Siege of Jadotville (2 Viewers)

I can't get excited about anything relating to the UN.
 
It was the first time, and perhaps the only one, that UNO took party in an internal country secession .
It must be said that both the URSS and the US were against the Katangaise secession, perhaps both nation hoping to get their hands on one of the richest supply of copper, tantalium and cobalt in the world . Katanga was at that time the biggest supplier worldwide for those products, US themself buying more than 1/3rd of their needs in Cobalt from there . After the secession the decline of production begon to reach rapidly 0% . Today China try to get their hands on it, they already tried many time to produce there but Congolese are not Chinese and do not accept to work like "coolies"
 
Just watched it and recommend it. Stars Jaime Dornan (50 Shades) and Jason O Mara (Life on Mars, Terra Nova and Sons of Liberty)

Had not heard of this before but an interesting political / UN background behind this small battle. The film is based on the 2005 book The Siege at Jadotville: The Irish Army's Forgotten Battle by Declan Power.

The Siege of Jadotville took place in September 1961, during the United Nations intervention in the Katanga conflict in Congo-Léopoldville in Central Africa when a company of Irish UN troops were attacked by troops loyal to the Katangese Prime Minister Moise Tshombe. The lightly-armed Irish soldiers resisted Katangese assaults (led by French mercenaries) for six days as a relief force of Irish and Swedish troops unsuccessfully attempted to reach the Irish force besieged in Jadotville.

First time Irish involved militarily overseas.

A Company, 35th Battalion tactically defeated a larger enemy force at Jadotville when they were outnumbered 20 to 1. However the Irish Defence Forces did not overtly acknowledge the battle – possibly over the perceived shame that A Company had surrendered, or because of the political and strategic errors demonstrated at higher levels.

Their bravery was never acknowledged until in 2016 the Irish government awarded a Presidential Unit Citation to A Company,the first in the State’s history.

The Irish Captain had no prior combat experience but the French commander, Roger Faulques, was a very experienced Legionnaire with WW2 , Vietnam, and Algerian service and highly decorated.

It was at this time that UN Sec Gen Dag Hammarskjöld was killed in a Douglas DC-6 airplane crash en route to Congo cease-fire negotiations
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Jadotville
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Faulques
 
Now I had the chance to see it
Good movie wich show the bravery of the Irish in this war

Some correction perhaps
The road between Elisabethville and Jadotville was broad partly asphalted, the rest was damed laterite ( almost red )
The bridge was also as broad as the road
They never was 1000 french légionnaire perhaps 10, the total of mercenaries during the period 61-63 amounted to 500, not at the same time, mainly coming from South Afrika and Rhodesia, Some legion deserter, simple civilian living in Congo, and some ex french from Indochina
Tshombé was never a military, never called Général, never took the title of general, but was President of Katanga or simply Mr Tshombe, he was also very rich even before the independance of Congo
Not clear in the movie, Lumumba who was a communist at heart, was taken prisonner in Congo by Kasavubu ( his mate ) and sent by plane to Elisabethville as a poisoned gift .

I appreciate that the film didn't hide the fact that war was initiated by UNO ( Gurkha) killing lot of civilians, I think this posed an act of war .
The attack in Jadotville didn't come as a surprise . There was war .
UNO sent to protect Jadotville was an abberation in terms, there was absolutely nothing going wrong before they came . No fight, no killing, no lootery, simply peoples working .


And nobody know who realy is behind the death of D Hammarksjold
 
BLReed said:
I can't get excited about anything relating to the UN.
Click to expand...

I take it you have no faith in the international organisation that the US helped to set up and now occupy one of the permanent five positions on the security council?
 
Desertkiwi said:
I take it you have no faith in the international organisation that the US helped to set up and now occupy one of the permanent five positions on the security council?
Click to expand...

I said "I can't get excited...." Do not read anything else into what I wrote. I don't think I've
ever seen a movie about the UN that was worth getting excited about watching. Duh.
 
BLReed said:
I said "I can't get excited...." Do not read anything else into what I wrote. I don't think I've
ever seen a movie about the UN that was worth getting excited about watching. Duh.
Click to expand...

Can I suggest maybe it would have been a good idea to have stated this in the first place, rather than make it sound like you have no regard for the UN.

As is pointed out in earlier posts about the movie, this was a UN mission in Africa in the 60's.
 
As my grandmother used to say, If you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all.
 
BLReed said:
"I can't get excited" translates to "no regard"? Somebody has selective hearing.
Click to expand...

My hearing is perfectly fine and I also understood the sentiment behind your original post just as well, as did others.

If you wish to take offence from my response that's entirely up to you, but leave the 'Duh' stuff where it belongs in the playground.

I may sound a bit precious, but I'm mindful that we have TF members who work for the UN and plenty of serviceman and woman from across the globe who do get 'excited' about working for the organisation.

Kind Regards.
 
Desertkiwi said:
...... who work for the UN and plenty of serviceman and woman from across the globe who do get 'excited' about working for the organisation.
Click to expand...

As well they should. I'll be the first to applaud. A movie not so much. I assume that the movie was respectful. Although this forum post
"I appreciate that the film didn't hide the fact that war was initiated by UNO ( Gurkha) killing lot of civilians, I think this posed an act of war .
The attack in Jadotville didn't come as a surprise . There was war . UNO sent to protect Jadotville was an abberation in terms, there was
absolutely nothing going wrong before they came . No fight, no killing, no lootery, simply peoples working" may not be the best endorsement.

There is a difference between real life and entertainment however. "I can't get excited about anything relating to the UN"
has no reference to any thing else but a movie.
 
Last edited:
BLReed said:
As well they should. I'll be the first to applaud. A movie not so much. I assume that the movie was respectful. Although this forum post
"I appreciate that the film didn't hide the fact that war was initiated by UNO ( Gurkha) killing lot of civilians, I think this posed an act of war .
The attack in Jadotville didn't come as a surprise . There was war . UNO sent to protect Jadotville was an abberation in terms, there was
absolutely nothing going wrong before they came . No fight, no killing, no lootery, simply peoples working" may not be the best endorsement.

There is a difference between real life and entertainment however. "I can't get excited about anything relating to the UN"
has no reference to any thing else but a movie.
Click to expand...

A minor point about the text you cut and pasted above. Notwithstanding the points raised by Mirof the Irish Company has nothing to do with the start of the war, killing of civilians etc. They were manning the position they were ordered to hold. Whilst I dont know the 100% facts in the movie they are portrayed as not being informed of attacks by forces elsewhere which caused their outpost to be attacked.

Without giving much away part of the story is that the UN left them in an exposed position and failed to back them up when overwhelming forces attacked. That they held out for 6 days is worthy of nothing but praise and in normal circumstances there would have been multiple bravery medals. However as the UN official in Congo (Irishman Connor Cruise O Brian played by Mark Strong) and UN let the situation get out of hand it was preferred that the battle be forgotten as it highlighted UN problems (plastic helmets does not surprise me after reading about what happened in Rwanda 30 years later).

Personally I think it great for them and their families that this group of brave soldiers are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
 
The Military Workshop said:
......... and UN let the situation get out of hand it was preferred that the battle be forgotten as it highlighted UN problems (plastic helmets does not surprise me after reading about what happened in Rwanda 30 years later).
Click to expand...

Who would have thought.:rolleyes2:

Personally I think it great for them and their families that this group of brave soldiers are finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Click to expand...

The Irish Times did a good job of recognition I thought. As they should.

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-problem-for-jadotville-survivors-is-they-did-not-die-1.2814753

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-siege-of-jadotville-how-ireland-almost-had-its-own-alamo-1.2801863

and

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-siege-of-jadotville-how-ireland-almost-had-its-own-alamo-1.2801863
 
BLReed said:
Who would have thought.:rolleyes2:



The Irish Times did a good job of recognition I thought. As they should.

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/fintan-o-toole-problem-for-jadotville-survivors-is-they-did-not-die-1.2814753

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-siege-of-jadotville-how-ireland-almost-had-its-own-alamo-1.2801863

and

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/the-siege-of-jadotville-how-ireland-almost-had-its-own-alamo-1.2801863
Click to expand...

Good links thanks.

However my computer is getting too clever ! Each link had an advertisement for some Irish black pudding and kindly let me know it was available in Queensland. Might give it a try.
 
Saw it yesterday...excellent story, plenty of action and well worth watching.

Carlos
 
BLReed said:
As well they should. I'll be the first to applaud. A movie not so much. I assume that the movie was respectful. Although this forum post
"I appreciate that the film didn't hide the fact that war was initiated by UNO ( Gurkha) killing lot of civilians, I think this posed an act of war .
The attack in Jadotville didn't come as a surprise . There was war . UNO sent to protect Jadotville was an abberation in terms, there was
absolutely nothing going wrong before they came . No fight, no killing, no lootery, simply peoples working" may not be the best endorsement.

There is a difference between real life and entertainment however. "I can't get excited about anything relating to the UN"
has no reference to any thing else but a movie.
Click to expand...

Appreciate the feedback. Thanks.
 
I really enjoyed this flic. Was not aware of this before . I liked Dornan in one .

What regiment was Company A part of ?
Kirk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 3 (members: 0, guests: 3)
Community platform by XenForo® © 2010-2024 XenForo Ltd.
Back
Top