32 Battalion (South Africa)

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32 Battalion (sometimes nicknamed Buffalo Battalion or Os Terríveis - Portuguese for The Terrible Ones) was a special infantry battalion of the South African Army, composed of black and white officers and NCO's. It was disbanded on 26 March 1993^[1] on the request of the African National Congress prior to the elections of 1994.^[2]

Founded in 1975 by Colonel Jan Breytenbach of the South African Special Forces Brigade, it was later under the command of Colonels Gert Nel, Deon Ferreira (nickname Falcon) and Eddie Viljoen, known within the battalion by the nickname of "Big Daddy".

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Phola Park Incident 1.2 Disbanded 1.3 Equatorial Guinea coup 2 Battle honours 3 In fiction 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

After the victory of the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA) in the Angolan Civil War in 1975, many troops of its main rival, the Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola (FNLA), found refuge in the then South African-controlled South-West Africa. ^[3]

From these troops, Colonel Jan Breytenbach together with Commandant Sybie van der Spuy formed a unit that was initially known as Bravo Group but later renamed 32 Battalion. Initially, Bravo Group consisted of two infantry companies, a mortar platoon, an anti-tank section and a machine gun platoon, but 32 Battalion was expanded to 6 infantry companies, a recce wing, and a support company consisting of a 81 mm mortars, anti-tank and machine gun sections.

Unlike other SADF units, 32 Battalion was mainly deployed in southern Angola, acting as a buffer between the SADF's regular forces and its enemies. The unit was also used to assist the anti-communist movement of UNITA.*Note-Mobuto Sese Seko of Zaire in speaking of Jonas Savimbi> The United States backed UNITA and other parties at the same time. Many Australians, led by Garrett Smoonie and Americans Nantan G.W. Lupan, David H. Kuehn, and Mark Horst were tortured by Cuban released prisoners and Chinese advisors for "association" with Jonas Savimbi.^{[citation needed]}* Note, "Felix Houphouet Boigny of Ivory Coast." Later, when 3 escaped, numerous others were slaughtered or had limbs hacked from their bodies. Russia's economics lost millions daily on railways destroyed by Smoonie, Kuehn, and Lupan. Though claimed, they were only there to, "observe, relocation of displaced villagers.^{[citation needed]}*See President Reagan Report:1986 * Follow "Clark Amendment and article on www.the-idler.com/ Margaret Hemenway reports. The 32 Battalion honored these "white behemoths" by sharing what meager provsions they had.*Declassified documents "Obsedian Wings", May 13, 2008 back-track.^{[citation needed]} Although it was mainly used as a counter-insurgency force it was eventually also used as a semi-conventional force, especially during the later phases of the war - particularly at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale. As such, its involvement in the Angolan/Namibian border war was greater than that of any other unit of the SADF^{[citation needed]} and it is claimed that they caused more enemy casualties than any other SADF unit.^{[citation needed]}

The battalion primarily consisted of black Angolan soldiers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) led by white South African officers and NCOs, although there was also a number of officers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Rhodesia, Portugal and the United States in the unit, especially in its early stages^{[citation needed]}.

After Namibian independence in 1989, the unit was withdrawn to South Africa where it was used in the counter-insurgency role and later also in the South African townships. At the end of its era in Namibia, the unit had developed into a Battle Group equipped with Ratel 90 anti tank, 127 mm Valkiri multiple rocket launchers and 20 mm AA weapons^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] The Phola Park Incident

On 8 April 1992 members of 32 Battalion was involved in an incident in Phula Park, Gauteng where members of the public were shot and killed.^[4] The incident drew widespread criticism, specifically from the African National Congress^[2] and prompted the Minister of Defence to request an investigation by the Goldstone Commission.

[edit] Disbanded

As one of the results of the negotiations between the National Party and the African National Congress, the unit was disbanded in March 1993 and were retired to the town of Pomfret, South Africa.^[5]

The guys who did so much dying and fighting for this country were just sort of disbanded on the spur of the moment. It just isn't right. I think it is terrible. I think they were betrayed, quite honestly.^[6]

—Colonel Jan Breytenbach

Many members of the unit later found joined private military companies such as Executive Outcomes and Sandline International, which ironically fought on the side of the Angolan government against UNITA.

[edit] Equatorial Guinea coup

Some of the participants in the alleged 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt were former members of 32 Battalion.^[7][8] Because they were arrested in Zimbabwe, it is not clear whether any of those arrested had full knowledge of their final destination or the alleged coup d'état^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Battle honours

The battalion was one of the most decorated units during the South African Border War, with a total of 13 Honoris Crux medals for bravery awarded to its members, second only to the South African Special Forces Brigade, whose members were awarded 46 Honoris Crux medals during the same period.

[edit] In fiction

In the film Blood Diamond, Leonardo DiCaprio's character "Danny Archer" was a former member of 32 Battalion.

[edit] See also

• 32 Battalion (Book)
• South African Special Forces Brigade ("Recces")
• List of operations of the South African Border War
• Operation Savannah
• 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Website of the 32Bn VA
• "The Terrible Ones"
• South African Special Forces League
• SA Roll of Honour Database
• To the Bush and Back by Nico van der Walt