I was a South African paratrooper and fought these soldiers in 1985. They were brave and always put up a fight but they hardly “liquidated” our forces. To put it in perspective, the war lasted 20 years with approximately 2500 South African soldiers KIA vs almost 12000 SWAPO soldiersKIA plus their supporting elements of 5000 Angolan FAPLA soldiers and 3000 Cuban soldiers KIA bring the total war KIA totals to South Africa 2500 vs 20000+ enemy.
@davidblyth54954 ай бұрын
SWAPO's atrocious attempt to invade SWA after a cease fire was arrogant, foolish and dishonest. They were stopped by a relatively small force and compelled to adhere to the terms of the agreement. Shame on you SWAPO
@swapo_na4 ай бұрын
"History is written by the victors" - Winston Churchill Its about time you accept defeat and always remember history will always remember you as Losers of the war and the mighty SWAPo as victors forever
@davidblyth54954 ай бұрын
@@swapo_nahardly a defeat! SWAPO never enjoyed a military victory. However, nations who wish to establish mechanised warfare capabilities, approach the SADF veterans such as Gen Roland de Vries who has presented several lectures and courses abroad. The USA's CIA translated de Vries' book on mechanised warfare into English. Namibia used Gen Mc Gill Alexander, a paratrooper for guidance in the development of own capabilities. He asked the Namibian military authorities why they approached an old "enemy". The response was "We saw your abilities and know that your commitment is to Africa. That makes it preferable to use your services instead of advice from another continent!" It was a political conflict about SWA's independence The Nat regime justifiably didn't want USSR influence on SA's border. By holding that threat at bay until the USSR collapsed, the regime could withdraw without a threat at the border. However the SWA/Angolan conflict was more complex than you realise! After Portugal abandoned its colonies to independence the Angolan civil war broke out between the various nationalist groups: MPLA, FNLA and UNITA. In 2002, when on course with a Zimbabwean officer whose unit served alongside Angolan troops in the DRC, he told me that he learnt that the MPLA consisted of the "Assimilados" or those who the Portuguese had developed. UNITA consisted of the peasants. The civil war was between MPLA and UNITA So it boiled down to the USSR and its surrogate Cuba, supporting the "Haves" while opposing the poor "Have-nots" Recently the corrupt network between Angola, Cuba and Brazil was exposed. www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/spectacle-corruption-angola/