Willem Steenkamp Bücher

Of all the books about South Africa's 21-year 'Border War' along Angola's frontier with Namibia, this volume is highly regarded as one of the best. Originally selling 31,000 copies in South Africa, it has been out of print for decades. This reissue, written by Willem Steenkamp, features photographs by Al J. Venter, who covered the conflict for nearly two decades. Both authors have produced other works on the subject, but none match this beautiful coffee-table edition, which serves as a tribute to a generation of soldiers, where sons often followed their fathers into the same units. The war began slowly, with its first major clash at Omugulugwombashe in August 1966, but escalated as the Marxist Luanda government received military support from Moscow and tens of thousands of Cuban troops were deployed after Portugal's withdrawal. The conflict saw long-range South African armored strikes and major tank battles, leading to a complex situation where chemical weapons were used by Luanda and Pretoria considered deploying nuclear arms. Steenkamp, a seasoned war correspondent, explores these historical issues and ancillary military actions in other African nations, making this volume an exceptional addition to recent African military history, richly illustrated with hundreds of color and black-and-white photos.

This study draws on extensive experience from South Africa’s Border War, using case studies and supported by numerous photographs and maps, making it valuable for historians, researchers, and military practitioners. It offers an accessible exploration of real-life examples that enhance contemporary combat practices, with the Namibian-Angolan-South African Border War as a key benchmark. This conflict evolved into a transnational struggle, showcasing the political, diplomatic, military, and social complexities of African warfare. It involved both low and high-intensity engagements across a vast geographical area over an extended period, providing crucial lessons. The book serves as a resource for enriching the knowledge of commanders and young leaders in conducting warfare in Africa and similar environments, presenting practical military concepts for conventional, unconventional, or peace support operations. Southern Africa emerged as a significant laboratory for counterinsurgency warfare during this period, offering insights for military practitioners and scholars globally. Valuable lessons from the African approach to warfare, including insights into '4th Generation' and asymmetric warfare, are discussed, highlighting their implications for future military needs, force development, and the integration of advanced technology.