Good video link. BUt they neglect to mention one of the main
factors in the Zulu victory. They highlight the motivational
role of the Zulu medicine men, and the drugs or potions they may
have taken as battle stimulants, but this still makes the Zulu sound a
bit like a "wilding" or "hyped up" black natives who attack with "unnatural"
speed and savagery. They mention an "unnatural" mental state of the warriors-
again leaving the impression that a "hyped up" crew as the main reason for the victory.
Tobacco, marijuana and hallucinogenic mushroom mixes are all given wide play.
A big part of the video is concerned with stimulants used.
Yes the medicine men had the warriors stoked but stoked fighters are not that unusual in
history. What the video doesn't say much is that Zulu maneuvering and positioning was
SUPERIOR to the British who not only had s;out their forces, but failed to base the
camp defence on a central wagon laager- though Boer and other British examples had shown them for
years that this was the best thing to do. The Zulu approach march was an excellent one-
moving 14,000 to 20,000 men by stealth without detection to within good
striking distance of their enemies. Before they came to the final marshaling
point, the Zulu force split into 2 massive columns and made a long parallel march
to a deep ravine, a movement that opened up the formations so they could be more
easily maneuvered. Settlement in the ravine was not simply a gathering of
a huge horde, but careful placement and assignment of the fighting regiments,
so that when it was time to move forward, all echelons would be on track.
Furthermore the Zulu leaders had a commanding view of the British camp from the
surrounding plateau, and were thus able to guide the warriors to a favorable position.
The Zulu attack layout was also superior for the task at hand, Rather than simply
group in 3 big echelons- center and 2 wings or send the horde charging forward,
the Zulu widened the angles of attack so that their enemies were hit from all sides.
They kept their classic 3-part attack layout,but sub-divided each echelon into
separate prongs- so that several spearheads carried out both the encirclement
maneuver and the central frontal attack. The separate prongs enabled the Zulu
to close more quickly and find gaps to penetrate more quickly. The encirclement
maneuver was also very wide, swinging round the mountain- which meant a very
long run for the Zulu right horn. The left horn also made its encirclement move
but these long runs paid off, and it was these echelons combined with central pressure
that caused the British with all their firepower to crumble.
From WIKI:
Recent historians, notably Lock and Quantrill in Zulu Victory, argue that
from the Zulu perspective the theatre of operations included the diversions
around Magogo Hills and Mangeni Falls and that these diversions, which drew
more than half of Chelmsford's forces away from Isandlwana, were deliberate.[81]
Also, the main Zulu force was not unexpectedly discovered in their encampment
but was fully deployed and ready to advance on the British camp. These historians'
view of the expanded battlefield considers Chelmsford to be the overall commander
of the British forces, and that responsibility for the defeat lies firmly with him. ^^In short, it was not so much "hyped up" tribesmen on drugs, but superior deployment
positioning and and maneuver, including diversionary moves that caused British commander
Chemlsford to fatally split his force, leaving half at the camp and half on another
march away from the camp, when the Zulu struck. The video says it "uncovers the true reasons"
for the Zulu victory, but in many respects, totally misses the boat on very crucial factors of
that victory. The video has some good points but plays on certain stereotypes like "unnatural"
ferocity or savagery. I think "hyped up negroes on drugs" plays better for a TV audience in
terms of
stereotypes, rather than show superior maneuver and deployment by "the natives."
Said natives killed more British officers at Isandhlwana, than Napoleon killed at Waterloo.
