I first landed in Dar-e-salam, the Capital of Tansania, accompanying the Deputy Minister of Defense, Mr. Shimon Peres and the Deputy Chief of Staff, General Yitzhak Rabin, in March l963.  In additional to the heavy seasonal heavy heat, there were also other difficulties in arranging the itinerary of our trip as far as the preferences of the different participants.  The only thing that can be said about the latter, is often said about the weather: A lot is said about it, but very little can be done about it.  

The visit itself started with a half an hour interview with the famous President of Tansania, Julius Nierere, the ideologist of African Socialism, and the greater reformer of his own country.  The unification of Tanganyika with Zanzibar , hence Tansania.  In recent years Nierere had opened a wide gate to enable the entrance of Communist China into Africa in general, and into Tansania and Zambia , its neighbour, in particular.  Enabling an impressive number of Chinese experts and workers to reach the area, after the decision to award the Chinese the construction of the new Railway between Zambia and Tanzania, enabling both countries an access to the ocean without passing through Imperialistic territory.  

Nierere, who had not yet visited Israel then, was notwithstanding, knowledgeable of Israel ’s successes in agriculture, especially enthusiastic about the Israeli Nachal structure, which seemed to him suitable also for his own country.  In addition there was a need for more prosaic military needs, of instructors, and certain parts of armament.  Israel ’s Socialistic Leadership naturally preferred the assistance in the establishment of the idealistic Nachal framework upon building an army and supplying armament, but had to bow before the necessity for military assistance.

Another Western country that was also approached, notified Tanzania by telegraph that after studying the map , they realized how lengthy her coastal frontiers were, and decided to present her with Coastal Guard boats to protect her coasts.  The next day there was a cable waiting in our office with a request for instructors to train them in the use of the boats.

Like many other African countries, Tanzania was a victim to the irrationality of the International Assistance framework.

This was the background for our visit with Nierere, that hot March day.

Protocol called for suits and ties, which was not a small punishment in that heat, and by the time we entered his office we were as wet with sweat as after a Turkish steam bath.  We were very relieved to find the President looking fresh in his short sleeved shirt and open collar, and  sandals to his bare feet.  I had often wondered what would have been the reaction of my friends and my rivals were they able to be privy to the conversation between the representative of the IDF and the an African Socialist leader about establishing a fishing village on the shores of Lake Victoria by a group of Tanzanian Veterans. An additional proof, for whoever still needed it, for the idea of a “Unified World” coined by Wendell Wilkie.  It is necessary to foresee possible ups and downs in relations between countries, but there is no doubt that Tanzania was blessed with a great leader of spiritual stature.  

Some time later the Tanzanian Government decided to maintain a great public Military Show, to celebrate a National Holiday.

It was decided to have a drop of paratroopers into the middle of a huge stadium, to exhibit their high standard of their training, and so adding some  glory of the celebration.  In order to assist in the planning of such a grandiose plan, the Tanzanian Government approached only three countries: The United States whose Seventh Fleet was cruising the Indian Ocean; Canada, who had a Military Misdsion in the area; and Israel, who had the experience.  It was soon clear that the competition was between the United States and Israel, who decided to win the competition and sent some Air Force planes, equipped with parachuting and landing materiel and a Lieutenant Colonel, an expert in dances of thousands and an amateur drummer, as he himself testified “of the best drummers in the Middle East, which is the homeland of drummers.”

When the National Independence Slogan was flown over the Stadium  and the paratroopers dropped exactly at the point designed for them, charged and attacked the center of the stadium with no losses, it was evident that the President was pleased “his Africa was marching ahead in the field of planning and organization”.