Overview

Over the years, much has been written about individuals and the forces and their operations in what became commonly known as South Africa's Border War, or Grens Oorlog, but never before has the human spirit of this 23-year-old conflict been so graphically and unashamedly captured and chronicled as in this book. Equally unique, was the exclusive use of social media to invite and encourage individuals to tell their personal stories, without apology or recrimination, and so provide an indelible oral history of the war. Over a period of three years, 21,000 of them spoke: national service troopies, permanent force officers, aviators, aircrew, medics, submariners and padres. Erstwhile antagonists also stepped up to the plate, placing their own personal first-hand experiences amongst those of their enemies of yesterday: Russians, Cubans, Angolans and SWAPO. The story is further enriched by the inclusion of a rich plethora of hitherto unseen 'unofficial' photographs of stolen memories, in a war situation where the taking of any such photographs was strictly prohibited. Veterans unabashedly wear their hearts on their sleeves, speaking of the psychological impact of untold tragedy and grief; of bravery and unmitigated fear; of shenanigans and mischievous escapades to relieve the pressures of war; of miracles and fate; and of camaraderie. SELLING POINTS: . Detailed recollections of South African military anti-terrorist operations and conventional warfare in pre-1990 South West Africa and Angola. . Includes accurate descriptions of the weapons, ordnance, vehicles and aircraft used by the South Africans on the one hand, and regional guerrilla and Angolan forces on the other. . Personal, first-hand accounts and anecdotes by those who served in this theatre of conflict, including some by erstwhile enemies. From National Service soldiers, to Permanent Force Members of the SAAF, SAMS, Koevoet etc. . Never before published photographs, taken secretly as this practice was strictly forbidden. 243 colour and b/w photos and maps

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9781928211976

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Reviews

This book is a must-read for all who were entangled in this war, and/or have an interest in the Border War - especially the loved ones and relatives of those who lost their lives in this war. It will certainly assist them in a personalised way on their road to a better understanding and/or closure. -- Hussein Solomon Insight on Africa North of the Red Line is a worthy read for anyone who has served in any military, or who has an interest in military strategy and history. Robert Hammond ...never before has the human spirit of this 23-year-old conflict been so graphically and unashamedly captured and chronicled as in this book. War in Angola

This book is a must-read for all who were entangled in this war, and/or have an interest in the Border War - especially the loved ones and relatives of those who lost their lives in this war. It will certainly assist them in a personalised way on their road to a better understanding and/or closure. * Insight on Africa * North of the Red Line is a worthy read for anyone who has served in any military, or who has an interest in military strategy and history. * Robert Hammond * ...never before has the human spirit of this 23-year-old conflict been so graphically and unashamedly captured and chronicled as in this book. * War in Angola *

Author Information

Hanlie Snyman Wroth is a former teacher who spent some time teaching refugee learners from Angola and Mozambique. She has been a Sales Manager at Oxford University Press, and later International Sales Manager at Juta, but now retired and painting full time at their beach home in St Helena Bay. She is a prolific reader, who believes that she has a serious dose of `abibliophobia’: the book lover’s greatest fear: running out of reading material. She is an ex-air force wife, and her husband Charlie `Backseat’ Wroth spent sixteen years in the SAAF, as a navigator on bombers and transport aircraft. He also spent time on the ground in Angola. As the mother of a soldier in the British Parachute Regiment, she is also well read in the modern war in Afghanistan, seeing that her son and husband had spent a number of years there. She has a great interest in the causes and results of worldwide wars through the ages. Gerry van Tonder was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, in 1955. After attending Hamilton High, he completed his secondary education at Thornhill in Gwelo. He joined Internal Affairs in January 1975 and was stationed at Karoi, as a Cadet District Officer. A year later, he reported to Chikurubi in Salisbury as a member of Internal Affairs National Service 4 call-up, to undergo military training. He was posted to Sipolilo, based at Fort Harrison on the Hunyani River in the Zambezi Valley. In November 1976 he was transferred to Mount Darwin where he served in the Intelligence Section. In January 1977 he undertook the Ministry of Internal Affairs' sponsored university degree programme, graduating in 1979 with a Bachelor of Administration (Honours) degree. During university vacations, he was stationed in Sipolilo and Gwelo. At the end of his studies he was posted to Mount Darwin as a District Officer, being the Returning Officer for Rushinga during the Zimbabwe election, and working through the period of transition from the ceasefire and return of the ZANLA insurgents to assembly points. In mid-1980, and with no future prospects as a civil servant, Gerry left Intaf and joined a marketing firm in Salisbury. In 1983 he was head-hunted by FAVCO, the country's largest fresh-produce marketing cooperative, where he became Managing Director. Late 1999 saw Gerry with his British-born wife Tracey and two children leaving Zimbabwe to settle in Derby, England. He is an active member of several international networked Rhodesian associations, including the Rhodesian Army Association, the Rhodesian Services Association and the Rhodesian Light Infantry Regimental Association, the latter as a result of all three of his brothers having served in that battalion.

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