The south african border war south african military veterans. The south african border war a brief history citizen. Reading south african accounts of the 23year long border war between. Battles and operations of the south african border war, battle of cuito cuanavale, battle of cassinga, operation savannah, operation protea, operation cabinda, operation modular, operation askari, calueque, operation super, operation alpha. Battle for cassinga written by leon engelbrecht defenceweb saturday, 25 february 2012. A significant, fullcolour volume, it originally sold 31,000 copies in south africa alone and has been out of print for decades. On the successful conduct of wars in africa and beyond lessons learned from the south african border war. Compilation with music videos and technical information from south africa and rhodesia now called zimbabwe. The south african defence forces in the border war 1966. South african border war simple english wikipedia, the free. South african armour of the border war 197589 is an osprey new vanguard series book by kyle harmse and simon dunstan, with illustrations by pierre lowe victor. The south african border war, commonly referred to as the angolan bush war in south africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in south west africa now namibia and angola between south africa and its allied forces mainly unita on the one side and the angolan armed forces fapla, south west africa peoples organisation swapo, and their allies mainly cuba on the other.
It was fought between the south african defence force sadf and the peoples liberation army of namibia plan. Contested narratives and conflicting memories discusses the border wars enduring legacy and its impact on south. Of all the books about south africa s 21year border war fought on both sides of angolas frontier with presentday namibia south africa s border war has always been rated as among the best. Oct 15, 2014 of all the books about south africas 21year border war fought on both sides of angolas frontier with presentday namibia south africas border war has always been rated as among the best. Starting as a counterinsurgency operation by the south african defence force sadf against the south west africa peoples organisation, south africa became embroiled in the complex angolan civil war, where they came up against enemies well supplied with equipment and armoured vehicles from the soviet union. Bringing the border war back to life iol news that. South african armour of the border war 197589 new vanguard. The book explores the impact of the border war on south african culture and society during apartheid and in the new dispensation and discusses the lasting legacy or afterlife of the war in great detail. Leopold scholtz is a former journalist and military historian. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading saafs border war. South african armour of the border war 197589 osprey.
Willem steenkamp, south africas border war 19661989 solihull, england. This list of operations of the south african border war details the military operations conducted by the south african defence force during the south african border war. During the border war, white citizens had absolutely no choice in the matter. What are some good books about the south african border. Cold war proxy conflicts the south african border war throughout the cold war a number of hot conflicts ocurred that served as places for both sides to engage each other with out direct conflict, effictivly wars by proxy, these generally came in a couple of varieties. Much of the fighting took place within namibia, which was called south west africa at the time. A significant, fullcolor volume, it originally sold 31,000 copies in south africa alone and has been out of print for decades. The book presents an appropriate study of the war of words fought by retired sadf generals and other veterans against detractors and critics.
Grensoorlog the series that covers the south african border war angolan bush war 1966 to 1989 to keep the lights burning and to help pay for bandwidth, please use paypal for a. Very rare documentary about south african border war with. These include details about units like the south african air force 44 squadron which converted dakota aircraft into flying gun platforms similar to those used in americas war in south. He is best known as the first commander of 1 reconnaissance commando, south africa s first specialforces unit. Songs of south african defence force koevoet internet archive. Jul 29, 20 the south african border war was a conflict in the south west africa, in what is now namibia and also in angola between the south african forces and its allies and the angolan forces, before the independence mpla, the swapo and its allies. More than two years in the writing, this book is the wartsandall story of the birth, career and death of the south african defence forces 61 mechanised battalion group 19792005, generally acknowledged as the best fighting unit in africa in its time. Jun 06, 2012 the border war 19661989 group on facebook has about 5,600 members and is described as an allranks meeting place for veterans of the angolan border war. Of all the books about south africas 21year border war fought on both sides of angolas frontier with.
Cold war proxy conflicts the south african border war. If i remember correctly, the south africans get tuned too. It investigates the causes of the border war and follows its progress and escalation in the 1980s. The border war saw the biggest armoured battles in africa since world war ii. One side of the war was the government of south africa and its allies within angola. In addition, south africas border war is a significant volume for all those involved in the study of war and memory or the recent history of south africa. In his long career, he served in the suez crisis, the biafran war, the south african border war, and the angolan civil war, and. Of all the books about south africa s 21year border war fought on both sides of angolas frontier with presentday namibia south africas border war has always been rated as among the best. A new narrative unfolds about south africas protracted. Grensoorlogbushwar ep 12 the south african border war excellent documentary duration. The war is often referred to the angolan bush war in south africa, and was mainly fought with guerrilla warfare tactics. The south african defence forces in the border war 19661989 offers the first comprehensive analysis of the south african defense forces role in the border war in namibia and angola since the end of this conflict in 1989. This was a fascinating conflict, with cubans, and angolan communists, and russians, and cia supported south african forces acting like namibia was a south african province.
If youre south african, white, and in your 40s or older, chances are you were there. South africa s agile and lethal light wheeled forces soon found themselves facing increasing modern tanks, artillery, and mines, as both sides adapted to a tough angolan battlefield. Oct 10, 2015 a small video i made as a tribute to the brave men who fought in the south african border war. An appraisal of the south african strategy dr leopold scholtz1 extraordinary professor, department of history, stellenbosch university introduction from the sixties to the late eighties, the border war became a household term in south africa.
Jan dirk breytenbach dvr sd sm mmm born 14 july 1932 is a retired career south african special forces military officer and author of military books. From fledgling to eagle chronicles the evolution of the saaf in the border war that raged in angola and south west africa namibia from 1966 to 1989, covering all the. An official callup paper for whites, subjected to the laws of the south african national defense force, contained the following orders, the camp for continual. South african armour of the border war 19751989 osprey. During the south african border war, they fought against what was known as the rooi gevaar red danger, the government term for the anc. Grensoorlogbushwar ep 9 the south african border war excellent documentary duration. The border war saw the biggest armored battles in africa since world war ii. A security council decision declaring sas presence and administration illegal, and demanding sa withdrawal, was not farfetched. The south african border war, commonly referred to as the angolan bush war in south africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in southwest africa now namibia and angola between south africa and its allied forces mainly unita on the one side and the angolan armed forces fapla, southwest africa peoples organisation swapo, and their allies mainly cuba on the other. Sadf, koevoet, borderwar, grensoorlog, music, video, recces, rhodesian forces, zimbabwe, south africa songs of the south african defence force, koevoet, recces and the rhodesian forces. This is one of the best books ever written on south africa s military involvement in southern africa.
Hundreds of thousands of young white men were called up for. Media in category south african border war the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total. Starting as a counterinsurgency operation by the south african defence force sadf against the south west africa peoples organization, south africa became embroiled in the complex angolan civil war, where they came up against enemies well supplied with equipment and. These include details about units like the south african air force 44 squadron which converted dakota aircraft into flying gun platforms similar to those used in americas war in southeast asia. Essential reading for those wanting to understand the role of the recces special forces in the south african border war. The south african defence forces in the border war 19661989. Al venters latest book on south africa s 23year border war along the angolan frontier offers a host of new perspectives. The socalled bushwar or border war was fought in n. South african republic referendum, moreby bezzleford. A site about the south african bushwar of 1966 till 1989. Buy the south african defence forces in the border war 19661989 by leopold scholtz isbn. In 1965 the first infiltration by armed insurgents of plan peoples liberation army of namibia took place over the border of southern angolaovamboland, and set in motion what was to become a war lasting 23 years and ultimately involving not only namibians and south africans, but also. Grensoorlogbushwar ep 8 the south african border war.
The book is available on, and amazon international affiliated sites, in hard copy format, and an e book version will follow shortly however, the general and the colonel derek kohler and simon burrow respectively have made special arrangements for purchases of copies by south african residents, so that youre not dependent on the sa post office. South africas border war provides a timely study of the war of words waged by retired south african defence force sadf generals and other veterans against critics and detractors. Angolan bush war weapons 1966 1990 the south african border war also known as the angolan bush war utilized all manner of small arms to accomplish various mission sets. A short overview of the south african bushwar border war. Nicholle surprised me with this book it had been on my birthday list in 2015 when it was originally slated to come out. South african border war books war novels by war cold war novels works about the south african border war novels set in angola. The sadf in the border war 19661989 offers the first comprehensive analysis of the south african defense forces role in the border war in namibia and angola since the end of this conflict in 1989. Sa magte geskiedenis, staaltjies en stories south african. South african infantry during the border war 1966 1989. What are some good books about the south african border war. Operation savannah 1975 operation bruilof 1978 operation seiljag 1978 operation reindeer 1978 operation rekstok 1979.
It resulted in unnecessary loss of life and much trauma, not only for the conscripted men, but also families back home. He has published numerous books including the sadf in the border war helion, 2015 and the. The silent war south african recce operations 1969 1994 peter stiff isbn 0620243007. These include details about units like the south african air force 44 squadron which converted dakota aircraft into flying gun platforms similar to those used in americas war in south east asia. To many who dont understand why south africa embarked on a war on the angolan border with namibia then south west africa, this tragedy the largest exodus in the history of africa, is very central to south africas military mission creep and the prelude to operati on savannah which saw south africa invade angola on a stabilising.
Buy south africas border war 196689 by willem steenkamp, al j. Interesting aspects of the south african bushwar border war. This book tells in good detail about the planes and tactics of the south african air force during the border war in angola to try to defeat the communist backed swapo group that was working to free south west africa namibia from south african control. Of all the books about south africas 21year border war fought on both sides of angolas frontier with presentday namibia south africas border war has always been rated as among the best. South africas border war 19661989 by willem steenkamp, ashanti, rsa, 1989, hb, 256pp, 515 photographs. The south african border war of 19661989 reading south african accounts of the 23year long border war between south africa and the angolan liberation. South african border war simple english wikipedia, the. Operation savannah 1975 operation bruilof 1978 operation seiljag 1978 operation reindeer 1978 operation rekstok 1979 operation safraan 1979 operation sceptic. The south african border war, also known as the namibian war of independence, and sometimes denoted in south africa as the angolan bush war, was a largely asymmetric conflict that occurred in namibia then south west africa, zambia, and angola from 26 august 1966 to 21 march 1990.
An archive footage mashup gives a visual account of the south african border war, also known as the namibian war of independence 19661990. Nov 11, 2017 the south african border war, also known as the namibian war of independence, and sometimes denoted in south africa as the angolan bush war, was a largely asymmetric conflict. The south african border war is one of the least studied, most poorly understood conflicts of the 20 th century. South africas border war 196689 by willem steenkamp. On october 5 south africa held a referendum on severing its ties to the british crown and becoming a republic. It investigates the causes of the border war and follows its. Sa border war pics south west africaangola youtube.
Along with special sections on relevant military units like the south african recces special forces. It was, as one book states, a gigantic bluffbut it was backed by real. How or why did the south african border war happen, who was. The south african is an independent, no agenda and bias online news platform that gives the latest news updates. From fledgling to eagle chronicles the evolution of the saaf in the border war that raged in angola and south west africa namibia from 1966 to 1989, covering all the major south african defence force sadf. Al venters latest book on south africas 23year border war along the angolan frontier offers a host of new perspectives. The 1960 south african republic referendum resulted in the union of south africa becoming the republic of south africa and ended.
The opposing forces consisted of the angolan mpla, swapo fighting for the liberation on namibia, and cuban, soviet and other east bloc advisors. The south african border war, commonly referred to as the angolan bush war in south africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 largely in south west africa now namibia and angola between south africa and its allied forces mainly the national union for the total independence of angola, unita on the one side and the angolan government, south west africa peoples organisation. It reveals more about the battles fought by south africa s army, than most people are aware of. The sa border war, told by two bloody amusing soldiers. Angolan bush war weapons 19661990 military factory. The south african border war refers to the conflict that took place from 1966 to 1990 primarily in south west africa now namibia between south africa on one side and the south west africa peoples organisation swapo and its allies on the other. Angola 1975 1989, about the war waged by apartheid south africa against its neighbour, has attracted the attention of historians and those who fought in it. South african armour of the border war 197589 by kyle harmse.
Jan 15, 2015 south africas border war is a detailed account of the war that does not hesitate to set forth the mistakes made by the south african government, but it is also offers careful, thorough analysis. The namibian angolan south african border war memoirs of a military commander. List of operations of the south african border war wikipedia. Reading south african accounts of the 23year long border war between south africa and the angolan liberation movement unita on the one hand. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It sketches the story of the conflict but the focus is on south african armor forces and how they adapted to an increasing dangerous battlefield. Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from wikipedia or other free sources online. The crucible of combat over 23 years forged the fledgling south african air force into a formidable strike weapon, capable of defeating the best soviet air defenses of the time. Secrets, silences and stories of south africas border war gary baines abstract for some fifteen yeas little attention has been paid to south africas border war and the memories of soldiers who fought therein. The bush war, as it is known in south africa, spanned the spectrum of warfare from the lowest intensity fighting, to high technology tank and aerial combat. On the successful conduct of wars in africa and beyond lessons learned from the south african border war steenkamp, willem, devries, roland, burger, camille on.
Likewise, combatants with the liberation movements have all but been forgotten or. Forbidden images 1960s to 1980s voice of south africa. The south african border war had an immense social, cultural and political impact on south african society at the time. The south african border war, also known as the namibian war of independence, and sometimes denoted in south africa as the angolan bush war, was a. His book provides his and other witness accounts of the battles and life in camps inside angola while young south african.
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