View source for Attack on Altena Farm

{{operational plan
| name        = Attack on Altena Farm
| partof      = [[Rhodesian Bush War]]
| image       = 
| caption     = 
| scope       = Terrorist attack
| planned     = 
| planned_by  = [[Rex Nhongo]]{{sfn|Binda|2008|p=134}}
| objective   = Assassination of Marc de Borchgrave<br />Observation of response by [[Rhodesian Security Forces]]{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}}
| target      = Altena Farm
| date        = 21 December 1972{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}}
| time        = 3:00 AM{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=176}}
| time-begin  = 
| time-end    =
| timezone    =
| executed_by = {{flagicon image|Flag of ZANU-PF.svg}} [[Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army|ZANLA]]
| outcome     = Severe damage to Altena Farm
| casualties  = One occupant slightly wounded{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=188}}
| fatalities  = None
| injuries    = De Borchgrave's daughter, non-fatal{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=188}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Rhodesian Bush War}}

The '''attack on Altena Farm''' occurred in the early hours of 21 December 1972, during the third phase of the [[Rhodesian Bush War]].{{sfn|Van Driel|2003}} ''Altena'' was a tobacco farm owned by Marc de Borchgrave, a [[White people in Zimbabwe|white Rhodesia]]n landowner who was unpopular among the local civilians.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}} Some sources have indicated that this marked the beginning of the conflict proper, despite the minor threat already represented by guerrilla movements in [[Rhodesia]] in the late 1960s.{{sfn|Chakamwe|2013}}

==Background==
Rhodesian intelligence, which had been monitoring ZANLA's activity and preparations, grew curious when over a four-week period in November 1972 sources of information suddenly began to "dry up", in the words of historian Alexandre Binda. "They sensed that something was afoot, but their superiors brushed off their fears," Binda says. "The senior Rhodesian authorities had been lulled into a sense of arrogant self-confidence based on the security forces' past successes." This false veneer of security was smashed on 21 December 1972 when a group of ten ZANLA cadres led by [[Solomon Mujuru|Rex Nhongo]]{{#tag:ref|"Rex Nhongo" was the ''chimurenga'' name (''[[Pseudonym#Noms de guerre|nom de guerre]]'') of [[Solomon Mujuru|Solomon Tapfumaneyi Mutuswa]], who changed his surname to Mujuru during the mid-1970s. ''Nhongo'' is Shona for "male goat".<ref name="binda150">{{Harvnb
|Binda
|2008
|p=150}}</ref>}} attacked the white-owned Altena Farm near the north-eastern village of [[Centenary, Zimbabwe|Centenary]], about {{convert|30|km}} west of [[Mount Darwin, Zimbabwe|Mount Darwin]].

ZANLA had planned for four attacks to take place simultaneously but in the event only Nhongo's men did so.<ref name=binda133136>{{Harvnb
|Binda
|2008
|p=133-136}}</ref> According to the historian Elaine Windrich, Nhongo was a former employee of the tobacco farm's 37-year-old owner, Marc de Borchgrave, and held a grudge against him.

==The Raid==
Having established a presence in the nearby Chiweshe Tribal Trust Territory, a cadre of [[Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army]] (ZANLA) insurgents armed with [[AK-47]]s, hand grenades, and at least one light machine gun (most likely an [[RPD machine gun|RPD]]) trekked about six miles to reach Altena.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=176}} A list of white farmers in the Centenary district was drawn up and de Borchgrave was marked for elimination due to his poor reputation among black farmworkers. Farmers known for their popularity in the workforce were also identified and removed from the list of potential targets.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}} Cadre leader [[Rex Nhongo]] planned to carry out the attack and observe follow-up operations carried out by the [[Rhodesian Security Forces]].{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}}

Around three o'clock that morning, the guerrillas cut the telephone lines and laid a land mine in the driveway.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}} Nhongo undertook a reconnaissance of the farmhouse before the attack commenced. Each insurgent then expended at least two magazines of ammunition apiece at the structure.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=187}} Hand grenades were also thrown.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=176}} Despite the damage caused to the structure, only de Borchgrave's eight-year-old daughter Jane was injured. 

Deducing that Nhongo may have mined the driveway, de Borchgrave set off on foot to seek assistance.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=188}} The insurgents retreated, burning down what they believed to be a white-owned store during the withdrawal.{{sfn|Chakamwe|2013}} Rex Nhongo was later stopped and questioned by some members of the [[British South Africa Police]], but as his identity documents were in order and he had concealed his weapons, he was not detained.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=188}}

==Aftermath==

Late on 22 December, a troop from the [[Rhodesian Special Air Service]], followed shortly by the [[Rhodesian Light Infantry]], reported to the police station in Centenary.{{sfn|Binda|2008|p=134}} The land mine in Altena's driveway was discovered, disarmed and removed.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=188}}  For their own safety, Marc de Borchgrave and his family were sent to another farm while their home was being repaired.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=177}}

Having been alerted to the de Borchgraves' new location through sympathetic farmworkers, guerrillas from the original cadre requested permission from ZANLA to carry out another attack. After ZANLA's area commanders in Centenary had been consulted, a raid on the second target (Whistlefield Farm) was planned.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=177}} The property was owned by an Archie Dalgleish.{{sfn|Binda|2008|p=134}}

At about one o'clock on the morning of 23 December, the insurgents reconnoitred Whistlefield Farm and shelled the structure with mortar fire.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=177}} An [[RPG-7]] was also discharged at the window of the de Borchgraves' bedroom.{{sfn|Binda|2008|p=134}} Several occupants, including de Borchgrave, were slightly wounded.{{sfn|Petter-Bowyer|2003|p=188}} ZANLA claimed that Rhodesian troops posted within shouting distance of the home responded to the scene and saved the lives of Dalgleish and his guests by engaging the assailants.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=177}} Six huts and a mosque in the farmworkers' compound were also torched during the skirmish, although accounts differ on who started the fire.{{sfn|Raeburn|1978|p=177}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

;Online sources
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web
|title=Chapter Two: A Brief History Of The Context Of The ZAPU Guerrillas
|last=Van Driel
|first=Nichole
|url=http://www.sahistory.org.za/content/chapter-two-brief-history-context-zapu-guerrillas
|location=Cape Town
|publisher=University of Western Cape (South African History Online)
|date= June 2003
|access-date=8 February 2015
}}
*{{cite web
|title=The 1972 spark that started the revolution
|last=Chakamwe
|first=Chakamwe
|url=http://www.thepatriot.co.zw/old_posts/the-1972-spark-that-started-the-revolution/
|location=Harare
|publisher=The Patriot
|date=12 December 2013
|access-date=8 February 2015
}}
{{refend}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
|title=Winds of Destruction: the Autobiography of a Rhodesian Combat Pilot
|last=Petter-Bowyer
|first=P. J. H.
|date=November 2005
|orig-year=2003
|location=Johannesburg
|publisher=30° South Publishers
|isbn=978-0-9584890-3-4
|ref=CITEREFPetter-Bowyer2003}}
*{{cite book
|title=The Saints: The Rhodesian Light Infantry
|last=Binda
|first=Alexandre
|location=Johannesburg
|publisher=30° South Publishers
|date=May 2008
|isbn=978-1-920143-07-7
}}
*{{cite book
|title=Black Fire! Narratives of Rhodesian Guerrillas
|last=Raeburn
|first=Michael
|location=New York
|publisher=Random House
|year=1978
|isbn=978-0394505305
|url-access=registration
|url=https://archive.org/details/weareeverywheren00raeb
}}
{{refend}}

{{coord missing|Zimbabwe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Altena Farm, Attack on}}
[[Category:Battles and operations of the Rhodesian Bush War|Altena Farm]]
[[Category:Military raids]]
[[Category:Guerrilla warfare]]
[[Category:1972 in Rhodesia]]
[[Category:December 1972 events in Africa]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1972|Altena Farm]]