Historical eventNovember 111965

Rhodesia

Rhodesia, led by Prime Minister Ian Smith (pictured), unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom.

Everything on November 11Original source

In context

When
Thursday, November 11 196561 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
20th century · 1960s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

At a glance

Dates: 1965-11-11 – 1979-06-01.

Place: Rhodesia.

Type: historical unrecognized state and state with limited recognition.

What happened

History Main article: History of Rhodesia Part of a series on the History of Zimbabwe Ancient history Leopard's Kopje c.  650  – c.  1075 Mapungubwe Kingdom c.  1220  – c.  1300 Zimbabwe Kingdom c.  1300  – c.  1450 Mutapa Kingdom c.  1430 –1760 Butua Kingdom c.  1450 –1683 White settlement pre-1923 Rozvi Empire c.

Rhodesia, officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970 onwards, was an unrecognised state in Southern Africa that existed from 1965 to 1979. Rhodesia was the de facto successor to the self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia following its unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) from the United Kingdom in 1965. Throughout this fourteen-year period, Rhodesia faced internal conflict and political unrest.

November 11 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1965Rhodesia
  2. 2002Fokker F27 Friendship
  3. 2004Tomb of the Unknown Warrior (New Zealand)
  4. 2004Palestine Liberation Organization
  5. 2006Elizabeth II
  6. 2008Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
  7. 20112011 in Mexico
  8. 20122012 Shwebo earthquake
  9. 2020Typhoon Vamco
  10. 2022Russo-Ukrainian war
  11. 20242024 Zhuhai car attack

Also in 1965

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  • January 4Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20Aeroflot Flight 101/X-20 crashes on approach to Alma-Ata Airport, killing 64 people.
  • July 8Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21Canadian Pacific Air Lines Flight 21 was destroyed by a bomb near 100 Mile House, Canada, killing 52.
  • December 9Kecksburg UFO incidentA large, brilliant fireball was seen by thousands in midwestern North America before landing in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania.
  • May 18Eli CohenEli Cohen, a spy who is credited with gathering significant intelligence used by Israel during the Six-Day War, was publicly hanged in Sy…
  • March 18Alexei LeonovCosmonaut Alexei Leonov ventured outside the Soviet spacecraft Voskhod 2, becoming the first person to walk in space.
  • March 18AstronautCosmonaut Alexei Leonov, leaving his spacecraft Voskhod 2 for 12 minutes, becomes the first person to walk in space.

Everything we record for 1965 →

Sources

Cite this page

“Rhodesia”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/rhodesia-1965-november-11, accessed October 28, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did Rhodesia happen?

November 11 1965 — 61 years ago, on a Thursday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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