32 Battalion

by Piet Nortje

Book Overview

Originally formed in order to lend support to the FNLA and UNITA in the Angolan war, 32 Battalion quickly gained the reputation of being an unconventional, secretive, yet highly effective group. Written by a man who was intimately involved with the unit and served as its Regimental Sergeant Major for two years, the book aims to explode the myths surrounding the legendary 32 and set the record straight. It records how and why 32 Battalion was formed,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1868729141
• ISBN13: 9781868729142
• Release Date: July 2011
• Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

What good leadership can do

32 Battalion was made up of black Angolan soldiers who were the survivors of Holden Roberto's FNLA faction. After Portugal left Angola and the Cuban/MPLA took over in 1975 many former FNLA soldiers fled as refugees to South Africa. There they took up arms for the South Africans who used them to take the fight externally to SWAPO which was trying to 'liberate' Namibia. 32 Battalion was founded by Jan Breytenbach who ironically was the brother of anti-Apartheid activist Breyten Breytenbach. With the excellent leadership provided by the predominately South African (there were some officers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Rhodesia, Portugal and the United States also) the Angolan soldiers of 32 Battalion were able to take on superior numbers of Cuban and FAPLA forces. The Fapla forces were also recruited from the same tribes as 32 Battalion. As South Africa's Border War progressed more Black Angolans entered the NCO and Officer ranks. When the war ended they were sent to South Africa where they did not do so well in the Townships. After disbanding many of the men ended up in Executive Outcomes fighting for FAPLA against their old allies UNITA and doing what the UN cannot do...cleaning up Sierra Leone with a few hundred soldiers. This is well described in Bloodsong!: An Account of Executive Outcomes in Angola by James Hooper

32 Battalion: The Inside Story of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit

Eye opener for all who lived, died and grew up in South Africa, South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola during the '70's and '80's. Great Historical and true accounts of this elite fighting unit (32).

Ghost History

Ghost History: the intricate details lost to time. This book captures the Ghost History of the 32 Battalion. Additionally, in the finest traditions of all great Regimental Sergeant Major's, the author, an ex- RSM of the unit, captures the unit history, essence, spirit and legacy of the 32 Battalion. This is a well researched, first hand account of the infamous 32 Battalion. There are also a number of maps that show the area of operation and there are a few tactical maps that futher clarify some of the actual missions. For those that serve in the profession of arms this is a great book that offers lessons on operations, techniques, tactics and procedures in insurgency and counterinsurgency; especially valuable were the lessons on how the 32 Battalion and SADF leadership dealt with the clans, tribes and in some cases an illiterate force. This book is literally a text book case on how to organize and train an elite indigenous counterinsurgency force. Terry Tucker, PhD Battle Staff Trainer Afghanistan

32 Battalion: The Inside Story of South Afrca's Elite Fighting Unit by Piet Nortje

By the author's own admission a subjective report.The story of forgotten hero's, shunned by the political survivors of the old South Africa and hated by the new order.Too little was told about the Citizen Force officers and NCO's who served with this unit.However it is well written and worthwile reading to all who is interested in the history of South Africa.

A thrilling expose of modern military history

One of the 32 Battalion's longest-serving members presents the unadorned true story of his unit in 32 Battalion: The Inside Story Of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit. Nicknamed "The Buffalo Soldiers", South Africa's 32nd Battalion was undefeated in twelve years of front-line battle, feared by enemies ranging from Cuban armies to Nambian guerrilla fighters. Called "Os Terriveis", or the Terrible Ones by their enemies, the unit met its most unlikely demise when peace came to southern Africa and politics chose to dissolve the unit's fraternity in 1993. 32 Battalion makes no embellishments or apologies, but rather presents the true story of the unit in clear terms, illustrated by a handful of black-and-white maps and diagrams and an inset section of color plates. A thrilling expose of modern military history.