Katanga 1961-63 - "Swedens last war"

[Stellan Bojerud (RIP)]

INTRODUCTION

As a nation Sweden fought it´s last war in 1814 (against Norway). In the early 1960-ies Swedish UN-soldiers were however fighting and suffering losses in Congo.

The most dangerous period was the "December-stress" wich lasted 2nd to 20th December 1961.

The UN-forces in Elisabethville were:
Irish Bn - green on map
Ghurka Bn - yellow on map
Dogra Bn - at Elisabethville airport north of map
8th Ethiopian Bn
35th Ethiopian Bn

On 16th December 1961 at 04H00 the Irish Bn launched an attack on the TUNNEL (orange dot on map) wich was captured 06H30. The Swedish Bn made an assault on CAMP MASSART (lower red square on map) wich was captured 10H00 and mopped up 12H00.

On 18th December 1961 Ethiopian 8th Bn attacked UNION MINIÈRE area (lower left part on map) but was repulsed. The following day 35th Ethiopian Bn attacked sucessfully making an end to the "December-stress".

I will post a few pictures of vehicles from Congo, but first the Elisabethville map.