participate in the [[East African campaign (World War I)|invasion of]] [[German East Africa]], now [[Tanzania]], in early 1915. A guerrilla war in the German colony began, and the fierce fighting and disease devastated the 2nd Rhodesian Regiment, leading to more regiments of native Africans being raised. By November 1918, the Central Powers surrendered to the Allies, ending World War I.

[[File:Southern Rhodesia 1947 stamp1.jpg|thumb|Southern Rhodesia stamp: princesses [[Elizabeth II|Elizabeth]] and [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Margaret]] on the 1947 royal tour of South Africa]]

Southern Rhodesia became a [[self-governing colony|self-governing]] [[British Empire|British colony]] in October 1923, subsequent to a referendum held the previous year. The British government took full command of the British South Africa Company's holdings, including both Northern and Southern Rhodesia. Northern Rhodesia retained its status as a colonial protectorate; Southern Rhodesia was given responsible self-government – with limitations and still annexed to the crown as a colony. Many studies of the country see it as a state that operated independently within the Commonwealth; nominally under the rule of [[the Crown]], but technically able to do as it pleased. And in theory, Southern Rhodesia was able to govern itself, draft its own legislation, and elect its own parliamentary leaders. But in reality, this was self-government subject to supervision. Until the white minority settler government's declaration of unilateral independence in 1965, London remained in control of the colony's external affairs, and all legislation was subject to approval from the United Kingdom Government and the Queen.<ref name=":0" />

In 1930, the Land Apportionment Act divided rural land along racial lines, creating four types of land: white-owned land that could not be acquired by Africans; purchase areas for those Africans who could afford to purchase land; Tribal Trust Lands designated as the African reserves; and Crown lands owned by the state, reserved for future use and public parks. Fifty one percent of the land was given to approximately 50,000 white inhabitants, with 29.8 per cent left for over a million Africans.<ref>{{Cite book|title=A history of Zimbabwe|last=Mlambo|first=A. S.|isbn=9781107021709|location=New York, NY|oclc=866253281|date = 7 April 2014}}</ref>

Many [[Rhodesian]]s served on behalf of the United Kingdom during [[World War II]], mainly in the [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]] against [[Axis powers of World War II|Axis]] forces in [[Italian East Africa]].

In 1953, the British government consolidated the two colonies of Rhodesia with [[Nyasaland]] (now [[Malawi]]) in the ill-fated [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] which was dominated by Southern Rhodesia. This move was heavily opposed by the residents of Nyasaland, who feared coming under the domination of white Rhodesians.<ref name="fed">Parsons (1993). p. 292.</ref> In 1962, however, with growing [[African nationalism]] and general dissent, the British government declared that Nyasaland had the right to secede from the Federation; soon afterwards, they said the same for Northern Rhodesia.<ref name="fed" />

After African-majority governments had assumed control in neighbouring [[Northern Rhodesia]] and in [[Nyasaland]], the [[white minority rule|white-minority]] Southern Rhodesian government led by [[Ian Smith]] made a [[Unilateral Declaration of Independence (Rhodesia)|Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI)]] from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965. The United Kingdom deemed this an act of rebellion, but did not re-establish control by force. The white minority government declared itself a republic in 1970. A civil war ensued, with [[Joshua Nkomo]]'s [[ZAPU]] and [[Robert Mugabe]]'s [[ZANU]] using assistance from the governments of [[Zambia]] and [[Mozambique]]. Although Smith's declaration was not recognised by the United Kingdom nor any other foreign power, Southern Rhodesia dropped the designation "Southern", and claimed nation status as the [[Rhodesia|Republic of Rhodesia]] in 1970<ref name="declaration">Judd, Denis. ''Empire: The British Imperial Experience from 1765 to the Present''. p. 372.</ref><ref name="desig">Parsons (1993). pp. 318–320.</ref> although this was not recognised internationally.