Podcasts History South African Border Wars
South African Border Wars

South African Border Wars

37 episodes

Much has been written about the South African Border war which is also known as the Namibian War of Independence. While the fighting was ostensibly about Namibia, most of the significant battles were fought inside Namibia’s northern neighbour, Angola. South Africa’s 23 year border war has been almost forgotten as the Cold War ebbed away and bygones were swept under the political carpet. South African politicians, particularly the ANC and the National Party, decided during negotiations to end years of conflict that the Truth and Reconciliation commission would focus on the internal struggle inside South Africa. For most conscripts in the South African Defence Force, the SADF, they completed matric and then were drafted into the military. For SWAPO or UNITA or the MPLA army FAPLA it was a similar experience but defined largely by a political awakening and usually linked to information spread through villages and in towns. This was a young person’s war which most wars are – after all the most disposable members of society are its young men. Nor was it simply a war between white and black. IT was more a conflict on the ground between red and green. Communism and Capitalism. The other reality was despite being a low-key war, it was high intensity and at times featured unconventional warfare as well as conventional. SADF soldiers would often fight on foot, walking patrols, contacts would take place between these troops and SWAPO. There were many conventional battles involving motorised heavy vehicles, tanks, artillery, air bombardments and mechanised units rolling into attack each other. The combatants included Russians, American former Vietnam vets, Cubans, East Germans and Portuguese.

Podcasts

Episode 113 - More details about the fierce fighting when PLAN invaded Namibia in April 1989

Published: July 10, 2023, 12:54 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 27 seconds

Listed in: History

Episode 112 - SWAPO's Sam Nujoma pulls a fast one and UNTAG struggles to cope

Published: July 3, 2023, 4:06 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 7 seconds

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Episode 111 - Two Scorpions in a bottle and peace after 23 years

Published: June 25, 2023, 11:12 p.m.
Duration: 27 minutes 17 seconds

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Episode 110 - Cuban MiG-23s bomb Calueque Dam and 11 SADF troops pay the price

Published: June 19, 2023, 6:24 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 21 seconds

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Episode 109 - A Bosbok survives a missile near miss as both the SADF and the Cubans gear up

Published: June 11, 2023, 5:12 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 2 seconds

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Episode 108 - Cubans start heading towards Calueque Dam and another South African POW

Published: June 5, 2023, 5:05 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 5 seconds

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Episode 107 – Reagan, Gorbachev, Ulysses the Bull, Fidel Castro: Diplomacy Breaks Out

Published: May 28, 2023, 3:37 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 19 seconds

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Episode 106 – Operation Packer/Tumpo 3 and Castro’s obsession

Published: May 23, 2023, 2:01 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 48 seconds

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Episode 105 – Citizen Force ou-manne train for the third Battle of Tumpo while Russians drink rice-vodka to forget

Published: May 16, 2023, 6:45 a.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 22 seconds

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Episode 104 – The SAAF raids Lubango and a tired 61 Mech launches the Battle of Tumpo II

Published: May 7, 2023, 12:19 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 22 seconds

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Episode 103 – The First Battle of Tumpo Triangle where 61 Mech faced a fierce FAPLA bombardment

Published: May 1, 2023, 9:10 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 14 seconds

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Episode 102 – 32 Battalion strikes Menongue Airfield and a Mirage is shot down

Published: April 23, 2023, 5:55 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 29 seconds

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Episode 101 – The Valentines Day assault on 59 Brigade and a Cuban tank ambush

Published: April 16, 2023, 2:12 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 37 seconds

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Episode 100 – FAPLA pushed from their positions along the Chambinga High Ground on Friday 13th

Published: April 11, 2023, 2:39 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 27 seconds

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Episode 99 – The SAAF tests a top secret weapon while new recruits come to terms with giant moths and skulking MiGs

Published: April 2, 2023, 5:22 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 56 seconds

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Episode 98 – Hougaard goes marauding and a Russian commander dies as an ammunition bunker explodes

Published: March 26, 2023, 4:47 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 56 seconds

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Episode 97 – Castro starts to talk peace but along the Cuito River all hell rains down

Published: March 19, 2023, 7:06 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 14 seconds

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Episode 96 – The Chambinga Gallop and the end of Operation Moduler

Published: March 12, 2023, 7:36 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 39 seconds

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Episode 95 – 21/25 Brigade makes a dash for the Chambinga Bridge amidst heroics by 32's Van Zyl

Published: March 5, 2023, 4:06 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 19 seconds

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Episode 94 – South African and Russian tanks go toe-to-toe at the Chambinga river in southern Angola

Published: Feb. 26, 2023, 2:19 a.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 14 seconds

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Episode 93 – Russians claim chemical weapon attack as the SADF pounds FAPLA

Published: Feb. 19, 2023, 12:46 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 50 seconds

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Episode 92 – An indebted Pretoria fixates on Cuito Cuanavale

Published: Feb. 12, 2023, 5:26 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 34 seconds

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Episode 91 – Russians on the Lomba and the Olifant Battle Tank

Published: Feb. 6, 2023, 10:13 a.m.
Duration: 25 minutes 51 seconds

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Episode 90 – FAPLAs 47th Brigade shattered as Operation Moduler continues

Published: Jan. 29, 2023, 5:41 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 20 seconds

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Episode 89 – Mirages, MiGs, missiles & the Lomba River tango to the death

Published: Jan. 23, 2023, 2:50 p.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 29 seconds

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Episode 88 – Operation Moduler begins with T54/55s taking on Ratels at the Lomba

Published: Jan. 15, 2023, 8:34 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 18 seconds

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Episode 88 – Operation Modular begins with T54/55s taking on Ratels at the Lomba

Published: Jan. 15, 2023, 8:34 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 18 seconds

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Episode 87 –Crocodiles attack Recces and the Lomba River heavy metal clash looms

Published: Jan. 8, 2023, 1:03 p.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 38 seconds

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Episode 86 – The SAAF harried in Angola and Soviets import arms from Afghanistan

Published: Jan. 2, 2023, 9:32 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 30 seconds

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Episode 85 – Small teams missions behind enemy lines and the courage of 7 Med

Published: Dec. 25, 2022, 2:14 p.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 18 seconds

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Episode 84 - FAPLA renew their offensive against UNITA at Mavinga

Published: Dec. 18, 2022, 6:21 p.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 55 seconds

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Episode 83 – The most ambitious Op involving SADF special Forces hits Namibe

Published: Dec. 11, 2022, 1:12 p.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 41 seconds

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Episode 82 – More Russian choppers down and 32 learns how to use SATNAV

Published: Dec. 4, 2022, 10:27 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 41 seconds

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Episode 81 – The MPLA attacks UNITA and the SAAF shoots down Russian choppers

Published: Nov. 27, 2022, 11:49 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 57 seconds

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Episode 80 – An SA Navy sub damaged at the end of the failed Cabinda raid

Published: Nov. 20, 2022, 11:15 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 22 seconds

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Episode 79 – A shootout on a Cabinda beach and the capture of Cpt Wynand du Toit

Published: Nov. 13, 2022, 10:29 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 24 seconds

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Episode 78 – Operation “foreskin” and 32 runs into a SWAPO firestorm

Published: Nov. 6, 2022, 10:37 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 15 seconds

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Episode 77 – The Recces blow up locomotives and 32 Battalion dresses like UNITA

Published: Oct. 30, 2022, 11:09 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 54 seconds

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Episode 76 – Turned SWAPO cadres, Recce pseudo-operations & Soviet air strategy

Published: Oct. 23, 2022, 7:11 p.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 57 seconds

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Episode 75 – Russian OSA2 missile boats targeted in 1984’s Operation Nobilis

Published: Oct. 16, 2022, 2:30 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 27 seconds

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Episode 74 – FAPLA/SADF joint patrols hit a wobble & Recce Op Bouganvilia

Published: Oct. 9, 2022, 2:25 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 57 seconds

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Episode 73 – A 1984 cease-fire as the SADF and FAPLA conduct joint patrols

Published: Oct. 2, 2022, 3:55 a.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 37 seconds

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Episode 72 – Cuvelai III: A Ratel destroyed by a T54 and an Impala narrow escape

Published: Sept. 25, 2022, 3:52 a.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 37 seconds

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Episode 71 – The Battle of Cuvelai II: Bundu-bashing into Soviet T54/55s

Published: Sept. 18, 2022, 6:02 a.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 1 second

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Episode 70 – Operation Askari missteps at Cahama and Cuvelai

Published: Sept. 11, 2022, 3:54 a.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 57 seconds

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Episode 69 – Operation Askari begins with a reconnaissance drone

Published: Sept. 5, 2022, 3 a.m.
Duration: 17 minutes 45 seconds

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Episode 68 – UNITA overruns Cangamba with SAAF help but Russia gets proactive

Published: Aug. 28, 2022, 6:48 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 33 seconds

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Episode 67–A rifle grenade in a ribcage, an Ionde minefield mishap and a Dragon

Published: Aug. 22, 2022, 2:07 a.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 16 seconds

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Episode 66 – Another MiG shot down and Russian VIPs arrive

Published: Aug. 14, 2022, 9:45 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 33 seconds

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Episode 65 – Ops Meebos where SWAPO AA fire downs a Puma

Published: Aug. 7, 2022, 1:01 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 9 seconds

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Episode 64 – Another Maputo raid and Hearts and Minds in the Kavango

Published: July 29, 2022, 1:15 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 3 seconds

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Episode 63 – 4 Recce and the Rhodesian SAS target Beira fuel depot and port in a series of raids

Published: July 18, 2022, 9:04 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 1 second

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Episode 62 – Rhodesian SAS and the Recces plan an assassination attempt on Robert Mugabe codenamed “Lark”

Published: July 5, 2022, 12:49 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 49 seconds

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Episode 61 – The Recces first Seaborne Operations and how the British High Commissioner’s Rolls Royce was blown up

Published: June 24, 2022, 7:42 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 45 seconds

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Episode 60 – Tsumeb farmers suffer repeated blows as SWAPOs Operation Typhoon sows destruction in the Triangle of Death

Published: June 12, 2022, 11:14 a.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 25 seconds

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Episode 59 – A SWAPO ambush leaves 11 dead as a Ratel is blown up at Effense Chana

Published: June 2, 2022, 4:54 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 16 seconds

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Episode 58 – SWAPOs “Danger” Ashipala switches tactics as he dispatches 150 men to the Triangle of Death

Published: May 26, 2022, 9:10 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 20 seconds

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Episode 57 – Operation Super: The incredible 1982 Battle of Cambeno Valley, SWAPO’s Point Zero

Published: May 18, 2022, 10:57 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 51 seconds

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Episode 56 – SWAPO takes aim at the Kaokoland and 32 Battalion hit by SAAF friendly fire

Published: May 10, 2022, 1:42 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 7 seconds

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Episode 55 – Operation Daisy where a Mirage shoots down a MiG in a first for the SAAF since the Korean War

Published: April 29, 2022, 8:42 a.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 23 seconds

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Episode 54 – Operation Protea wraps up but the Russians and Cubans want revenge

Published: April 19, 2022, 4:52 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 6 seconds

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Episode 53 – Soviet officers die and one is captured at Ongiva as Operation Protea enters DDay+5.

Published: April 6, 2022, 7:14 a.m.
Duration: 27 minutes 16 seconds

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Episode 52 - Operation Protea D+1, Xangongo falls and the attention shifts to Ongiva

Published: March 29, 2022, 2:47 p.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 39 seconds

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Episode 51 – Xangongo the target as Operation Protea begins and the story of a freak smoke rocket shot

Published: March 21, 2022, 7:15 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 53 seconds

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Episode 50 – Operation Protea begins and Xangongo and Peu Peu targeted but FAPLA’s 19th Brigade awaits

Published: March 14, 2022, 10:44 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 25 seconds

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Episode 49 – SWAPO uses FAPLA as a defensive screen in southern Angola and the plans are laid for Operation Protea

Published: March 6, 2022, 2:36 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 31 seconds

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Episode 48 – Russian specialists set up anti-aircraft missiles and Special Forces ops accelerate across the cutline

Published: Feb. 27, 2022, 5:34 p.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 15 seconds

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Episode 47 – 32 Battalion’s Colonel Ferreira hauled over the coals for attacking FAPLA and Impala’s drop napalm

Published: Feb. 20, 2022, 3:10 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 1 second

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Episode 46 – The attack on Smokeshell leaves 17 dead – the largest SADF loss in a single day’s combat since 1945

Published: Feb. 13, 2022, 12:50 p.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 59 seconds

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Episode 45 – The SAAF begins flying Impala’s at night and Operation Sceptic aka Smokeshell begins

Published: Feb. 13, 2022, noon
Duration: 20 minutes 39 seconds

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Episode 44 – The Recces kayak to Savate as 32 Battalion preps for Operation Sceptic aka Smokeshell

Published: Jan. 30, 2022, 5:06 p.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 48 seconds

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Episode 43 – Sonja Dressel shoots up a PLAN platoon and political change sweeps southern Africa

Published: Jan. 22, 2022, 7:34 p.m.
Duration: 24 minutes 7 seconds

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Episode 42 – The Triangle of Death in 1979 and an introduction to Tannie Pompie

Published: Jan. 14, 2022, 7:33 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 2 seconds

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Episode 41 – A Rhodesian Airlines Viscount downed at Kariba and an old Zambian man stares down the SADF

Published: Jan. 6, 2022, 12:28 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 19 seconds

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Episode 40 – 61 Mechanised Battalion special edition with former commander Roland de Vries

Published: Dec. 23, 2021, 9:48 a.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 29 seconds

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Episode 39 – Both the SADF and SWAPO reorganise and 61 Mech is born

Published: Dec. 13, 2021, 10:13 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 36 seconds

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Episode 38 – 32 Battalion ends Ops Reindeer then SWAPO attacks Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi

Published: Dec. 1, 2021, 12:33 p.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 11 seconds

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Episode 37 – A Cuban counter-attack causes chaos at the Cassinga LZ and Pretoria’s political strategy backfires

Published: Nov. 21, 2021, 9:48 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 18 seconds

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Episode 36 – Paratroopers in Cassinga face off against T34s as the Cubans infiltrate the battle zone

Published: Nov. 9, 2021, 8:20 a.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 26 seconds

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Episode 35 – Cassinga finally surrenders but the Cubans in Techamutete mobilise their T34s

Published: Oct. 31, 2021, 11:45 a.m.
Duration: 28 minutes 34 seconds

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Episode 34 – The SADF begin to take casualties as they attack Chetequera where hyaenas and jackals would feast

Published: Oct. 23, 2021, 8:18 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 5 seconds

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Episode 33 – SA Parabats are in Cassinga but SWAPO fights back, while Juliet raids Chetequera

Published: Oct. 15, 2021, 2:57 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 7 seconds

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Episode 32 – First the Canberras, Buccaneers and Mirages then the paratroopers leap into hi

Published: Oct. 7, 2021, 7:20 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 57 seconds

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Episode 31 – D-Day and Operation Reindeer begins

Published: Oct. 1, 2021, 12:22 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 14 seconds

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Episode 30 – A four phased blueprint to attack Cassinga as Operation Reindeer is good to go for May 4th 1978

Published: Sept. 23, 2021, 4:36 a.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 23 seconds

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Episode 29 – Two parachute battalions begin training in earnest for Operation “Wedding” aka Reindeer but there’s a hitch

Published: Sept. 14, 2021, 1:53 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 59 seconds

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Episode 28 – Operation Reindeer gets the green light after SAAF Buccaneers discover Cassinga camp

Published: Sept. 7, 2021, 1:15 p.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 15 seconds

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Episode 27 - A prelude to Operation Reindeer and the SADF airborne attack on Cassinga

Published: Aug. 30, 2021, 3:17 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 46 seconds

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Episode 26 – Jannie Geldenhuys takes charge of SWA Command

Published: Aug. 23, 2021, 1:34 p.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 50 seconds

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Episode 25 – The Reccies and 32 Battalion continue the war inside Angola and the Soweto Uprising shocks the Nationalist

Published: Aug. 15, 2021, 11:28 a.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 18 seconds

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Episode 24 – The Angolan Army re-organises, Moscow refocuses on Africa and Mirages arrive in Ondangwa

Published: Aug. 12, 2021, 11:10 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 16 seconds

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Episode 23 – The SADF re-equips after Savannah and the Ratel is born

Published: Aug. 4, 2021, 6:04 p.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 41 seconds

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Episode 22 – The SADF Day of Disaster as Operation Savannah winds down

Published: July 25, 2021, 10:59 a.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 7 seconds

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Episode 21 – The Battle for Bridge 14 part II and Battle Group Orange face T34s at the Pombuig River

Published: July 18, 2021, 8:32 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 40 seconds

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Episode 20 – The Battle at Bridge 14 part I

Published: July 11, 2021, 9:11 a.m.
Duration: 20 minutes 5 seconds

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Episode 19 – The SADF conducts an off-the-record briefing and the start of the struggle to control Bridge 14

Published: July 4, 2021, 9:12 a.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 56 seconds

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Episode 18 – The Battle of Ebo - the first major defeat for the SADF during Operation Savannah

Published: June 28, 2021, 8:24 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 14 seconds

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Episode 17 – The SAS Steyn’s role in the remarkable evacuation from the beach at Ambrizette

Published: June 21, 2021, 7:05 a.m.
Duration: 19 minutes 40 seconds

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Episode 16 – Luanda’s “Death Road” leaves the FNLA in tatters and the CIA decides to up and off

Published: June 14, 2021, 10:46 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 28 seconds

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Episode 15 – Angolan independence day passes while Task Force Zulu and Foxbat continue fighting

Published: June 7, 2021, 11:02 a.m.
Duration: 17 minutes 15 seconds

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Episode 14 – The assault on Benguela and its airport

Published: May 30, 2021, 11:01 a.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 32 seconds

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Episode 13 – A Beechcraft recon plane “Dinky Toy” crashes but Foxbat & Zulu push onwards in Operation Savannah

Published: May 23, 2021, 1:40 p.m.
Duration: 21 minutes 37 seconds

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Episode 12 – Xangongo, Ongiva, Lubango and Namibe fall in Operation Savannah

Published: May 16, 2021, 9:06 a.m.
Duration: 23 minutes 35 seconds

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Episode 11 – Battle Group Foxbat retreats but a blitzkrieg begins as Task Force Zulu gears up

Published: May 9, 2021, 9:25 a.m.
Duration: 17 minutes 26 seconds

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Episode 10 – Operation Savannah begins as the SADF pocket force Foxbat faces FAPLA

Published: May 2, 2021, 10:35 a.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 58 seconds

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Episode 9 – The Alvor agreement debacle sends Angola into a civil war tailspin and SWAPO takes advantage

Published: April 25, 2021, 1:18 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 13 seconds

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Episode 8 – The Portuguese pull out of Africa and the first Reccie dies in Angola

Published: April 18, 2021, 10 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 53 seconds

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Episode 7 – SWAPO escalates incursions and the SADF eventually takes over from the SA Police

Published: April 11, 2021, 2:02 p.m.
Duration: 16 minutes 31 seconds

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Episode 6 - The Battle of Omugulugwombashe ushers in the formal period of the armed struggle in South West

Published: April 4, 2021, 9:13 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 40 seconds

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Episode 5 – The South African Defence Force re-arms as the Angolan war of independence overflows into South West

Published: March 28, 2021, 8:44 a.m.
Duration: 15 minutes 13 seconds

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Episode 4 - Cold War race-paranoia and how the Portuguese faced an Angolan knife-edge in 1961

Published: March 20, 2021, 6:58 p.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 14 seconds

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Episode 3 - Congo uprisings and the war for independence in Angola turns up the Cold War heat

Published: March 14, 2021, 8 a.m.
Duration: 18 minutes 41 seconds

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Episode 2 - South Africa’s poisoned mandate and SWAPO emerges as the key early struggle movement

Published: March 7, 2021, 7:58 a.m.
Duration: 22 minutes 18 seconds

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Episode 1 – German South West Africa and its bloody birth

Published: Feb. 28, 2021, 9:10 a.m.
Duration: 26 minutes 31 seconds

Listed in: History