Operation Grandslam was an offensive undertaken by United Nations peacekeeping forces from 28 December 1962 to 15 January 1963 against the forces of the State of Katanga, a secessionist state rebelling against the Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. The Katangese forces were decisively defeated and Katanga was forcibly reintegrated into the Congo.
Swedish UN peacekeepers led by Major Sture Fagerström plan their attack on the town of Kamina during the operation
UN Secretary-General Thant
J 29 reconnaissance-variant at Kamina Air Base
UN J 29 fighter jets in the Congo
The State of Katanga, also known as the Republic of Katanga, was a breakaway state that proclaimed its independence from Congo-Léopoldville on 11 July 1960 under Moise Tshombe, leader of the local Confédération des associations tribales du Katanga (CONAKAT) political party. The new Katangese state did not enjoy full support throughout the province and was constantly plagued by ethnic strife in its northernmost region. It was dissolved in 1963 following an invasion by United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) forces, and reintegrated with the rest of the country as Katanga Province.
A Union Minière du Haut-Katanga (UMHK) copper mine, pictured in 1917. Katanga's mineral wealth played an important part in the secession.
A Katangese postage stamp issued in 1961. Although Katanga was not a member of the Universal Postal Union, its stamps were tolerated on international mail.
Katangese gendarme in 1961
Swedish troops detain white Katangese mercenary.
