The South African Border War - The South West Africa Territorial Force

in #war7 years ago

While South Africans were being conscripted to the South African Defense Force (SADF), South West African conscripts and volunteers were deployed to the South West Africa Territorial Force(SWATF), a localized branch of the SADF.

The territorial force grew over time and was organised on a regional basis. Most of the regional units were also organised along ethnic lines.

The difficulties in South West Africa were not only exacerbated by South Africa's racial policies, but SWAPO and its PLAN fighters and insurgents, were predominantly from the majority Ovambo tribe.

People from minority tribes and ethnic groups were often willing to "join up" to resist the perceived majority threat.

By the end of the war SWATF had eight regular full-time battalions.

31 Bushman Battalion, (became 201 Battalion)
32 Battalion at Buffalo
33 Eastern Caprivi Battalion, (became 701 Battalion)
34 Kavangoland Battalion, (became 202 Battalion)
35 Ovamboland Battalion
36 Bushman Battalion, (became 203 Battalion)
37 Kaokoland Battalion, (became 102 Battalion)
41 Multi-ethnic Regiment Windhoek (became 911 Battalion)


By Caracal Rooikat - Microsoft PaintPreviously published: nil, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

and Five ‘Modular’ Infantry Battalions to take care of internal operations

51 Battalion at Ruacana
52 Battalion at Oshakati
53 Battalion at Ondangwa
54 Battalion at Eenhana
55 Battalion at Nepara

Of all of these battalions 32 Battalion would become the most notorious and famous, called "the terrible ones" by their foes.

They were not South West African locals but a special force comprising volunteers and Angolans that had found a home in the SADF.

By the end of the war their reputation was legend for both good and bad reasons.

By the time it was time for my stint in the SADF, I would find myself closely involved with a significant number of SWATF members of Caprivi origin.

They had little love for the Ovambo people, due to many of the terrorist attacks their people had experienced; being just a river crossing from Zambia.

So, when their opportunity came in the armed forces ,Owambo combatant and civilian were treated with little differentiation.

But more on these stories later.

Previous posts in this series can be found at the bottom of this post:

The South African Border War - 1976, The end of a chapter and the beginning of a new phase.
The South African Border War - Mines, Mines did I say mines?
The South African Border War - Enter the Ratel
The South African Border War - The United Nations Security Council Resolutions
The South African Border War - Operation Reindeer begins.
The South African Border War - Operation Reindeer - The Cassinga Fiasco

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South Africa truly had a world class military back in those days. Unfortunately by the time I finished school the SANDF become a laughing stock and most people did not even worry about joining anymore.

I think if army duty had to become compulsory again and young men don't get treated like babies anymore, we would have less young people turning to a life of crime.

If I look at the older generation guys they still had respect for others and knew how to look after themselves.

It also looks like army learned young men valuable life skills that helped them during the rest of their lives.

I am actually very sad to have missed out on this experience. But such where the times we were born into.

Great articles @gavvet thank you for sharing with us.

Great comment @reaverza , yeah so much has changed since those years, also missed out on this experience in life.

Great article @gavvet. I always enjoy reading your articles.

Hope you guys have are lovely weekend.

I was born in 87. Saw the Orange gold and white hoisted for the last time when when I was in grade one. And then everything I perceived as good and beautiful slowly turned to ash around me. Now I see rubble, rubbish and pedestrians urinating at every street corner. Raising kids requires a compound to prevent them from being exposed to this level of third world. Times are tough.

Some times I just wished there was nothing called war. It scares the shit out of me.But its good thing there are people like @gavvet who picks interest and do well to give us the updates. Its better reading than experiencing it. Thank you for this @gavvet.

Yeah I know what you mean. But I think back then South Africa was a lot like North Korea is now. Like with apartheid and everything.

Must be something to behold. Am glad some still live to tell the story my friend.

Yeah I am sure. Probably maybe even more corrupt than now.

steemit still censoring me.... fuck this platform telling everyone not to buy steem

keep dwelling :)

Perhaps if you don't upvote your own posts...?

@gavvet - Sir, It's a nice article about SWATF. I'm impressed by reading this article about their growth & the support that given to the war. Building 8 battalions is not an easy task Sir. A wonderful history you revealed today Sir.

+W+ [ReSteemed & UpVoted]

Yeah but I don't think they should have organized them by ethnicity, it doesn't make any sense.

Hi, friend
I love to post you this one, Gives me a lot of motivation.
Hopefully you always post news like this, and give benefits to everyone.
May God always bless you and your family. 😍

Very informaive post.
Thanks for sharing.
I upvoted and followed you.

Thank you for sharing dear it is amazing and information for every one.really helpful post for us
keep it up.
and please friends follow me.

@mahmoodhassan
And please upvote my post i also upwote your all post friends..

You mean South Africa is not a Paradise, how can that be? all the white people were run off and Mandela's Communist were put in charge. how can it be anything less than Utopia?

You speak from a very poorly informed position, the current crop of leaders in the ANC (the governing party in South Africa) are very much a betrayal of what President Mandela and his contemporaries stood and fought for. Despite the challenges currently faced, South Africa, though not Utopia, is an awesome place to live.

It wasn't before, it isn't after, but at least open air prisons aren't a thing now.

Thnx for such a useful information

Thank you for sharing dear it is amazing and information for every one.really helpful post for us
keep it up.
and please friends follow me.

@mahmoodhassan
And please upvote my post i also upwote your all post friends..