Military Despatches Vol 34 April 2020

Flip-flop Generals that switch sides

Surviving the Arctic convoys 93 year WWII veteran tells his story

Joseph Stalin , politician, Generalissimus and dictator

Aarthus Air Raid RAF Mosquitos destory headquarters

For the military enthusiast CONTENTS April 2020

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Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. , slang and techno-speak that few Russian Special Forces outside the military could hope to under- stand. Some of the terms Features 34 were humorous, some A matter of survival were clever, while others 6 This month we continue with were downright crude. Ten generals that switched sides our look at fish and fishing for Imagine you’re a soldier heading survival. into battle under the leadership of Part of Hipe’s “On the a general who, until very recently 30 couch” series, this is an been trying very hard to kill you. interview with one of How much faith and trust would Ranks you have in a leader like that? This month we look at the author Herman Charles Army of the Republic of Viet- Bosman’s most famous 20 nam (ARVN), the South Viet- characters, Oom Schalk Social media - Soldier’s menace namese army. A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in These days nearly everyone has dead in an ongoing Hanover Park, an area a smart phone, laptop or PC plagued with gang with access to the Internet and Quiz war between rival taxi to social media. Yet using this organisations. violence, to view first- technology can have dangers for 13 hand how Project those in the military. 26 World War II tanks Ceasefire is dealing with 24 Navy veteran revisits history This month we’re looking at the situation. When Royal Navy veteran Jo- tanks that all saw action during Restoring ’s gun World War II. We show you 15 Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- Looking a little sad and forlorn, seph WIlkinson visited the Rus- sian missile cruiser Marshal tanks, you tell us what they are. thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. it was time for the memorial gun And this one isn’t as easy as in the Cape Town Gar- Ustinov in Cape Town Harbour, history had come a full circle. you think. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. den to receive a refurbishment. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 68

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

PHOTO EDITOR ay you live in in- once, they can actually make Regine Lord teresting times” good on their promises. CONTRIBUTORS is an English ex- I received quite a few e-mails April in military history “M Kevin Ashton, Raymond Fletch- pression which purports to be a from readers asking me if Mil- er, Regine Lord, Ryan Murphy, translation of a traditional Chi- itary Despatches will still be Matt O’Brien, Matt Tennyson. nese curse. published during the lockdown Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review And let’s face it, we are cur- period. Military Despatches is pub- 44 54 67 rently living in very interesting, The answer is yes. As long as lished on-line every month. The Fighting Doc if not downright scary, times. I am able, I will publish Military Strongest military forces The articles used in Military The diaries of John Coey dur- Covid-19 is causing panic, Despatches. I will be remaining Despatches are copyrighted This month we take a look at Nicknamed the ‘Wooden Won- der”, it was the fastest aircraft ing the Rhodesian War. fear and havoc throughout the in isolation but will have to go and may not be used without the self-propelled artillery of in 1941. world. And personally, without out every Sunday. I do a radio prior permission from the edi- the ten strongest military forces trying to be a prophet of doom, show and radio has been deemed tor. in the world. I believe that this pandemic is a an essential service. The views stated in this mag- lot worse that we currently be- I do a show from 09h00 to azine do not necessary reflect Famous Figures Battlefield Front Cover lieve. 12h00 every Sunday and you the views of Hipe!, the editor, 60 Many South Africans are still can listen to it via the Internet. the staff, or Hipe Media. 48 An Italian soldier on patrol not taking this whole thing seri- Check out the ad on page 23 of Air Raid while enforcing the country’s ously enough and believe that it this issue and follow the link. Hipe! Revolutionary, politician and When RAF Mosquitos took out lockdown rule. In South Afri- is not as bad as people are say- You can also WhatsApp me P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 dictator, Joseph Stalin was all the Gestapo headquarters in ca the SANDF is assisting the ing. in the studio on 072 447 8044 . this and more. But who was Jo- . SAPS during our lockdown. So please, all of you, stay at and request a song, or you can seph Stalin? home if you can and, above all, just say hello and let me know email Gaming stay safe. Most of us are in the you’re listening. [email protected] age group that is high risk. So Until next month, stay safe 64 let’s take this thing seriously. and stay healthy. Back Issues Tank Mechanic Simulator And if things aren’t bad To view any back issues of Repair and restore World War II enough, Moody’s has just down- Until next time. Military Despatches, go to tanks. graded South Africa to junk sta- www.militarydespatches.co.za Movie Review tus. As if the economy wasn’t or click here. bad enough. One bit of good news is that 66 Eskom has promised that there will be no load shedding during A must see movie set in World the lockdown. Let’s hope, for Matt War II and starring . 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten War (66 – 73 AD), also known the Romans, who shouted an ordered Jerusalem’s complete Ten generals that switched sides as the Great Jewish Revolt. offer down the well for Jose- destruction, while tens of thou- The revolt had erupted in 66 phus to surrender, as Vespasian sands of prisoners were sold Imagine you’re a soldier heading into battle under the leadership of a general who, until very -re AD after the Roman authori- wanted him alive. off as slaves or forced to fight cently, had been in command of troops that were trying very hard to kill you. How much faith and ties responded to tax protests Josephus wanted to surren- to the death in games for Titus’ trust would you have in a leader like that? by arresting prominent Jews der, but the other leaders insist- amusement and to celebrate his and looting the Jewish Temple ed that they all commit suicide victory. hroughout the history of 10. Hermann in the Teutoburg Forest in which in Jerusalem. That heavy-hand- instead. So Josephus suggested Titus then took Josephus warfare it has not been Hermann (circa 18 BC – 19 three legions were annihilated. edness transformed the protests they do so in an orderly fashion, back with him to Rome, where uncommon for soldiers AD) was a German tribesman Not wanting to be taken pris- into a full-blown rebellion, by drawing lots, with the loser he held a triumphal parade T which forced the Romans to of each round getting killed by featuring captive rebel lead- to switch sides - either volun- in Roman service. oner, Varus committed suicide. tary or against their will. By all accounts he was a pret- Which was probably a wise de- flee Judea. Armed bands seized the others. ers chained to models of their Soldiers that had been cap- ty good soldier and rose through cision on his part. forts across the country, while As we’ve already seen, Jose- towns on floats that paraded tured by the enemy were some- the ranks to command an auxil- The disaster shocked Rome, in Jerusalem, which the rebels phus was no fool. He rigged the down Rome’s street, and off to times given a choice - join us iary cohort. and in its aftermath, Augus- captured, a national military lots so that by the end of it there their execution sites. Josephus and fight for our side, or die. Such was the respect given to tus went into mourning, let his government was organized. was only Josephus and one oth- joined Vespasian’s household, Many soldiers have displayed him by his employers that they beard grow out, and took to In Galilee, Josephus, a 29 year er survivor. He convinced the and spent the remainder of his their loyalty to their country or bestowed Roman citizenship banging his head against the old priest, was chosen to lead. other survivor that they should life writing, leaving behind a cause by holding their chins up and high social status upon him. wall while wailing “Quinctil- With a combination of guile and surrender. They did, and while valuable history of the Jewish high and declaring that they Hermann was posted to the ius Varus, give me back my le- force – such as his bluffing the the other man was summarily Revolt. were ready to die for their coun- Rhine, an area he was famil- gions!” town of Tiberias into surrender executed, Josephus was taken try. For other self-preservation iary with, where he served un- Roman plans for expansion with an overwhelming display in shackles to Vespasian. 8. Ashikaga Takauji has taken preference over loy- der Publius Quinctilius Varus, into Germania were halted and of force from a navy of 230 Once again Josephus showed Feudal Japan was headed alty. a Roman general married to a never resumed, and Germania boats that, unbeknownst to the his guile by claiming that he by the Tennō (heavenly sov- After all, many of these sol- niece of the emperor Augustus. eventually became a spring- Tiberans carried no more than was actually a prophet and that ereign), an emperor who was diers have been conscripts, Augustus ordered Varus to board and highway for the bar- five men each – he managed to he had a vision in which he saw considered to be a deity. Yet the fighting in a war against their conquer and pacify Germania. barians who demolished the bring Galilee under his control. Vespasian becoming emperor emperor was little more than a will. Often for a country that Now as many conquerors have empire. As to be expected, Rome took of Rome. figurehead. regarded them as little more learnt throughout history, when The decision of Hermann to a pretty dim view of the pro- Vespasian, who was already Japan was dominated by var- than slaves and cannon fodder. you conquer someone its usual- switch sides against the Ro- ceedings and they dispatched pondering a revolt, spared Jo- ious samurai, also known as It is not difficult to see why they ly best to treat them humanely mans had far-reaching historic Vespasian, one of their top gen- sephus’ life and kept him as a bushi, clans. They were warri- would choose to switch sides. and try to win them over to your impact, and made him a Roman erals, to crush the revolt. prisoner. In 69 AD, following ors and each clan was led by a Yet one would not expect this side. It was a lesson Varus ig- villain and a German national Vespasian marched his le- Nero’s ouster and suicide, three daimyō or lord. type of behaviour from some- nored. hero. His gigantic statue and gions from Syria into Judea, Roman generals had followed These clans would compete one that has risen to the lofty Varus’ arrogant treatment of memorial, the Hermannsdenk- with Galilee as his first stop. in quick succession as Roman against each other, with each heights of a general or admiral. the Germans, however, caused mal, stands today near Detmold Josephus gathered an army, but emperors, and Vespasian decid- daimyō plotting to become sho- What would make a person them to revolt, and Hermann in Westphalia, close to the site its undisciplined ranks broke ed that he should be the fourth. gun or military dictator. It was of this stature turn against his decided that his loyalty lay with of his betrayal. and ran at the first sight of the He led a successful revolt that the shoguns duty to protect the country and against the troops his people rather than his pay- Roman legions, and fled to the put him on the throne, and re- emperor. In reality however, it that he once led? masters. 9. Flavius Josephus hilltop town of Jotapata. calling Josephus’ prophecy, or- was the shogun that actually While it is not common, there In 9 AD, acting as guide for Yosef ben Matityahu (37 – There, Vespasian surrounded dered him freed. ruled Japan. have been numerous incidents Varus and his army as they re- 100 AD), who went on to Lati- Josephus and his men, and af- While Vespasian sailed off to Ashikaga Takauji (1305 – in history where generals have turned from campaigning to nize his name into Titus Flavius ter a 47-day siege, successfully Rome, Josephus joined Vespa- 1358) was a samurai, general, indeed turned against their own winter quarters, Hermann sug- Josephus, was a Jewish general stormed the town. sian’s son, Titus, in besieging and statesman whose life and army and switched sides. In this gested a short-cut through a and leader who commanded the Josephus and the rebel lead- Jerusalem and finishing off the career featured numerous twists article we look at ten such peo- hilly and heavy forested region, Jewish forces in Galilee at the ers fled to a secret hiding place revolt. After a horrific siege, and turns, during which Takauji ple. and lured them into an ambush start of the First Jewish-Roman down a well, but a prisoner told the city fell in 70 AD, and Titus switched sides multiple times. 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten

At the end, he rose to become ed foes and tolerance, which of- discipline. that city and strongly influ- multiple Italian rulers, includ- wishes, he turned on his em- shogun, or military dictator, ten meant that surrender was a During the 1370s, he served enced northern Italy and Italian ing the Pope, the Neapolitans, ployers and switched sides, this and founded the Ashikaga Sho- viable option for his opponents. the Pope, but when the Holy politics for a century. and duke Visconti of Milan. time backing himself. He be- gunate at age 33, which domi- Third, an open handed gener- Father cheated Hawkwood on Sforza was the illegitimate Sforza fought alternately for sieged Milan, starving it into nated Japan for nearly two and osity to subordinates, which payment, the mercenary bided son of a mercenary commander and against these groups during submission, and entered the a half centuries. earned and cemented their loy- his time, and when the Pope and accompanied his father on the next two decades. city in 1450 as its new duke. Takauji began his career alty. sent him to put down a rebel- campaigns starting at age 17. During one of the intervals in service to the powerful lion in Citta di Castello, Hawk- He quickly developed a reputa- when he got along well with 5. Albrecht Wallenstein Hojo clan, which ran Japan’s 7. John Hawkwood wood captured and kept the city tion for toughness and strength, Milan’s duke, he betrothed Vis- Albrecht Wenzel Eusebius then-Kamakura Shogunate. In Sir John Hawkwood, known in order to compel payment. and became famous for his abil- conti’s illegitimate daughter von Wallenstein (1583 – 1634) 1333, Takauji was tasked by the in Italy as Giovani Acuto, Strapped for cash, the Pope ity to bend metal bars with his and only child in 1433. was a Protestant Bohemian sol- Hojos with ending a civil war meaning “John the Astute” was forced to invest Hawk- bare hands. The following year, howev- dier who approached soldiering against Japan’s figurehead em- (1320 – 1394) was an English wood with the city, granting it Following his father’s drown- er, Sforza switched sides and and war as financial transac- peror, but he came to dislike the soldier of fortune who plied his to him in return for uncompen- ing during battle, against a rival left the duke of Milan’s employ tions and business moves. Hojos and switched sides, join- trade in Italy as a condotierre. sated services. in 1424, Sforza took command. for that of his rival, Cosimo de He rose to command the ar- ing the emperor, instead. As captain of a powerful merce- Between 1372 and 1378, He proved himself a brilliant Medici of Florence. In 1438, mies of the Holy Roman Em- With Takauji’s help, the Ho- nary band, Hawkwood played a Hawkwood repeatedly switched tactician and battlefield com- Sforza fought for Florence pire during the Thirty Years jos were defeated and com- significant role in 14th century sides between serving the Pope mander, went on to win the bat- against his prospective father in War, fought for the Catholics pelled to commit suicide, end- Italy’s wars and politics, and and his rival, the duke of Milan, tle, and killed his father’s rival law, and inflicted crushing de- before switching sides to the ing the Kamakura Shogunate. switched sides on numerous oc- whose illegitimate daughter he in the process. feats on Milan. Protestants, then switched back The emperor was restored casions between the peninsula’s married in 1377. He then signed on to fight for In 1441, he patched to the Catholics once again. to power and established the competing factions and states. In 1378, after quarrelling things up with Milan’s Born a Lutheran, Wallen- first imperial government that Hawkwood began his mili- with his new father in law, duke, and finally mar- stein was orphaned at age 13 wielded both military and polit- tary career during the Hundred Hawkwood switched sides and ried his daughter. But and raised by an uncle who saw ical power since the 10th cen- Years War in the armies of Eng- signed a contract with Milan’s two years later, in 1443, to his education. In 1604, he tury. For his troubles, however, land’s king Edward III, who rival, the city of Florence, and he again switched sides fought for the Habsburgs and Takauji was rewarded with an knighted Hawkwood for excep- was appointed its captain-gen- and fought against his ingratiated himself with them accusation of having murdered tional service. eral. now-father-in-law. and the influential Jesuits at an imperial prince while cam- When that war was tempo- He remained in Florence un- When the duke of their court by nominally con- paigning. rarily interrupted by a peace til he finally decided to sell his Milan died in 1447 verting to Catholicism. He responded by switching treaty in 1360, Hawkwood left Italian properties and retire to without a male heir, His Jesuit confessor arranged sides once again, and turning for Italy at the head of a com- England to spend his last years, the Milanese re- for him to marry a fabulous- on the emperor whom he had pany of mercenaries, and joined but died in 1394 before he could belled and proclaimed ly wealthy elderly widow with only recently restored to the the English unit known as the do so. a republic, and hired huge estates, which wealth and throne. He defeated the emper- White Company. Sforza as their mil- lands Wallenstein inherited af- or, reducing him once again to In 1364, he was elected cap- 6. Francesco I Sforza itary commander. A ter her death in 1614, instantly a figurehead, and assumed the tain-general of the White Com- Francesco Sforza (1401 – three-sided struggle then vaulting him into the ranks of military dictatorship of Japan, pany, and he elevated its repu- 1466) was an Italian condottie- ensued between the Milan- the powerful in the Habsburg founding the Ashikaga Shogu- tation, transforming it into an ro, or soldier of fortune. During ese republic, the rival city realms. nate, which ruled the country elite and highly sought after a lifetime filled with twists and of Venice, and Sforza. He fought in numerous cam- from 1338 to 1573. mercenary unit by adopting the turns, he became a mercenary When the Milanese paigns and battles, and earned Contemporary Japanese intel- English longbow and tactics general, turned on his employ- signed a peace treaty a reputation for military bril- lectuals credited Takauji’s suc- successfully used in , ers and switched sides multiple with Venice in 1449 liance. At the outbreak of the cess to three factors. First, calm lightened his men’s armor and times. against Sforza’s Thirty Years War, the Habsburgs courage in battle, during which equipment, which made them Finally, he made himself feared that they would end up he exhibited no fear of death. famous for the rapidity of their Duke of Milan, founding the Francesco facing the Protestant-born Wal- Second, mercy towards defeat- movements, and instilled strict Sforza Dynasty which ruled Sforza lenstein. 8 9 Top Ten Top Ten

But calculating that serving but his successes and ambition, ed to help the Manchu invaders leading admiral in a sea battle fleet. While proclaimed a hero, ing habits soon pushed him into the Catholics would prove more plus fears that he was preparing in their successful conquest of off the Pescadores, and forcing he also aroused the resentment debt, and between stewing over lucrative, Wallenstein offered to switch sides, led Emperor China, helped with the over- the final surrender of his old en- and jealousy of fellow officers, slights and his increasing finan- his services and an army of Ferdinand to remove him from throw of the Ming Dynasty, and emies. who began a whispering cam- cial difficulties, Arnold secretly 30,000 to 100,000 to the Holy command in 1630. its replacement with the Man- After conquering Taiwan for paign to tarnish his name. In approached the British, offering Roman Emperor Ferdinand II. The Protestants recovered, chu Qing Dynasty which ruled the Manchus, Shi Lang was 1777, Congress created five to switch sides. Wallenstein then proceeded and particularly under Swedish China until the early 20th cen- given the hereditary rank of new major generals, and Arnold After his stint in charge of to thoroughly destroy Protes- king Gustavus Adolphus, won tury. marquis, and granted the title of was aghast upon discovering Philadelphia, Arnold was put in tant armies and the Protestant a series of stunning victories. Shi Lang was born into a “General Who Maintains Peace that his name was not on the list command of West Point, a forti- cause in his native Bohemia. Reasoning that a potentially prominent family in Fujian, on the Seas”. while some of his juniors were. fied position on the Hudson riv- Particularly at the Battle of treasonous general was bet- studied the military arts, and He was kept from resigning er, upstream from British-occu- White Mountain in 1620, so as ter than incompetent ones, the gained an expertise in naval 3. Benedict Arnold only by personal pleas from pied New York City. West Point to eradicate two centuries of a Emperor recalled Wallenstein. warfare. He joined the Ming Mention the name Benedict George Washington. A short barred the British from sailing strong Protestant tradition, dat- Wallenstein stabilized the sit- navy, which was led by the Arnold and most Americans time later, after defeating a upriver. ing back to Jan Hus’ uprising in uation by defeating Gustavus powerful Zheng family and tend to get a bit upset. British advance into Connecti- Arnold schemed to sell the the early 1400s. From a Protes- Adolphus at the Battle of Alte quickly distinguished himself. Benedict Arnold (1741 – cut, Arnold was finally promot- British plans of the fortifica- tant stronghold in Central Eu- Veste in 1632, and killed him at Lang rapidly rose to com- 1801) is America’s most noto- ed to major general. However, tions, and to help deliver them rope, Bohemia was transformed the Battle of Lutzen later that mand a powerful contingent rious turncoat, whose name be- his seniority was not restored, into their hands, for £20,000. into a Catholic bastion, and it year. by his mid-20s. A falling out came an epithet, synonymous which he took as another slight. However, his British contact, remains Catholic to this day. However, Wallenstein grew with a scion of the Zhengs led with treason. He had played a He again sought to resign his major John Andre, was cap- Wallenstein then proceeded increasingly resentful of his Shi Lang to defect to the rising leading role early in the Ameri- commission but was prevailed to wreck the Protestant cause in treatment by Ferdinand, and Manchus in 1646. The Zhengs can War of Independence from upon to remain. He performed western and northern Germany, did little to hide his intent to retaliated by slaughtering the Britain, and had probably been brilliantly in thwarting the Brit- switch sides and defect to the family he left behind as traitors, the rebelling patriots’ most ca- ish advance from Canada into Protestant cause by joining the killing Shi Lang’s father, broth- pable general and combat com- upstate New York in 1777, and Swedes, as soon as he negotiat- er, and son. mander, before resentments was instrumental in bringing ed an agreeable deal. The Manchus, who lacked a over slights, coupled with fi- about its defeat, culminating in Word got back to the Emper- seafaring tradition and capa- nancial distress, led him to the British surrender at Sarato- or of Wallenstein’s planned de- ble naval commanders, warm- switch sides. ga, where Arnold suffered a se- fection, however, so he nipped ly welcomed Shi Lang for his Before his treason, Arnold rious wound. the problem in the bud by hav- naval talents and network of had fought valiantly for the rev- Crippled by ing the problematic general as- contacts throughout East Asia’s olutionaries. Early in the con- his inju- sassinated in 1634. It seems that port cities. flict, he even played a leading ries, he Wallenstein switched sides just In 1656, he helped the Man- role in capturing Fort Ticond- was made once too often. chus conquer his native prov- eroga. He then led an expedi- military ince of Fujian. Later, in 1663, tion through difficult terrain in com- 4. Shi Lang he conducted a successful cam- an attempt to capture Quebec, mander of Philadelphia, where Shi Lang, Marquis paign against the Zheng fami- and although the expedition ul- his socializing with loyalist Jinghai (1621 – 1696) ly, in cooperation with a naval timately failed, it demonstrated families and lavish lifestyle, was a Chinese admi- contingent from the Dutch East great leadership skills on Ar- which he financed with ques- ral who served the India Company. nold’s part that he even man- tionable dealings, led to scan- Ming Dynasty, be- In 1681, he led the Manchu aged to get his force to the out- dal. fore switching sides invasion of the Ming Dynasty’s skirts of Quebec. His marriage to a much and turning against last bastion in Taiwan which In 1776, a creative Arnold younger woman of loyalist sym- his people. He defect- gave him great personal satis- constructed a fleet from scratch pathies and extravagant spend- faction. He once again defeated at Lake Champlain, with which Albrecht Wallenstein the Zheng family, crushing their he defeated a superior British Benedict Arnold 10 11 Top Ten Top Ten tured, along with documents in- a disciplinarian who kept his reasons”. provisional government and criminating Arnold, who barely troops under tight control, and Things soon looked up for for recruiting a Soviet turncoat escaped ahead of arrest. in 1796 he played a key role Bernadotte, however, when the army. Arnold was then made a in saving the French army in childless and ill king Charles In 1943, he wrote an anticom- brigadier general in the British Germany from destruction fol- XIII of Sweden, a French ally munist leaflet, millions of cop- army, and led Redcoats against lowing its defeat by the Austri- and client state, adopted him ies of which were dropped on his former comrades. His new ans and ensured its safe retreat in 1810 and made him Crown Soviet positions. Using Vlas- masters never warmed to him across the Rhine. Prince and heir to the throne. ov’s name, the Nazis recruited however, and he was unable to Bernadotte first came in con- Bernadotte assumed the regen- hundreds of thousands of So- secure a regular commission in tact with Napoleon in 1797, cy and governance of Sweden, viet defectors, forming them in the after the war. and the pair developed an ear- and cast about for an accom- a so-called Russian Liberation After the conflict’s end, he ly friendship, which eventually plishment to solidify his au- Army, but although they were engaged himself in a variety frayed and broke as a result of thority and future dynasty. nominally under Vlasov’s com- of enterprises, including priva- rivalries and misunderstand- The opportunity came when mand, they were kept strictly teering and land speculation in ings. While relations between Napoleon was weakened fol- under direct German control, Canada, before finally settling the two were still good, how- lowing the destruction of his with Vlasov exercising little or in , where he died in ever, Napoleon recognized Ber- Grande Armee after his cat- THE RED NAZI: General Andrey Vlasov not only switched no authority. sides, he also recruited hundreds of thousands of Soviet defec- 1801. nadotte’s talents, and in 1804 astrophic invasion of His only combat against the tors to fight for the Nazis. – following his declaration of in 1812. In 1813, Bernadotte took place while in 2. Bernadotte empire and Bernadotte’s decla- switched sides, signed a treaty head of the so-called Russian November of 1941 and promot- charge of a turncoat division Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernado- ration of loyalty to him – Napo- with Britain, and declared war Liberation Army. ed him to command an army in near the Oder river in Febru- tte (1763 – 1844) was a French leon appointed him a Marshall on France. He landed a Swedish Vlasov had been drafted ’s defences. ary of 1945, during the war’s Revolutionary general who was of France. army in northern Germany, and into the Red Army in 1919 Vlasov and his army played closing stages, after which he granted high rank and honors Following the successful in alliance with the Austrians, and fought in its ranks during a key role in keeping the Ger- was forced to retreat to Ger- by Napoleon Bonaparte. Ber- 1805 Ulm Campaign and vic- , and Prussians, got his the , during mans out of Moscow, and in man-controlled Czechoslova- nadotte returned the favour by tory at the Battle of Auster- payback against Napoleon by which he distinguished him- January, 1942, he spearhead- kia. There, in May of 1945, switching sides, and at the head litz, Napoleon further reward- helping defeat him in the war’s self. Rising steadily through the ed the counter-offensive that a few days before war’s end, of a Swedish army, helped de- ed Bernadotte by making him biggest and bloodiest battle, at officer ranks, he earned a rep- pushed the Germans 100 miles Vlasov’s division turned coat feat Napoleon at the Battle of Prince of Ponto Corvo in Italy. Leipzig, in 1813. utation for his ability to whip from the Soviet capital. He once again, this time against Leipzig in 1813, the Napoleon- Things began to sour between After the war, he returned to poor units into shape. In 1930, earned decorations and acclaim the Germans and in support of ic Wars’ largest and bloodiest the two, however, during the Sweden, where he established Vlasov gave his career a boost in so doing, plus Stalin’s admi- a Czech uprising. single engagement, whose lose Prussian campaign in 1806, the Bernadotte Dynasty, whose by joining the Communist Par- ration, who promoted him to At war’s end, he attempted effectively sealed Napoleon’s when Napoleon severely criti- royal family reigns in Sweden ty, and in 1938, he was sent to deputy commander of the Volk- to escape to the Western Al- fate. cized Bernadotte for failing to to this day. China as a Soviet military advi- hov Front, 300 miles northwest lies’ lines but was captured by The son of a prosecutor, Ber- bring his corps to the fight at the sor to its generalissimo, Chiang of Moscow. Soviet forces, who discovered nadotte enlisted in the French hard-fought battles of Jena and 1. Andrey Vlasov Kai-Shek. Later, he was put in charge him hiding under blankets in a army at age 17. When the Auerstadt, and barely refrained Andrey Andreyevich Vlas- When the Nazis invade the of the 2nd Shock Army after its car. He was flown to Moscow French Revolution erupted, he from court-martialing him for ov (1900 – 1946) was one of USSR in 1941, Vlasov was a commander fell ill, but it got and held in its dreaded Lubyan- became an ardent supporter. dereliction of duty. Joseph Stalin’s favorite Red mechanized corps commander cut off and encircled as it ad- ka prison, where he underwent Within two years, between 1792 The relationship was sun- Army generals, who turned in the Ukraine and was one of vanced towards Leningrad, and torture for months. He was and 1794, he experienced rapid dered at the 1809 Battle of Wa- on the Soviet dictator during the few generals who managed was destroyed in June 1942. tried for treason in the summer promotions from sub-lieutenant gram, after which Napoleon re- WWII and switched sides after to get his unit to safety, as he Vlasov escaped temporarily but of 1946 along with 11 of his to brigadier general in the Rev- lieved Bernadotte of command his capture by the Germans in successfully fought his corps was captured 10 days later. leading subordinates. All were olutionary armies. for his poor handling of his 1942. Throwing in his lot with out of multiple encirclements. In captivity, he agreed to found guilty and sentenced to Campaigning in the Low troops during the fight. Napole- the Nazis, Vlasov turned coat His skill and aggressiveness switch sides. Taken to Berlin, death, and on August 1st, 1945, Countries, Germany, and Italy, on sent him back to under and fought with the Germans brought him to Stalin’s atten- he and other Soviet traitors be- Vlasov and his fellow turncoats he developed a reputation as the face-saving guise of “health against the at the tion, who summoned him in gan drafting plans for a Russian were hanged. 12 13 their special purpose units from reconnaissance (Spetsialnaya ducting propaganda operations; Special Forces - Russia the now-defunct Soviet security Razvedka). This is defined as and forming and training insur- agencies. reconnaissance carried out to gent detachments. Spetsnaz operates under the subvert the political, economic Part fourteen of a series that takes a look at Special Forces units around the world. This command and control of the and military potential and mo- month we look at Spetsnaz, the Russian Special Forces. History Soviet General Staff’s main rale of a probable or actual en- The petsnaz is an umbrella of Emergency Situations’ spe- beret Intelligence Directorate and emy. had hunter-commando units, term for special forces cial rescue unit) in post-Soviet As Spetsnaz is a Russian has no western equivalent. It’s This includes acquiring in- formed by a decree of Emperor in Russian and is used in countries. Russian special forc- term, it is typically associated main purpose is to carry out telligence on major economic Alexander III in 1886, which saw S what the Russians term ‘special and military installations and action in prior to the numerous post-Soviet states. es wear different berets depend- with the special units of Russia, Historically, the term referred ing on the branch of the armed but other post-Soviet states of- either destroying them or put- of 1917. to special operations units forces they belong to. These in- ten refer to their special forces ting them out of action; organ- controlled by the main mili- clude: units by the term as well, since ising sabotage and acts of sub- tary intelligence service GRU • Ground Forces and Airborne these nations also inherited version; carrying out punitive (Glavnoje Razvedyvatel’noje Forces (VDV) – Blue beret operations against rebels; con- Upravlenije). It also describes • Navy and Marines – Black task forces of other ministries beret (such as the Ministry of Inter- • National Guard – Maroon nal Affairs ODON and Ministry

14 15 Also during World War I, its special forces footprint to General Aleksei Brusilov be- two spetsnaz brigades in Af- came one of the first senior ghanistan, comprising just un- commanders to utilize the tac- der 5,000 troops. tics of fast-action shock troops After the collapse of the for assaults following concen- USSR, Spetsnaz forces of the trated accurate artillery fire in Soviet Union’s newly formed what would be later be known republics took part in many local as the Brusilov Offensive of conflicts such as the Civil war 1916. in Tajikistan, Chechen Wars, Such tactics, considered rev- Russo-Georgian War and the olutionary at the time, would Crimea Crisis. Spetsnaz forc- later inspire people like Prus- es also have been called upon sian Captain Willy Rohr in the to resolve several high-profile development of the Prussian HEADING OUT: A Spetsnaz team in Afghanistan pose for a hostage situations such as the Stormtroopers (founded in quick photo before heading out on a mission. THE WATER IS FREEZING: Potential Spetsnaz recruits nego- Moscow theatre hostage crisis 1915). tiate one of the many obstacle courses they will face. and the Beslan school hostage The Russian military theorist vocated the creation of 46 mil- of the KGB General Yuri An- crisis. Colonel Mikhail Svechnykov itary spetsnaz companies, each dropov (in that office from 1967 lished for Special Operations (27 December 1979), saw Sovi- originally proposed the con- consisting of 120 servicemen. to 1982) established the first Forces which had earlier been et special forces storming the Selection and training cept of using special tactics and This was the first use of counter-terrorist unit. From the established from around 2009 Tajbeg Palace in Afghanistan Spetsnaz selection and train- strategies. Svechnykov (exe- “spetsnaz” to denote a separate late 1970s through to the 1980s, following a study of Western and killing Afghan President ing requirements are extreme- cuted during the military branch since World a number of special-purpose special-operations forces units Hafizullah Amin and his 200 ly demanding. Potential con- in 1938), envisaged the devel- War II. units were founded in the KGB and commands. personal guards. The Soviets scripts must be physically fit, opment of unconventional war- These companies were later (1954–1991) and in the Minis- The Command was not under then installed Babrak Karmal intelligent and politically reli- fare capabilities to overcome expanded to battalions and then try of Internal Affairs (MVD) the control of the GRU but re- as Amin’s successor. able before they will even be disadvantages faced by conven- to brigades. However, some (1946–1954). ported directly to the General The operation involved ap- considered as Spetsnaz candi- tional forces in the field. In the separate companies (orSpN) During the 1990s special de- Staff – as did the GRU. proximately 660 Soviet oper- dates. 1930s the “grandfather of the and detachments (ooSpN) ex- tachments were established ators dressed in Afghan uni- Once approved for the in- spetsnaz”, Ilya Starinov, began isted with brigades until the within the Federal Penitentia- Operations forms, including 50 KGB and duction phase, conscripts have the implementation of the idea. dissolution of the Soviet Union. ry Service (FSIN) and the Air- During World War II Russian GRU officers from the Alpha to sign a loyalty oath, in which During World War II, Red The special-purpose forces of borne Troops (VDV). Some ‘special forces’ units took part Group and Zenith Group. The they acknowledge their aware- Army reconnaissance and sab- the Armed Forces of the Soviet civil agencies with non-police in numerous operations. But it Soviet forces occupied major ness of the death penalty for an- otage detachments formed un- Union included fourteen land functions have formed special was from the 1950s, during the governmental, military and me- yone who betrays the Spetsnaz. der the supervision of the Sec- brigades, two naval brigades units also known as Spetsnaz, , that spetsnaz units dia buildings in Kabul, includ- After the induction phase, some ond Department of the General and a number of separate de- such as the Leader special cen- and operations came to the fore. ing their primary target – the of the brighter conscripts will Staff of the Soviet Armed Forc- tachments and companies, op- tre in the Ministry of Emergen- They operated in various Af- Tajbeg Palace. be selected for NCO training. es. These forces were subordi- erating under the Main Intelli- cy Situations (MChS). rican and Asian countries and In the first one and a half years Those that pass the six-month nate to front commanders. gence Directorate (GRU) and In total, by December 1991, most of their operations were of the war, spetsnaz units in the course graduate as NCOs, while The infamous NKVD in- collectively known as Spetsnaz at the time of the collapse of shrouded in secrecy. Details of form of the 459th special forc- those that fail revert back to the ternal-security and espionage GRU. the USSR, the GRU reconnais- spetsnaz operations were high- es company, were exclusively rank of private soldier. agency also had their own spe- These units and formations sance and sabotage formations lighted during the Afghan War. responsible for recon missions In addition to their basic mil- cial purpose (osnaz) detach- existed in the highest possible had: Soviet Spetsnaz forces took and intelligence gathering for itary training, all conscripts ments, including many saboteur secrecy, disguised as Soviet • 14 special purpose brigades part in the Soviet–Afghan War the 40th Army. receive specialised instruction teams who were air dropped paratroopers (Army spetsnaz) • 2 special purposes of 1979–1989 in Afghanistan, Aside from reconnaissance, in hand-to-hand combat, silent into enemy-occupied territories or naval infantrymen (Naval • 29 independent special pur- usually fighting fast insertion/ the 459th was also tasked with killing techniques, parachuting to work with (and often take spetsnaz) by their uniforms and pose companies extraction type warfare with capturing prisoners, destroy- (including HALO techniques), over and lead) the Soviet Par- insignia. • 5 naval reconnaissance point helicopters. Their most famous ing the leaders and field com- infiltration techniques (includ- tisans. Twenty-four years after the In 2013 a Special Operations operation, Operation Storm-333 manders of the Mujahideen. By ing defeating alarm system and In 1950 Georgy Zhukov ad- birth of Spetsnaz, the Chairman Forces Command was estab- 1985, the GRU had expanded locks), sabotage, demolition, 16 17 foreign weapons, foreign vehi- on likely tank routes, killing rifle, RPG-16 grenade launcher, cle operation, and foreign tac- NATO pilots in their accommo- under-rifle grenade launcher, Weapons used by Spetsnaz tics, techniques and procedures. dation blocks, making suitable SA-14 MANPADs, plastic ex- During the training phase, insertion sites for paratroopers plosives, anti-personnel mines conscripts face obstacle cours- and transport helicopters, and and an R-350M burst transmis- es and long gruelling marches, assassinating senior NATO sion radio, which has a range of many of which are conducted in commanders. about 1,000 km. AK-74u full chemical warfare protective Although these practices were Spetsnaz units can only be clothing, including gas masks. never used against European successful it they are in posses- Most of the physical training is nations, many Spetsnaz tac- sion of good intelligence, and extremely harsh, and conscripts tics, techniques and procedures it is for this reason that they re- are denied rations so that they were tested for real during the port directly to the GRU and, to have to forage for food them- Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Spetsnaz GRU some degree, the second direc- selves. in 1979, where Spetsnaz units torate of the front staff, which However, there are also good spear-headed the main invasion of three to five battalions, a sig- is responsible for intelligence AN-94 opportunities for conscripts force and were highly success- nal support company, a support matters. to travel to foreign countries ful. unit and a HQ company, which Within this group, there are as part of the Russian Olym- Spetsnaz units are training equates to a wartime strength of separate departments to pro- pic team, and enjoy good food to infiltrate enemy territory by about 1,300 men capable of de- cess agent intelligence, signal and good living while carrying many methods, both overt and ploying 100 operational teams. intelligence, and Spetsnaz in- out adventure training, such as covert, and can operate up to In addition to the brigade telligence – normally gathered MP-443 Grach mountain climbing and skiing. 1,000 kilometres behind enemy units, most Russian armies also via sleeper agents or operatives Once through specialised lines without support. Although have a Spetsnaz presence of posing as truck drivers, for ex- training, the conscripts face a their primary role is to locate several companies, which gives ample, or athletes travelling series of battlefield exercises, targets for other forces (whether them a force of 115 men or 15 overseas. which test their skills to the lim- paratroopers, strategic bombers operational teams. Each com- Much has changed amongst it. These exercises take place or armoured units), they can if pany is organised in a similar the Russian military since the in very realistic environments, necessary launch attacks them- manners to that of a brigade, end of the Cold War, including such as mock Cruise missile selves. Typical targets include and it contains three Spetsnaz the manner in which Spetsnaz bases, NATO airfields and com- mobile missile sites, Cruise platoons, a communications units operate in Europe. It should Dragunov SVD munications facilities, and they missile bases, integrated air platoon and a support unit. be borne in mind, however, that involve the use of explosives defence systems, radar sites, Apart from the Brigade and despite Russia’s financial state and live rounds. command and control facili- Army Spetsnaz, there are a its Spetsnaz units still receive ties, airfields, ports and lines of number of other units operating generous funding and are now Spetsnaz missions communication. directly under the command of training and re-equipping to op- The main mission of the The basic Spetsnaz unit com- the GRU and Naval Spetsnaz erate more like the British SAS prises a team of eight to ten and US Delta Force. Spetsnaz forces are sabotage brigade, giving a peacetime RPG-16 and reconnaissance, although soldiers commanded by an of- strength of some 15,000 per- Spetsnaz training now in- they are known to have car- ficer. Within each tem there is sonnel. cludes tubular work, counter ried out insurgent training in a specialist in communications, As most Spetsnaz missions terrorism, urban warfare train- Africa and Cuba. During the reconnaissance, sniping and ex- take place deep behind ene- ing (based on lessons learned in Cold War, their main purpose plosives, and every member of my lines, soldiers tend to be Chechnya) and mobility war- was described as ‘diversion- the team has been cross trained lightly armed and carry only a fare. ary reconnaissance’ (diversiya to ensure that a mission can small selection of weaponry. rezvedka), which essentially continue even if a specialist is A typical soldier will carry ei- RGN hand grenade meant carrying out sabotage lost or injured. ther an AK-74 or AN-94 assault operations against vital western Modern Russian forces are rifle, a silenced 9mm pistol, installations. structured in operational fronts ammunition, a knife and up to Other mission envisage at that each contain a Spetsnaz 10 grenades. In addition each the time included laying mines brigade. Each brigade consists team carries and SVD sniper 18 19 half an hour chatting up your and Dad...” and ended with Social Media - Soldier’s Menace Old public phone. girlfriend and telling her what the words “your loving son.” you planned to do to her during The rest of the letter would be These days nearly everyone has a smart phone, laptop or PC with access to the Internet and to so- cial media. Yet using this technology can have dangers for those in the military. your next weekend pass. blacked out. The general rule was that you It was sometimes difficult had three minutes to talk. Then to write a letter home because ost of our readers, at there were two methods of terrible. you hung up and let the next there was little that you could some stage, served making contact with those back He could also phone his girl- person in line have their turn. actually say and your social life in the military. And a home. One method was by friend and tell her how much he M When troops were deployed was nothing to boast about. large number of them served in making use of a pay phone, the loved her, how much he missed to the operational area, the Bor- It was even worse having to the old South African Defence other was through writing let- her, and implore her not to date der, there were no public tele- write a letter back to your girl- Force (SADF). ters. other guys while he was away. phones. The only way to com- friend because you knew the Those that serve in the mili- Using a pay phone had its ad- The disadvantages, however, municate back home was by censor would be reading it so tary, irrespective of which mili- vantages and its disadvantag- far outweighed the advantages. writing a letter. you were always wary of writ- tary force, all have one thing in es. In South Africa pay phones First of all troops, especially Troops would also write let- ing something intimate or ro- common - they have a life out- were better known as public those busy with basic training, ters during basic training. The mantic. Although there were side of the military. call boxes or public telephones. could not just go and use the SADF encouraged troops to some troops with a twisted They have parents, broth- To use the phone you had to phone whenever it took their write home. In fact in most ba- sense of humour that would ers and sisters, relatives, and deposit coins into a box. The fancy. sic training bases it was com- write steamy letters just to get friends. Some have girlfriends, amount of money you depos- Troops could only use the phones would take 20, 10 and pulsory. the censor all hot and sweaty. or boyfriends - the military is ited determined how long you public phones during their “free five cent coins. Getting change You would write your letter, Often you were left with little not exclusive to males. Others could talk on the phone. Pub- time”. Now anyone that ever was often more difficult that place it in an enveloped, seal it, to write about. may have a wife or husband. lic telephones were nicknamed did basic training will know that may be assumed. put a stamp on it, and post it. The mail was slow and let- Many have children of their ‘tickey boxes’ free time is nothing more than Gary did basic training in On the Border, however, ters would often get lost in the own. Every major SADF base in a myth. This time was usually 1976 and he recalls just how things worked a little different- system. Sometimes you would Something of vital impor- South Africa had public tele- used for washing and ironing difficult it was. ly. send a letter from the Border tance to any soldier serving phones available. This was es- clothes and getting ready for “We had four ‘tickey boxes’ You wrote your letter, placed and arrive home before the let- away from home is contact and pecially true of bases were ba- the next morning’s inspection. at our base. We could only use it in an unsealed envelope, and ter did. communication with those back sic training was carried out. If you did manage to sneak the public phones after seven at handed it in. The letter would home. This contact and com- The advantage of this was a few moments to make a call night and that is if you were pre- then have to be read by a cen- munication was just as impor- that every troop at least had there were other problems that Technology pared to wait in the queue. The sor, usually an officer appointed tant to those back home. the opportunity to phone home had to be overcome. Time has moved on from the first hassle would be getting for the job. Back in the days of the SADF and tell his parents that he was Most bases would have only days of writing letters and using change for the phone. Everyone The censor would then read doing fine, that he three or four public telephones public telephones. And as time used to go to the tuck shop and the letter and, using a thick missed home, available. During basic train- has moved on, so has technol- buy something small so that you black marker, cross out any and that the ing there could be up to 1,000 ogy. could get change. Of course the words or sentences that he felt food was troops undergoing training. You These days we live in a digi- old lady who ran the tuck shop were a threat to security. do the math. tal world where communication would always moan and bitch This would include the names First of all you needed to en- is instant and at our fingertips. that she had no change. If you of places, troop movements, sure that you had coins The vast majority of the world’s were lucky enough to actual- specific dates, equipment used for the phone. Back population makes use of the In- ly get change, then you would and any enemy or friendly forc- then most public ternet on a daily basis. rush off for the phones. Nor- es activity. Few people still take the time mally there would be four long If, for example, a troop had to write letters. Instead they lines waiting to use them.” been injured this could not be make use of word processing If and when you did get to use mentioned in a letter as it was programs such as Microsoft the phone your problems didn’t regarded as being bad for mo- Word to produce documents. end there. You have to take into rale. These are then sent via electron- account that there were always It was not uncommon for ic mail, better known as e-mail. queues of troops waiting to use a troop’s parents to receive a Most people will also use cel- the phone. You couldn’t spend letter that began “Dear Mom lular or mobile phones to make 20 21 movements. can communicate. Yet OPSEC mised. It’s as easy as a click of a (Operational Security) must be The US Military takes the sit- mouse or a tap on a smart phone, taken into account. Troops need uation seriously enough to have and in a few seconds sensitive to know what they can or can- produced an Army’s Social information might be shared not post to social media. Media Handbook and conducts that could get troops killed. It is also just as important that training for Soldiers about the There is also the danger of the friends and family be aware dos and don’ts of posting on so- geotagging feature that is au- that information they post on cial media. tomatically turned on in some social media can be a threat to While the Internet, smart smart phones and digital cam- security. phones and social media is an eras. Geotagging is the equiv- You may, for example, have important part of daily living, alent to adding a 10-digit grid sent your girlfriend an e-mail we need to realise that it is not coordinate to a photograph tell- telling her that you will be com- 100% safe. ing where it was taken, which ing home on a certain date. She Computer systems and could reveal sensitive informa- then posts a photograph of you e-mails can be hacked, smart tion about a location -- informa- in your uniform with a caption phones can be monitored and tion that terrorists could use to “My man is coming home on can give away your exact lo- target troops or military instal- 20 June.” cation, and social media can be lations. Now let’s say that the wrong viewed by just about anyone. There is nothing wrong with people see the post. They also Make use of technology, but allowing troops access to the recognise the patches on the don’t abuse it. Always remem- Internet and smart phones. It is uniform so they can identify ber that as a member of the mil- good for the morale of the troops which unit the person is with. itary what you say could put and for their families that they Security has now been compro- other’s lives in danger. phone calls. And cell phones world’s population has a smart Social media - social menace are another piece of technology phone, it makes sense that most More than 3.8 billion people that has advanced rapidly. soldiers will also have their use social media currently, and The first cell phones arrived own smart phones as well. this includes members of the in South Africa in 1994, and Why write a letter home when military. there were only 400 of them to you can send an e-mail that is Want to know where troops begin with. The original phones received almost instantly by the are deployed? Want to find out were bulky, had limited battery recipient? what weapons and equipment Click here to life, and all you could do was Forget about public phones, they are using? All you need to make a phone call on it. Yet at these days a troop can lie on his do is check out their online pro- the time they were revolution- bed at night and talk to his girl- file, visit their Facebook page, Listen Live ary. friend for hours. or follow their tweets on Twit- These days most people own And with software and apps ter. a smart phone. In fact 45.12% such as Skype, Facebook, Twit- With the ease of social media, Where the music does the talking of the world’s population have ter and so on, troops can upload in any part of the globe at any smart phones, and these phones photographs and videos, keep time, a soldier or family mem- Catch Military Despatches editor Matt Tennyson on the Sunday Breakfast Zone from can do a lot more than just make family and friends updated, and ber can post pictures from a de- 09h00 to 12h00 every Sunday morning on Zone Radio 88.5 fm. phone calls. even have live video calls. ployment or talk about a mili- They can send text messages, In fact, communication has tary mission. Matt brings you hits from the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s - the hits we love and re- access the Internet, take high never been easy for those in the Often these seemingly inno- quality photographs and video, military. cent posts could actually con- member. And you can WhatsApp your requests through on +27 72 447 8044 record audio and far more. It’s Yet while this does come with tain sensitive information that like having a computer in your advantages there are disadvan- endangers troops by revealing pocket. tages and even dangers that locations, security measures, The Voice of the Valley on 88.5 fm And if nearly half of the come into the equation. mission operations, or troop 22 23 • Stripe coat with zinc rich ment at this year’s Gunners • Width: 2.08 metres Restoration of Cape Town Memorial Gun epoxy primer Memorial’ Service on 22 • Crew 10 • Spray apply one full coat March 2020 and for years to • Shell: Gas; Incendiary; Looking a little sad and forlorn, it was time for the memorial gun in the Cape Town Company Gar- den to receive a refurbishment. It was a problem that the Western Province Branch of the Gunners’ of zinc rich epoxy at 100 come. High explosive Association had wrangled with for some time. Article Kevinby Ashton, photographs by Regine Lord. microns thick • Shell weight: WWI - 45.4 • Stripe coat with epoxy Footnote: This Gun is one of kg; WWII - 39.0 kg MIO five 6-inch 26 cwt Howitzers • Calibre: 152.4 mm ur memorial Gun in the discussed the refurbishment child off to school on their • Spray apply one full coat of Major Nugent Fitzpatrick’s • Breech: Welin screw Cape Town Company of our most prized possession, first day. epoxy MIO at 150 microns six gun battery of Heavy Artil- • Recoil: Hydro-pneumatic, Garden was looking a the 6 inch Memorial Gun. It The riggers finally arrived O thick lery used in France in WW1. variable little sad and forlorn. was unanimous that we should with great noise of engine and • Seal all gap to prevent cor- The Gunners’ Association has • Carriage: Box trail For years we just spruced go ahead and get quotes. hydraulics to much interest of rosion creep also restored another of these • Elevation: 0° to +45° her up with a lick of paint just The best quote was from tourists and the homeless alike • Finally apply one full coat guns located at the Johannes- • Traverse: 4° L & R before the memorial service in MRH a Cape Town based shot standing shoulder to shoulder. of Polyurethane at 50 mi- burg Zoo. • Rate of fire: Max: 2 rpm March each year, thanks large- blasting company. My friends The area was duly taped off crons thick • Muzzle velocity: Max 430 ly to NMAR’s (CFA) MWO from the Cannon Association and the very competent team Two weeks later and the BL 6 inch 26 cwt Howitzer m/s Bennie Havenga. had recommended them as set about with straps under the colour chosen, and the paint • In service: 1915 to 1945 • Maximum firing range: We were much like second they had utilised their servic- important pieces. is dry; the Gun is finally ready • Designer: Vickers WWI - 8,700 metres; WWII cousins to the guns at the Na- es before. Then it was time for lift off, for delivery back to the plinth • Designed 1915 - 10,400 metres tional Memorial in Potchef- It was a great match of but the balance was not quite in the Company Garden. The • Manufacturer: Vickers, • Sights Calibrating: stroom and frankly I was a like-minded, passionate peo- right so down she went and riggers have done a great job. Beardmore, Coventry Ord- (1930s) & reciprocating little embarrassed each time I ple who walked us through more strapping now in dif- An extremely successful op- nance Works, Woolwich visited the National Memori- every step with love and care. ferent areas went into play. eration and our compliments Ordnance Factory, Midvale al. She was in good hands. Will the wheels hold? was a go to the MRH team for the Steel Company What to be done, how do On the morning of collec- thought that was constantly in diligence and care taken in • Weight: 3,693 kg we raise the necessary fund- tion, I had already arranged my mind. this project. • Length: 6.58 metres ing to re-furbish. A problem with the Company Garden to She is extremely strong as Now for a very proud mo- • Barrel length: 2.03 metres the Western Province Branch allow the riggers to enter from it turned out to my surprise. Committee of the Gunners’ the Mount Nelson side and Still the balance is not right, Association wrangled with for drive down Government Ave- up and down she goes and a a long time. nue. lot of head scratching. The Gun was rusting in cer- I had invited my friend and Time for a Gunner to take tain areas and just slapping an- photographer, Reggie Lord to charge and direct operations. other coat of paint on was not witness the occasion and to Then lift-off and safe delivery working. So, we were mostly record the upliftment on cam- onto the flatbed. Now she is in a holding pattern. era. It was a little nerve rack- standing only on her wheels One morning I was contact- ing to say the least waiting for and looks amazing. ed by an attorney who said the flatbed to arrive. After safely strapping her that they had been looking for Would she come away off down off she goes up Govern- us for some time and through a the plinth easily, maybe leave ment Avenue. What a morning. private investigator had come her wheels behind, what about I need a whiskey but settle on across our Facebook page. weight distribution, would it a cup of tea with Reggie and One of our members had all work out? Reggie could await the call which eventual- passed away and had left a sense my slight angst and ly comes to say the Gun has substantial amount to the asked how I was feeling. been safely delivered to the Western Province Branch. Ecstatic that this was hap- MRH factory. Step 1 complet- The Committee immediate- pening and really looking for- ed, now for the refurbishment. ly convened and amongst dis- ward to that journey but a lit- • Shot blast to remove all cussing investing this money tle anxious at the same time. rust and 100% of the exist- at a good interest rate we also Somewhat like sending your ing coating

24 25 a while later that the doctor told WWII navy veteran revisits history him, with a chuckle, that he had been given an injection of dis- When Royal Navy veteran Joseph WIlkinson visited the Russian missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov in Cape Town Harbour, history had come a full circle. Regine Lord was there to record the event. tilled water. ‘See, it’s all in your head,’ he had said.” Although the ship carried ast month we did an ar- sunk, by US bombers while in Wilkinson reported to the Wild supplies of weapons, ammuni- ticle on a visit by Roy- Pola harbour, Croatia, on 9 Jan- Goose (U45), which was wait- tion, food and water, after the Lal Navy veteran Joseph uary 1944. ing at the port of Larne, north first week or two, food and wa- Wilkinson to the Russian Na- Mr Wilkinson’s middle broth- of Belfast in Northern Ireland. ter ran low. Water in particular vy’s Slava-class missile cruiser er Jack was deployed with the During World War II, mine- was always scarce. Between Marshal Ustinov (055). Fourteenth Army in Burma. sweepers and anti-submarine the various convoy runs and the During a subsequent inter- The British Fourteenth Army, vessels regularly departed from anti-submarine patrols, they re- view, Mr Wilkinson graciously under the command of Lieuten- both Larne and Belfast to pa- turned to the harbour at Larne shared some of his life story ant General William Slim, was trol the Irish Sea and the North to replenish their supplies and with me, focusing especially a multi-national force formed Channel. Ships traveling from to make repairs to the ships, on his military service during in eastern India in 1943. It was America and Canada to Britain which were sometimes dam- World War II. Born in 1926, made up of units from various found it safer to sail northwards aged during the engagements he had left school at 17 years Commonwealth countries, in- past Northern Ireland to Britain, with the enemy. old to enlist in the Royal Navy cluding units from the British along the Western Approaches, “You had to ration your drink- in 1943. After undergoing ba- Army and the Indian Army, and rather than following the south- ing water, and you couldn’t use sic training, he was posted to from West and East African di- ern route past the Republic of MASTERS OF THE SEA: Captain 1st Rank Vladimir V. Kuz- it for showering or washing, so a special Royal Navy Wireless visions. It was called ‘the For- Ireland, which was within eas- min of the Marshal Ustinov meets with Royal Navy veteran Mr you can imagine the smell after Telegraphy Training School in gotten Army’ because its oper- ier reach of the German Luft- Joseph Wilkinson. a while. Sometimes we used Aberdeen (1943) to be trained ations in the Burma Campaign waffe and navy. sea water for washing, but it’s as a radio operator; his rating (1944-1945) did not receive “We came over on the ferry to roll and pitch, so throughout I at first thought we were being not good for your skin; you end was Telegraphist (Trained Op- much attention in the media. from Stranraer in Scotland,” Mr the night, I kept falling onto torpedoed or shot at!” up with sores and boils. And no erator). At some stage, during his Wilkinson recalled, remember- the deck. And don’t forget, the “The Atlantic was a terrible matter how hard we tried, our Both of his older brothers military service, Mr Joseph ing how seasick he had felt. Al- deck was always wet – there place,” he declared solemnly. soap didn’t lather with sea wa- were already serving. His oldest Wilkinson received a message though it was a fairly short trip was always water seeping in “The seas were really turbulent, ter!” brother Thomas Wilkinson had that his brother Jack had been (about 2-3 hours), the Irish Sea from somewhere, coupled with big waves, and our ship “We were always given a tot been in the Royal Engineering invalided back to England from could be very rough indeed. with the smell and the oil and was small, so it was constantly of rum at lunch time – it kills Corps. He was on the Auxilia- Burma. He had fallen extremely “And the first thing I noticed everything. So I got wet and pitching and rolling.” He suf- the taste of the food!” he ex- ry Troopship SS Yoma, which ill, as did many of the soldiers when we came up to our ship dirty.” fered badly from seasickness claimed, jokingly. “But be- was part of a convoy (GTX2) who fought in the Far East; dys- was the smell,” he declared, Later, thankfully, he was al- for the first week or two. “I just cause I wasn’t yet 20 years old, bound for the invasion of Sicily entery, malaria and other infec- wrinkling his nose. “There was located a hammock. “That was couldn’t keep any food down,” I wasn’t allowed to drink any. when, on 17 June 1943, it was tive diseases were common in an overpowering stench of die- great,” he said, “no matter how he said. “Whenever I stood But my mates would generous- torpedoed and sunk by German the harsh conditions. Someone sel and oil.” much the ship moves, a ham- watch, I took a bucket with me.” ly keep aside a little bit, and submarine U-81 off the Libyan in the Royal Navy had kindly “At first, there was no bunk mock stays pretty much level, Eventually, he reported to the share it with me,” he said, his coast near the port city of Derna arranged for Joseph to get shore or hammock free for me,” he so you don’t get tossed about sickbay. The doctor on duty told eyes twinkling. (east of Benghazi). 484 lives, leave, so that he could go and added. “But there was a mess and you can sleep. But the him that there was a new and re- The Wild Goose was a Black including his brother, were lost visit his brother at the barracks at the front of the ship, with a noise of the ocean was some- ally powerful injection against Swan class sloop with a crew of when the ship went down, bare- somewhere in the Midlands of whole lot of lockers, where you thing else… When we travelled seasickness, which would cure about 80-100 people on board; ly 5 minutes after being hit by England. He really enjoyed his could keep your uniforms and at speed through the waves, the him. And indeed, after the doc- the Commanding Officer was one, possibly two, torpedoes. visit to his brother. “I was treat- other things. So I said, ‘Not to bow of the ship would push tor had given him the injection, Lt Cdr David Edward Gillespie Under the command of Ober- ed very well,” he said, chuck- worry, I’ll sleep here instead.’ downwards, so the water would his seasickness vanished com- (‘Dicky’) Wemyss. It was part leutnant zur See Johann-Otto ling. “We even had a sergeant I could neatly tuck myself into be displaced upwards, and crash pletely. “I was never seasick of the Royal Navy’s 2nd Escort Krieg, submarine U-81 sank bringing us breakfast and tea. It this space. But I hadn’t realised over the bow of the ship – and again!” he exclaimed, laugh- Group (referred to as the 2 EG, numerous vessels, until it it- was lovely.” that, as soon as the ship reached we were trying to sleep under- ing, “no matter how rough the 2nd EG or 2 SG), a British an- self came under attack, and was After his training, young Mr the open ocean, it would start neath that! It was so loud that sea was – nothing.” It was only ti-submarine formation, formed 26 27 in April 1943, not long before the song “A-Hunting We Will the U-boat, coupled with the ‘German Navy Acoustic Torpe- Mr Wilkinson joined the ship. Go!” would blare out over the loss of contact by the ASDIC, do’, the British name for what The 2 EG was made up of loudhailer! often gave the U-boat enough the Germans called the G7es several sloops of the Black Captain Walker had an un- time to evade. Captain Walker’s (T5) or ‘Zaunkönig’ (wren). Swan class, all named after canny instinct for locating sub- creeping attack thus involved They were able to travel at about birds: Starling (U66) (Capt F.J. marines and anticipating their two ships: the first maintained 24 knots (44km/h) and had an Walker), Wren (U28) (Cdr R.M. moves. By this time in the war, ASDIC contact, while guiding effective range of about 5,000 Aubrey), Woodpecker (U08) the British had cracked the code the second slowly into position metres against convoy escort (Lt Cdr R.E.S. Hugonin), Cyg- on the Enigma machine, which above the target, in order not to vessels. Their homing system net (U38) (Lt Cdr F.B. Proud- the Germans were using to en- alert the U-boat that it had been had two hydrophone receivers, foot), Wild Goose (U45) (Lt code their communications. So spotted and that attack was im- which picked up the pitch of Cdr D.E.G. Wemyss), and Kite they often knew in advance what minent. It was very effective. In the ship’s propellers, and usu- (U87) (Lt Cdr W.F. Segrave). was planned and where the sub- addition, a weapon known as a ally exploded at the stern. They The make-up of the group marines would be. They would ‘hedgehog’, which was made began to be used from August changed over time, with refits then deploy the Allied forces in up of 24 spigot mortars, could 1943, and although they were and repairs being necessary order to intercept them. be fired forward from the ship. initially very effective, the in-between deployments to the The 2 EG’s main method of It had contact fuzes, which det- British soon developed coun- Atlantic, to the Bay of Biscay, locating movement underwater onated against a hard surface, termeasures in the form of an back to the Atlantic, to the Arc- was to use the ASDIC, which such as the hull of a submarine; BRAVO ZULU: Captain F.J. Walker, DSO, RN, addresses the acoustic decoy (codenamed tic, and to the English Channel. was a type of sonar that used this made them far more effec- men of the HMS Wild Goose at Liverpool on 9 June 1943, after Foxer). Consisting of hollow The 2 EG under the com- quartz piezoelectric crystals to tive and more deadly than the they had recently sunk two German U-boats within nine hours metal pipes with holes in them, in the North Atlantic. mand of Captain Frederic John detect sound underwater. It had slowly sinking depth charges, they were towed about 200 PHOTO: Imperial War Museum (‘Johnnie’) Walker was the been developed before World which sent hydrostatic shock- metres behind the ship. They most successful anti-submarine War I; by the outbreak of World waves through the water. of the U-boat, in order to have his first patrol, he did not know generated more noise than the unit of World War II, destroy- War II, different types of sets Another tactic was the “bar- an effective impact on the rein- what it meant, but, puzzled, re- ship’s propellers; the torpe- ing 24 U-boats during its two had already been incorporated rage attack”, which was used forced hull. In a barrage attack, layed the message to the lead- does thus homed in on the de- years of active service. Captain into the various classes of sur- by the 2 EG when a U-boat three ships moved in line abreast ing watch telegraphist. coy instead, and circled it until Walker was quite a character. face ships and submarines. had gone deep, and was able to over the target area, where the “I don’t know what this mes- they ran out of fuel. However, Whenever his ship, the Starling Some of the tactics Captain evade the depth charges. These submarine was suspected to be sage means, but it’s ‘gnats in these decoys also made the AS- (U66), left or entered a harbour, Walker conceived to hunt the had to explode within 26 feet located, until each of them, at the water, bearing so and so’”, DIC ineffective, which meant German U-boats, which of- the same time, released a series he told him. “I’ve never seen that the ship could not track ten travelled in groups known of depth charges, set to explode anyone move that fast!” he any nearby submarines. Also, as ‘wolf packs’, were subse- at different depths. The result- said, laughing. “I didn’t know they could not be towed faster quently used in naval warfare ing barrage of explosions right that ‘gnats’ were acoustic torpe- than 14 knots (26 km/h), which for many years. One of these after each other had a devastat- does!” he explained. “You see, meant the ships could only trav- was the “creeping attack”, ing impact on the submarine. the German submarines often el at slow speed, and the sound which Captain Walker used for As Mr Joseph Wilkinson was lined up ahead of the convoy, of the Foxers travelled long the first time when he was in a radio operator on the Wild in an area they knew we would distances underwater, thus giv- charge of 36 Escort Group of Goose, he spent many hours at have to move through, and then ing away the ship’s position to the Royal Navy. He developed the radio, with two different ear fired off these torpedoes, which U-boats that were searching for this particular tactic because pieces on: with one ear, he lis- had a sensor in the front. This convoys. the ASDIC searched forward tened for inter-escort messages, picked up any sound in the wa- Another weapon developed from the ship, while the depth and with the other, he listened ter, and then aimed straight for by the Germans was the ‘glider charges were released from to convoy messages. It required it. They didn’t have to direct it bomb’, which was rocket-pro- the stern. The brief delay, as considerable focus and concen- at a specific target – these gnats pelled, fitted with small stabilis- the ship sped up in order to re- tration. He vividly remembered would home in on anything that ing wings and radio-controlled lease the depth charges above the first time that he received made a sound underwater, and onto the target from the aircraft Captain ‘Johnnie’ Walker (left) a message from another ship of course the ships’ engines and that had launched it. The Brit- and Lieutenant Commander D that said, “Gnats in the water, propellers made a lot of noise.” ish nicknamed it a ‘Chase me E G Wemyss. bearing so and so…” As it was GNAT was an acronym for Charlie’, and fortunately dis- 28 29 covered quite by accident that Magpie, Wren and Whimbrel it was affected by the electric sailed from Scapa Flow in the waves given off by electrical Orkney Islands off northern razors, which confused its tar- Scotland the next day, joining geting system. two other groups of escorts. When submarines are sunk, Whenever convoys travelled wreckage and remains – and oil through an area, there was a – rise to the surface,” explained core of cargo ships and mer- Mr Wilkinson. “The German chantmen in the middle, sur- submariners were an elite fight- rounded on all sides by destroy- ing force, and they were incred- ers, cruisers, minesweepers ibly brave; those small subs in and submarines, with a party particular were really cramped of ships up ahead, and another and life was extremely hard for cluster of ships following be- the submariners. The Germans hind. “There was usually a tug produced the U-boats in large YES YOUR MAJESTY: King George VI visiting the HMS Wild or other support vessel at the numbers later in the war, so Goose at Birkenhead on 27 March 1945. Mr Wilkinson is the back,” explained Mr Wilkin- they weren’t sturdily built.” fourth sailor from the left. Photo from his personal collection. son. “Their job was to pick up “When we gave chase and WELCOME HOME: Cheering spectators welcome the Wild survivors, if any of the ships in hunted down enemy vessels, Goose (and the other ships of the 2 EG) to Gladstone Docks War II was, after all, fought on which were numbered sequen- the convoy were destroyed, be- we were focused entirely on on 25 February 1944. two fronts – the Western and tially and referred to as PQ for cause the ships in the convoy it- chasing and killing them,” he PHOTO: Imperial War Museum the Eastern, although it is the outbound and QP for home- self could not turn around, they explained. “But, once the ene- (Wild Goose, Woodpecker) American, Canadian and Roy- Western Front that has received bound, ran from September had to keep going.” my vessel was destroyed, we al- • 9 February 1944, U-734 al Navies began to escort these most of the attention. The Ger- 1941 to September 1942, while On 29 March 1944, along ways tried to pick up and rescue (Wild Goose, Starling) supply ships across the Atlantic; mans, who had established bas- the second series, which were their route through the so-called survivors. We had rope nets that • 9 February 1944, U-238 when a submarine was spotted, es in Norway and Finland, sent referred to as JW for outbound ‘Rose garden’ (evidently an we hung down over the sides of (Starling, Magpie, Kite) the job of the escort vessels was warships, submarines and fight- and RA for home-bound, ran ironic name!), some 150 nauti- the ship, to enable people float- • 11 February 1944, U-424 to sink it. During the Battle of the er planes to the Arctic Sea, once from December 1942 until May cal miles (280 km) north of the ing in the water to grasp them (Wild Goose, Woodpecker) Atlantic, some 3,500 merchant they realised that Britain and 1945. They followed different Faroe Islands, the Starling de- and scramble aboard more eas- • 19 February 1944, U-264 vessels and 175 Allied warships America were supplying the routes in summer and winter tected German U-boat U-961 ily. And if they struggled, the (Starling, Woodpecker) were lost, and 757 Axis U-boats Soviet Union under the Lend- time, as the Arctic ice spread and immediately launched sailors often climbed down to After this record-breaking were destroyed. To give a sense Lease Agreement. south in winter and contracted depth charges, which destroyed help them up. Also, the POWs trip, as the convoy of ships of the devastating human cost, There were 78 convoys in to- north in summer. There was a it before the U-boat even real- were usually given the sailors’ made their way into Gladstone some 36,200 Allied sailors and tal between August 1941 and narrow strait between the Arc- ised what had happened. Other own bunks, and looked after. Docks in Liverpool on 25 Feb- airmen, 36,000 Allied merchant May 1945, with several inter- tic ice and northern Norway, ships in the convoy destroyed Bear in mind that space and ruary 1944, they were greeted seamen and 30,000 German ruptions, mainly during the where the Germans had bases three further U-boats on the way supplies on these small ships by loudly cheering crowds, and seamen were killed. summer months. The lack of with aircraft, ships and subma- to northern Russia: on 1 April were limited; we didn’t really formally welcomed by the First Mr Wilkinson not only partic- darkness during the summer- rines – and this was where the 1944, aircraft from the aircraft have space for POWs.” Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A V ipated in the Atlantic convoys time made it more dangerous for convoys most frequently en- carriers Beagle and Tracker One particularly memorable Alexander. between America and Britain, the convoys, as they were easier countered German forces. sank German submarine U-355 patrol for the 2 EG happened in During World War II, Britain but also in one of the Arctic to spot and thus more likely to Shortly after their re- in the Arctic Sea; U-360 was early 1944, when they success- was being supplied with arma- Convoy runs between Britain come under attack. Conversely, cord-breaking 6-in-1 trip in Feb- sunk on 2 April, and U-288 on fully sunk six German U-boats ments from Canada and North and Iceland, and northern ports the winter convoys faced dif- ruary 1944, during which the 3 April. One merchantman had in the Atlantic, southwest of America to help fight Nazi Ger- of the Soviet Union – specifi- ferent hazardous conditions – 2 EG had destroyed 6 U-boats to turn back, but the remaining Ireland: many. The Germans, aware of cally Murmansk and Archan- drift ice, extreme cold, severe within twelve days, they were 48 ships all reached Kola Inlet • 31 January 1944, U-592 this, sent fleets of submarines, gelsk. At the time, the Soviet weather and heavy storms, fog, assigned to Arctic Convoy JW near Murmansk, Russia, on 4 or (Wild Goose, Starling and surface ships and planes to in- Union was relying heavily on and constant darkness, which 58 and return convoy RA 58. 5 April 1944. The Navy sailors Magpie were the main ships tercept and sink the merchant the West to supply tanks, fight- made navigation and convoy Having departed from Liver- were not allowed ashore, and involved) vessels that transported this er planes, fuel, ammunition, cohesion more challenging. pool on 27 March 1944, HM the naval escort remained out- • 8 February 1944, U-762 precious cargo. In response, the raw materials and food. World The first series of convoys, sloops Starling, Wild Goose, side, while the merchant ships 30 31 came alongside to offload their it was that warm. The lookout, was also involved in the histor- the Suez Canal many times, of supplies and munitions to the patron saint of the Russian cargoes. The harbour itself was who was standing above on the ic D-Day landings. bringing back troops and equip- the Soviet Union between 1941 Navy. In recent years, it has protected with heavy artillery. bridge, would be exposed to the About a month later, on 2 July ment from the East, including and 1945. Thousands of brave been presented to a number of This particular convoy (JW elements – and it was bitterly 1944, Captain Walker unexpect- Singapore and Burma. After de- sailors, airmen and soldiers foreign recipients too, specifi- 58) had included the USS cold in the Arctic. “Every so edly died of a cerebral haem- mobbing in 1947, he relocated risked their lives under inde- cally for personal courage and Milwaukee, a four-funnelled often, the poor lad would come orrhage, caused by stress and to South Africa, fell in love and scribably harsh and dangerous valour shown during World American cruiser, which was down the stairs, absolutely blue overwork. Lt Cdr Wemyss took married; he and his wife had conditions, constantly under at- War II while participating in the a gift from President Theodore with cold, and try to get warm over command of the 2 EG, and four children. He became an ac- tack by the German Luftwaffe, Arctic Convoys. Initially, the Roosevelt to Joseph Stalin as before going back up again,” he they continued hunting U-boats tive member of the Ex-Service- Navy and U-boats. More than British government did not per- Leader of the Soviet Union. said. “We were lucky to work until the end of World War II. In men’s Association, and worked 3,000 Allied seamen died, and mit Royal Navy veterans to ac- On receipt by the Soviets, she inside most of the time, where total, it was confirmed that the for the Old Mutual Insurance 104 merchant ships and 16 Roy- cept this medal, because it was was commissioned as the Mur- it was warm.” 2 EG had destroyed 24 U-boats Company for many years as al Navy vessels were destroyed. against the rules that govern the mansk and performed convoy On most of the Arctic Con- during World War II, between 1 the Printing Works manager. It is estimated that some 66,500 receipt of medals from foreign and patrol duty in the Arctic voys, the conditions were so se- June 1943 and 15 August 1945, The Chairman of Old Mutual at men sailed on these convoys, countries; in 2013, however, Ocean until the end of World vere and the water so icy that, which made them the most suc- the time was Brigadier George though by 2012, only 200 were after much lobbying from the War II; thereafter, she became if someone fell overboard, they cessful anti-submarine unit of Werdmuller. As he was a vet- still alive, and at a very ad- by-then very elderly veterans a training ship. A few years lat- had barely minutes to be res- the entire war. eran himself, he tried to find vanced age. of these convoys, the award- er, in March 1949, she was re- cued; otherwise, they would On 27 March 1945, King employment opportunities for In December 2012, the British ing of the Medal of Ushakov turned to the United States, and freeze to death. Eyewitness ac- George VI and Queen Eliz- ex-servicemen wherever possi- government, which had been was made an exception to these scrapped. counts of the winter-time con- abeth visited the HMS Wild ble. Mr Wilkinson worked for arguing that the Atlantic star rules. Since then, it has been On 7 April, mere days after voys describe how the water Goose at Birkenhead to con- Old Mutual for 38 years until covered the Arctic Convoys too presented to numerous foreign their arrival, convoy RA 58, that surged over the ships in gratulate the sailors personal- his retirement. and that these thus did not merit veterans who were involved in with 36 merchantmen, departed heavy seas would freeze on the ly. A photograph taken at the Over the years, Mr Joseph a separate campaign star, finally the Arctic Convoys. from the Kola Inlet and made ship. As the weight of the ice time has pride of place in Mr Wilkinson was awarded sever- delivered on their much-delayed Interestingly, the Russian its way back through the Arc- could make the ships top-heavy Wilkinson’s home; it shows al medals in acknowledgement promise to create a medal spe- government has issued addi- tic Sea, reaching Loch Ewe in and more likely to capsize, the King George VI, and the Com- of his military service during cifically for the Arctic Convoys tional medals to mark sever- Scotland a week later, on 14 crews had to keep chopping the manding Officer Lieutenant World War II: the 1939-1945 – the Arctic Star. Unfortunate- al anniversaries of ‘Victory in April 1944. Although they were ice off chains, railings, guns and Commander R.W. Tretheway star (6 months’ service on active ly, it was already too late for the the Great Patriotic War 1941- attacked on the return journey, the deck, throwing it overboard. with Lt Cdr Wemyss peering operations for Army and Navy), thousands of veterans who had 1945’, i.e., 40 years, 50 years, neither ships nor U-boats were Fortunately for Mr Wilkinson, over his shoulder, walking past the Atlantic Star (6 months’ op- passed away in the intervening 60 years, 65 years and 70 years. sunk on either side, making this his convoy travelled in April, a row of sailors – one of them erational service afloat) with 67 years; this understandably It is the last one, the 70 years’ an extremely successful trip. when the weather was slightly is Mr Wilkinson. I asked him bar for France and Germany, caused much frustration and anniversary medal, which Mr At more or less the same time, warmer. whether the King had spoken to the Arctic Star (for service north heartache to these veterans, and Wilkinson received in 2016. It a Fleet Air Arm attack was Thereafter, 2 EG returned to him, and he replied with a shy of the Arctic service, including their families and descendants. is evident, that the Russian peo- launched on the heavy German the Atlantic for several months, smile, “Yes.” “Do you remem- during the Arctic convoys), and The fact that the Russian gov- ple hold the men of the Arctic battleship, Tirpitz, which was before being sent down to the ber what he said to you?” “Yes, the War Medal (1939-1945) ernment was already awarding Convoys in very high regard; stationed in Altafjord, northern South-Western Approaches, an he asked me, ‘And what do you (for all full-time personnel medals to these veterans in ac- this was also brought home Norway, inflicting significant area off the south coast of Ire- do on the ship, my boy?’ I re- who served for at least 28 days knowledgement of their coura- during Mr Wilkinson’s visit to damage on the just-repaired land, in order to participate in member that, because he was in the Armed Forces between geous service most likely add- the Marshal Ustinov missile ship and incapacitating it. ‘Operation Neptune’, the inva- right to call me a boy; I was 1939 and 1945). In addition, ed to the pressure on the British cruiser in the V&A Waterfront, Talking about his experi- sion of Normandy, on 6 June only 18 at the time.” he received a medal from the government. when he was treated with such ences on the Arctic Convoys, 1944. The Allies were con- After the end of World War II, Russian Federation called the A Soviet medal dating back respect and gratitude by the of- Mr Joseph Wilkinson recalled cerned that the Germans might the Wild Goose was assigned to Jubilee Medal of 70 Years of to 1944, the Medal of Ushak- ficers and sailors on the ship. that the room in which he and send a large fleet of U-boats, the Persian Gulf Division of the Victory in the Great Patriotic ov, honours all Naval personnel In May 2013, just a few his fellow radio operators sat ships and planes to attack the East Indies Station; here she War 1941-1945. This was given and officers who for bravery months after the decision had was always cosy and warm, various transport ships in the served until 1954. Mr Wilkin- to him in 2016 by a represent- and courage in naval theatres of been made with regard to the because the instruments gen- English Channel, and thus pro- son was posted to an aircraft ative of the government of the military operations. It is named Arctic Star, the 70th Anniversa- erated so much heat. The radio tected them on all sides. The carrier that had been convert- Russian Federation. after Fyodor Ushakov, an 18th ry of the sets used huge valves, on which Wild Goose was part of that ed to a troop ship and travelled The Arctic Convoys trans- century naval commander who was marked in Liverpool, the they dried their wet clothes, as group too, and so Mr Wilkinson through the Mediterranean and ported some four million tons never lost a battle and is in fact home of the Western Approach- 32 33 es operations room. Twenty-one warships from six countries Quiz sailed into the port: they in- cluding the German minehunt- er Grömitz, the Belgian frigate World War II tanks Louise-Marie, the Canadian de- hese 15 weapons all saw action in World War II. You tell us what they are. You’ll find the stroyer Iroquois, the Polish frig- answers to the quiz on page 88. The photos are from 1/35 scale models made by modeling ate Gen T Kosciuszko, and the Tcompany Tamiya. Russian destroyer Vice Admi- ral Kulakov. Among many oth- er events – including dramatic 1 2 3 fly-pasts and re-enactments – a Royal commemoration service and a military veterans’ parade were held in the Anglican Ca- thedral, and a 1940’s themed party was held at St George’s Hall. Mr Wilkinson and his son Brian flew over for the celebra- 4 6 tions. When I asked him what Mr. Wilkinson’s medals the most memorable aspect of this trip was for him, he replied, “One of the highlights was a dying in horrific ways. Some- generation that there is always concert at the Liverpool Phil- how, they found the courage to a terrible cost to war, and that 5 harmonic Hall, where the band fight on, in the face of unimag- all efforts should instead be fo- of the Royal Marines played, inable and unrelenting dangers. cused on encouraging peace to and the other was the opportu- They found camaraderie and flourish. 7 8 9 nity to meet up with some of brotherhood with their ship- Regardless of what their spe- my old shipmates.” mates, drew from the strength cific role was in the Atlantic and In response to a question how and courage of their officers, Arctic Convoys, we owe these he felt about the role he had and did everything they could to men a debt of gratitude. In fact, played in this part of history, he save their fellow sailors, wheth- we owe them our lives. If they said, “Looking back, I can see a er on their own ships or from had not done what they did, our lot of things that weren’t right, other vessels. Some buried the world would be a very, very dif- and I witnessed the tragedy that memories deep and never spoke ferent place today. 10 11 12 is war. Conditions were brutal, about the things they had seen but I am proud to have served and done; some were wracked Author’s note: With much grati- my country, and proud of what by survivors’ guilt; some bore tude to Mr Joseph Wilkinson for was achieved.” physical and emotional scars sharing his life story with me so The men from the Atlantic and that affected their lives until generously; I am also indebted Arctic Convoys were all pro- the end. Some found comfort to his son Brian and daughter foundly affected and changed in sharing their memories with Michele for their gracious as- by their experiences, both phys- only their closest family; some sistance and feedback, and for 13 14 15 ically and emotionally. They sought the company of their giving me access to their ar- witnessed ships blown to piec- shipmates who understood best chive material. And I am very es and disappearing beneath the what they were going through, grateful to Dr Elina Komarova sea; they saw men – whether even without a word spoken. Tagar for arranging the visit to their own shipmates, sailors on Others shared their stories free- the Marshal Ustinov and her other vessels, submariners or ly and generously, hoping that feedback on this article. airmen – being badly injured or it would impress upon the next 34 00 Night lines Otter board A matter of survival - Fish and fishing Weight one end To fish far from the bank, Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at survival, something that of a length of line further than you can cast a has always been important for those in the military. This month we look at fish as a food source. and attach hooks line - for example where fish at intervals along are feeding in the middle of it. Bait them with a lake - make a board with a ast month we took a spin with the current. Attach worms. moveable, pivoted rudder. look at fishing as a a hook to the end of the spin- Lowered into the Set a bar at the front end of L source of food in a sur- dle. water this gives the rudder to which two con- vival situation. Live Bait you the chance of catching trol lines can be attached. This month we continue to Worms, maggots, insects surface, mid, and bottom Beneath it suspend baited look at other methods of fish- and small fish can be used as feeders. hooks. Float the board out ing and offer some tips and live bait. Anchor the free end secure- into the lake. tricks. Cover the hook completely ly on the bank. If winds are favourable you with the bait. You can place You can put this out all could mount a sail, but then Spinning the hook through the meaty night and leave it until the a stabilising keel will also Curious fish will attack a part of small fish without morning. Use it in daytime as be needed to stop it blowing shiny object drawn through killing them, or through the well, but change the worms at over. the water. Try coins, but- body of a grasshopper. intervals, even if you haven’t Gouge holes to fix dow- tons, pieces of tin can, Their distressed movement caught a fish yet, because el supports and tie to a flat buckles - anything in the water will attract the fresh wriggling worms will stone. Don’t make the keel that glitter. fish. attract more attention. bigger than the rudder. Make a propeller Undue movement of the shape to thread board will indicate a bite. on to a piece of wire and it will

Bait Ground Bait Artificial Bait Bait native to the fishes’ Bait scattered in the area This can be made from own water is most likely to be you want to fish will attract brightly coloured cloth, taken - berries that overhand fish to it. feathers and shiny metal. Try the water, insects that breed A termites’ nest or ants’ to make them look like real in and near it. nest suspended over a river is bait. Scavenger fish will take one excellent method. As the A few feathers tied to a pieces of meat, raw fish, ants insects fall into the river the hook with thread can sim- and other insects. fish will take them. ulate a fly, or carve a small Once you have a catch ex- Bait your hook with them fish out of wood and decorate amine the stomach contents as well and success is sure. it with colour or glitter. If you of the fish and eliminate the Any suitable bait, scattered make it jointed it will move guesswork as to diet. If one on the water, can be used to more naturally. bait is unsuccessful, change draw fish but it is always best Try to make the lures move to another type. to put the same bait on your in the water like live bait. hook.

36 37 Rank Structure - Russia

Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at the rank structure of various armed forces. This month we look at the army of the Russian Federation.

he Russian Federation 2011 defence reform the Rus- inherited the ranks of the sian Army’s 90,000 warrant TSoviet Union, although officer positions have been re- the insignia and uniform were moved but on 27 February 2013 Praporshchik Starshy praporshchik altered slightly. the expanded board of the Min- Warrant Officer Chief Warrant Officer The istry of Defence of the Russian have two styles of ranks: ar- Federation, Russian Defence my-style ranks and navy-style Minister S. Shoigu announced Officers ranks. The army and air force the return of the warrant officer use only army-style ranks. to the Armed Forces of Russia. As a result of the 2008 to Army NCO’s & Warrant Officer

Kursant Mládshiy Leytenánt Leytenánt Officer Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Second Lieutenant

Ryadovóy Yefréytor Mládshiy Serzhánt Private Second Class Private First Class Corporal Stárshiy Leytenánt Kapitán Mayór First Lieutenant Captain Major

Serzhánt Stárshiy serzhánt Podpolkóvnik Polkóvnik Generál-mayór Sergeant Staff Sergeant Sergeant First Class Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Major General 38 39 Generál-leytenánt Generál-polkóvnik Lieutenant General General

Generál ármii Márshal Rossíyskoy Federátsii General of the Army Marshal of the Bush War Books has probably one of the finest Russian Federation collections of military titles available. Especially on the .

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“War does not determine who is right - only who is left”

40 00 head to head head to head

Military Strength 9. Turkey In the seventh of a series of articles, we examine self-propelled artillery (SPA) used by Total military personnel – 891,300 the ten strongest current military forces. ast month we looked at Since the invention of the was static. Once the enemy T-155 Firtina the Fighting Ve- cannon, artillery has played an knew where your artillery was T-155 Fırtına (Storm) is a hicles (IFV) of the ten important part in military tac- it could be subjected to coun- Turkish 155 mm self-propelled L howitzer based on the K9 strongest military forces. tics. Be it in a defensive role or ter-battery fire. This month we look at artil- an attacking one. This is where self-propelled Thunder that was developed by lery, and in particular self-pro- One of the problems with artillery is useful. It can fire and South Korea’s Samsung Tech- pelled artillery. artillery, however, was that it then move position rapidly. win.

• Designer: Samsung Tech- 10. Germany win • Designed: 1988–2001 Total military personnel – 210,305 • Weight: 56 tonnes • Length: 12 metres • Width: 3.5 metres PzH 2000 • Height: 3.43 metres • Main armament: 155 mm • Engine: MTU-881 KA 500 The Panzerhaubitze 2000 is a • Crew: Five (commander, L52 Artillery Gun power pack 1,000+ hp German 155 mm self-propelled driver, gunner and two load- • Secondary armament: 12.7 • Operational range: 480 km howitzer and is one of the most ers) mm machine gun • Speed: 66 km/h powerful conventional artillery systems deployed in the 2010s. It is capable of a very high rate of fire; in burst mode it can fire 8. three rounds in nine seconds, Total military personnel – 157,500 ten rounds in 56 seconds, and can - depending on barrel heat- ing - fire between 10 and 13 AS-90 rounds per minute continuous- The AS-90, known official- ly. ly as Gun Equipment 155 mm It replaced the M109 howit- • Crew: Five (commander, metall 155 mm L52 Artil- L131, is an armoured self-pro- zer. driver, gunner and two load- lery Gun pelled artillery weapon used by ers) • Secondary armament: 7.62 the British Army. • Designer: Krauss-Maf- • Rate of fire: 3 rounds in nine mm Rheinmetall MG3 ma- fei Wegmann (KMW) and seconds (burst); 10 rpm chine gun • Designer: Vickers Ship- Rheinmetall • Effective firing range: 40-47 • Engine: MTU 881 Ka-500 building and Engineering • Designed: 1987–1996 km 986 hp • Weight: 45 tonnes • Weight: 55.8 tonnes • Armour: Welded steel, 14.5 • Operational range: 420 km • Length: 9.07 metres • Length: 11.7 metres mm resistant; additional • Speed: Road - 65 km/h; Off- • Width: 3.5 metres • Width: 3.6 metres bomblet protection road - 45 km/h • Height: 2.49 metres • Height: 3.1 metres • Main armament: Rhein- • Armour: max. 17 mm steel mm NATO L7 GPMG • Speed: 53 km/h • Main armament: 155 mm • Engine: Cummins VTA903T L31 39 calibre gun V8 diesel 660 hp • Secondary armament: 17.62 • Operational range: 420 km 42 43 head to head head to head

• Secondary armament: 1 x sel 300 hp .50 calibre M2 machine gun • Operational range: 300 km 7. Republic of Korea • Engine: Mitsubishi 4ZF die- • Speed: 53 km/h Total military personnel – 3,699,000

T-155 Firtina 5. France South Korea uses the T-155 Total military personnel – 426,265 Fırtına, a SPG which South Korea developed for the Turk- ish Land Forces. They also use AMX-30 AuF1 the American M110 and M107. The AMX-30 AuF1 replaced the former Mk F3 155mm • Designer: Samsung Tech- in French Army service. The win AuF1 saw combat with the Ira- • Designed: 1988–2001 qi Army in the Iran–Iraq War. • Weight: 56 tonnes • Length: 12 metres • Designer: GIAT Industries • Width: 3.5 metres • Designed: 1972 • Height: 3.43 metres • Weight: 43.5 tonnes • Crew: Five (commander, L52 Artillery Gun power pack 1,000+ hp • Length: 10.25 metres driver, gunner and two load- • Secondary armament: 12.7 • Operational range: 480 km • Width: 3.15 metres ers) mm machine gun • Speed: 66 km/h • Height: 3.25 metres • Main armament: 155 mm • Engine: MTU-881 KA 500 • Crew: Four (commander, driver, gunner and loader) • Secondary armament: 1 110 680 hp • Armour: 20 mm (turret) × Browning M2 12.7mm • Operational range: 420 km 6. Japan • Main armament: 1 × 155 heavy machine gun • Speed: Road - 60 km/h Total military personnel – 310,457 mm CN 155 AUF1 howitzer • Engine: Hispano-Suiza HS-

PzH 2000 The Japanese Ground 4. India Self-Defence Force does not Total military personnel – 2,598,921 currently had any Self-Pro- pelled Artillery. They use the Type 75 130 mm Multiple K9 Thunder Rocket Launcher which re- The K9 Thunder is the Indi- placed the Type 74 105 mm an version of the South Kore- Self-propelled howitzer. The an T-155 Fırtına. The Indian Type 75 MRL is now being re- Army also uses the Russian placed with the American 227 2S1 Gvozdika SPG. mm M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. • Designer: Samsung Tech- • Length: 5.8 metres • Effective firing range: 15 km win • Designer: Komatsu • Width: 2.8 metres • Armour: aluminium • Designed: 1988–2001 • Designed: 1973–1975 • Height: 2.67 metres • Main armament: 130 mm • Weight: 56 tonnes • Weight: 16.5 tonnes • Crew: Three rockets • Length: 12 metres 44 45 head to head head to head

• Width: 3.5 metres • Main armament: 155 mm power pack 1,000+ hp • Height: 3.43 metres L52 Artillery Gun • Operational range: 480 km • Crew: Five (commander, • Secondary armament: 12.7 • Speed: 66 km/h 2. Russia driver, gunner and two load- mm machine gun Total military personnel – 3,586,128 ers) • Engine: MTU-881 KA 500 2S19 “Msta-S” The 2S19 “Msta-S” is a 152.4 3. China mm self-propelled howitzer de- signed by Soviet Union, which Total military personnel – 2,545,000 entered service in 1989 as the successor to the 2S3 Akatsiya. It will be replaced by the 2S35 The People’s Liberation Army Ground Force makes use of ten different types of SPG. These Koalitsiya-SV. are: • PLL-09 – 120 mm gun-mortar variant of Type 08 modular infantry fighting vehicle. • Designer: Uraltransmash • PLZ-09 – 122 mm self-propelled howitzer variant of Type 08 modular infantry fighting vehicle. • Designed: 1980 • PLZ-07 – 122 mm self-propelled howitzer. • Weight: 42 tonnes • PLZ-05 – 155 mm self-propelled howitzer. • Length: 7.15 metres • PLZ-89 – amphibious capable 122 mm self-propelled howitzer, replacing Type 70. • Width: 3.38 metres • Main armament: 152.4 mm • Engine: Diesel V-84A 840 hp • PLL05 – 120 mm gun-mortar. • Height: 2.99 metres howitzer 2A65 • Operational range: 500 km • Type 96 – Modified howitzer. • Crew: Five • Secondary armament: 12.7 • Speed: Road - 60 km/h • Type 83 – 152 mm self-propelled howitzer. • Rate of fire: 6-8 rpm mm NSVT anti-aircraft ma- • W90 SPG – 203 mm self-propelled howitzer. • Effective firing range: 45 km chine gun • Type 70 – 122 mm self-propelled howitzer.

PLZ-05 1. United States The PLZ-05 or the Type 05 is Total military personnel – 4,397,128 a 155 mm self-propelled how- itzer developed by the People’s Liberation Army of China to M109 replace the Type 59-1 130mm. The M109 is an American The PLZ-05 was officially un- 155 mm turreted self-propelled veiled at the Military Museum howitzer, first introduced in the of the Chinese People’s Revo- early 1960s to replace the M44. lution to mark the 80th anniver- It has been upgraded a number sary of the PLA in July 2007, of times, most recently to the and first entered service with M109A7. the PLA in 2008. • Designer: United Defense LP • Designer: Norinco • Designed: 1960s • Designed: 1990s • Rate of fire: 10 rpm nade launchers • Weight: 27.5 tonnes • Weight: 35 tonnes • Main armament: 155 mm • Engine: 8V150-cooled tur- • Length: 9.1 metres • Length: 11.6 metres howitzer bocharged diesel 800 hp • Width: 3.15 metres • Main armament: M126 155 • Engine: Detroit Diesel • Width: 3.38 metres • Secondary armament: 12.7 • Operational range: 550 km • Height: 3.25 metres mm Howitzer 8V71T 450 hp • Height: 3.55 metres mm anti-aircraft machine • Speed: Road - 56 km/h • Crew: Seven • Secondary armament: 12.7 • Operational range: 350 km • Crew: Four gun; 2 sets of 4-barrel gre- • Rate of fire: 4 rpm mm M2 machine gun • Speed: Road - 56 km/h 46 47 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history one of various forms of social- try to keep Baku’s warring eth- He was eventually sentenced ism opposed to the empire’s nic factions apart; he also used to two years exile in the village Joseph Stalin governing Tsarist authorities. the unrest as a cover for steal- of Solvychegodsk, Vologda Revolutionary, politician and dictator, Joseph Stalin was all this and more. He was the Gener- At night, he attended secret ing printing equipment. Province, arriving there in Feb- al Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Premier of the Soviet Union, and led workers’ meetings, and was in- Amid the growing violence ruary 1909. the country through the Great War. His policies would go on to become known as . troduced to Silibistro “Silva” throughout Georgia he formed In June, he escaped the vil- But who was Joseph Stalin? Jibladze, the Marxist founder of further Battle Squads which lage and made it to Kotlas dis- Mesame Dasi (‘Third Group’), disarmed local police and guised as a woman and from o write an article on Jo- diminutive of “Ioseb”. His cause of a lifelong disability to a Georgian socialist group. Sta- troops, raided government arse- there to . In seph Stalin would prob- father was an alcoholic who his left arm. lin left the seminary in April nals, and raised funds through March 1910, he was arrested Tably take a book rather would often beat his wife and In August 1894, Stalin en- 1899 and never returned. protection rackets on large lo- again, and sent back to Solvy- than a few pages. So in this arti- son. rolled in the Spiritual Seminary In October 1899, Stalin began cal businesses and mines. They chegodsk. cle we will focus mainly on his In September 1888, Stalin en- in Tiflis, enabled by a scholar- work as a meteorologist at a Ti- launched attacks on the gov- He escaped to Saint Peters- leadership during World War II. rolled at the Gori Church School ship that allowed him to study flis observatory. He attracted ernment’s Cossack troops and burg, where he was arrested in Despite initially govern- and, although he got into many at a reduced rate. Here he joined a group of supporters through pro-Tsarist Black Hundreds. September 1911, and sentenced ing the Soviet Union as part fights, Stalin excelled academi- 600 trainee priests who board- his classes in socialist theory, In November 1905, the Geor- to a further three-year exile in of a collective leadership, by cally, displaying talent in paint- ed at the institution. Stalin was and co-organised a secret work- gian elected Stalin Vologda. the 1930s he had consolidated ing and drama classes, writing again academically successful ers’ mass meeting for May Day as one of their delegates to a In January 1912, while Stalin power to become the country’s his own poetry, and singing as and gained high grades. 1900, at which he successfully Bolshevik conference in Saint was in exile, the first Bolshevik de facto dictator. a choirboy. As he grew older, Stalin lost encouraged many of the men to Petersburg. At the conference Central Committee had been Stalin faced several severe interest in priestly studies, his take strike action. Stalin met Lenin for the first elected at the Prague Confer- Early Life health problems; an 1884 small- grades dropped, and he was re- By this point, the empire’s time. While Stalin had great ence. Shortly after the confer- Ioseb Besarionis dzе Dju- pox infection left him with fa- peatedly confined to a cell for secret police - the Okhrana - respect for Lenin, he didn’t al- ence, Lenin and Grigory Zino- gashvili (he would later changed cial pock scars, and aged 12, he his rebellious behaviour. were aware of Stalin’s activi- ways agree with him. viev decided to co-opt Stalin to his name to Joseph Stalin) was was seriously injured after be- The seminary’s journal not- ties within Tiflis’ revolutionary In Baku, Stalin secured Bol- the committee. Still in Vologda, born on 18 December 1878 in ing hit by a phaeton (a type of ed that he declared himself an milieu. They attempted to arrest shevik domination of the lo- Stalin agreed, remaining a Cen- the Georgian town of Gori, then carriage), which was the likely atheist, stalked out of prayers him in March 1901, but he es- cal RSDLP branch, and edited tral Committee member for the part of the Tiflis Governorate and refused to doff his hat caped and went into hiding, liv- two Bolshevik newspapers, rest of his life. of the to monks. ing off the donations of friends Bakinsky Proletary and Gudok In February 1912, Stalin and home to a mix of Stalin was im- and sympathisers. (“Whistle”). again escaped to Saint Peters- Georgian, Armenian, pressed by Capi- In January 1905, government In Baku he had reassembled burg, tasked with converting Russian, and Jewish tal, the 1867 book troops massacred protesters in his gang, the Outfit, which con- the Bolshevik weekly news- communities. by German soci- Saint Petersburg. Unrest soon tinued to attack Black Hundreds paper, Zvezda (“Star”) into a He was their only ological theorist spread across the Russian Em- and raised finances by running daily, Pravda (“Truth”). The child to survive Karl Marx. Stalin pire in what came to be known protection rackets, counterfeit- new newspaper was launched past infancy, and devoted himself to as the Revolution of 1905. ing currency, and carrying out in April 1912, although Stalin’s was nicknamed Marx’s socio-po- Stalin was in Baku in Febru- robberies. They also kidnapped role as editor was kept secret. It “Soso”, a litical theory, ary when ethnic violence broke the children of several wealthy was in 1912 that he began writ- Marxism, which out between Armenians and Az- figures to extract ransom mon- ing under the pseudonym of “K. was then on the eris; at least 2,000 were killed. ey. Stalin” (Man of steel). rise in Georgia, He publicly lambasted the In March 1908, Stalin was While Stalin was in exile, “pogroms against Jews and Ar- arrested and interned in Bailov Russia entered the First World menians” as being part of Tsar Prison in Baku. There, he led War, and in October 1916 Sta- Nicholas II’s attempts to “but- the imprisoned Bolsheviks, or- lin and other exiled Bolsheviks tress his despicable throne”. ganised discussion groups, and were conscripted into the Rus- Stalin formed a Bolshevik ordered the killing of suspected sian Army, leaving for Monas- Battle Squad which he used to informants. tyrskoe.

48 49 They arrived in Krasnoyarsk by Molotov and German for- repressions. One of the most tive; the Soviet air force in the in February 1917, where a med- eign minister Joachim von Rib- noted instances was the Katyn western borderlands was de- ical examiner ruled Stalin unfit bentrop. massacre of April and May stroyed within two days. for military service due to his A week later, Germany in- 1940, in which around 22,000 The German Wehrmacht crippled arm. vaded Poland, sparking the UK members of the Polish armed pushed deep into Soviet terri- and France to declare war on forces, police, and intelligentsia tory; soon, Ukraine, Belorus- Rise to power it. On 17 September, the Red were executed. sia, and the Baltic states were When Lenin died in January Army entered eastern Poland, The speed of the German under German occupation, and 1924, Stalin began his rise to officially to restore order amid victory over and occupation of Leningrad was under siege; and power. the collapse of the Polish state. France in mid-1940 took Stalin Soviet refugees were flooding As General Secretary, Stalin On 28 September, Germany by surprise. He increasingly into Moscow and surrounding had had a free hand in mak- and the Soviet Union exchanged focused on appeasement with cities. ing appointments to his own some of their newly conquered the Germans to delay any con- By July, Germany’s Luft- staff, implanting his loyalists territories; Germany gained the flict with them. waffe was bombing Moscow, throughout the party and ad- linguistically Polish-dominated After the Tripartite Pact was and by October the Wehrmacht ministration. areas of Lublin Province and signed by Axis Powers Germa- was amassing for a full assault In the wake of Lenin’s death, part of Warsaw Province while ny, Japan and Italy, in October on the capital. Plans were made various protagonists emerged the Soviets gained Lithuania. 1940, Stalin proposed that the for the Soviet government to in the struggle to become his A German–Soviet Frontier USSR also join the Axis alli- evacuate to Kuibyshev, al- successor: alongside Stalin was Treaty was signed shortly after, ance. though Stalin decided to remain Trotsky, Zinoviev, Kamenev, in Stalin’s presence. The two To demonstrate peaceful in- in Moscow, believing his flight Bukharin, Alexei Rykov, and states continued trading, under- tentions toward Germany, in would damage troop morale. Mikhail Tomsky. Stalin saw mining the British blockade of April 1941 the Soviets signed a The German advance on Trotsky - whom he personally Germany. neutrality pact with Japan. Moscow was halted after two despised - as the main obsta- The Soviets further demanded Although de facto head of months of battle in increasingly cle to his dominance within the parts of eastern Finland, but the government for a decade and a harsh weather conditions. party. Finnish government refused. half, Stalin concluded that rela- Against the advice of Zhu- Joseph Stalin (right) in con- By late 1937, all remnants of LEADER AND FUTURE LEADER: The Soviets invaded Finland tions with Germany had deteri- kov and other generals, Sta- versation with an ailing Lenin. collective leadership were gone in November 1939, yet despite orated to such an extent that he lin emphasised attack over from the , which was cated charges. dominance in Europe. numerical inferiority, the Finns needed to deal with the problem defence. In June 1941, he or- controlled entirely by Stalin. These purges replaced most Militarily, the Soviets also kept the Red Army at bay. as de jure head of government dered a scorched earth policy There were mass expulsions of the party’s old guard with faced a threat from the east, International opinion backed as well: on 6 May, Stalin re- of destroying infrastructure and from the party, with Stalin com- younger officials who did not with Soviet troops clashing Finland, with the Soviets being placed Molotov as Premier of food supplies before the Ger- manding foreign communist remember a time before Sta- with the expansionist Japanese expelled from the League of the Soviet Union. mans could seize them, also parties to also purge anti-Stalin- lin’s leadership and who were in the latter part of the 1930s. Nations. Embarrassed by their In June 1941, Germany in- commanding the NKVD to kill ist elements. Stalin was now the regarded as more personally Stalin initiated a military inability to defeat the Finns, the vaded the Soviet Union, ini- around 100,000 political pris- party’s supreme leader. loyal to him. build-up, with the Red Army Soviets signed an interim peace tiating the war on the Eastern oners in areas the Wehrmacht During the 1930s and 1940s, more than doubling between treaty, in which they received Front. approached. NKVD groups assassinated de- World War II January 1939 and June 1941, territorial concessions from Although intelligence agen- He purged the military com- fectors and opponents abroad. As a Marxist–Leninist, Stalin although in its haste to expand Finland. cies had repeatedly warned him mand; several high-ranking In August 1940, Trotsky was expected an inevitable conflict many of its officers were poorly In June 1940, the Red Army of Germany’s intentions, Sta- figures were demoted or reas- assassinated in Mexico, elimi- between competing capitalist trained. occupied the Baltic states, lin was taken by surprise. He signed and others were arrested nating the last of Stalin’s oppo- powers; after an- Between 1940 and 1941 he which were forcibly merged formed a State Defence Com- and executed. nents among the former Party nexed Austria and then part of also purged the military, leav- into the Soviet Union in Au- mittee, which he headed as Su- With Order No. 270, Stalin leadership. Czechoslovakia in 1938, Stalin ing it with a severe shortage of gust; they also invaded and an- preme Commander, as well as commanded soldiers risking In May, this was followed recognised a war was looming. trained officers when war broke nexed Bessarabia and northern a military Supreme Command capture to fight to the death de- by the arrest of most members He sought to maintain Soviet out. Bukovina, parts of Romania. (Stavka), with Georgy Zhukov scribing the captured as traitors. of the military Supreme Com- neutrality, hoping that a Ger- In August 1939, the Soviet The Soviets sought to fore- as its Chief of Staff. Stalin issued Order No. 227 mand and mass arrests through- man war against France and Union signed a non-aggression stall dissent in these new East The German tactic of blitz- in July 1942, which directed out the military, often on fabri- Britain would lead to Soviet pact with Germany, negotiated European territories with mass krieg was initially highly effec- that those retreating unauthor- 50 51 ised would be placed in “penal In April 1945, the Red Army rope up to the River Elbe. using a spoon, given various battalions” used as cannon fod- seized Berlin, Hitler committed In June 1945, Stalin adopted medicines and injections, and der on the front lines. suicide, and Germany surren- the title of Generalissimus, and leeches were applied to him. Amid the fighting, both the dered in May. stood atop Lenin’s Mausoleum Stalin died on 5 March 1953. German and Soviet armies dis- Stalin had wanted Hitler cap- to watch a celebratory parade An autopsy revealed that he had regarded the law of war set forth tured alive; he had his remains led by Zhukov through Red died of a cerebral haemorrhage in the Geneva Conventions. brought to Moscow to prevent Square. and that he also suffered from In April 1942, Stalin overrode them becoming a relic for Nazi severe damage to his cerebral Stavka by ordering the Soviets’ sympathisers. Post War arteries due to atherosclerosis. first serious counter-attack, an Many Soviet soldiers engaged In the aftermath of the Second It is possible that Stalin was attempt to seize German-held in looting, pillaging, and rape, World War, the British Empire murdered. Kharkov in eastern Ukraine. both in Germany and parts of declined, leaving the U.S. and has been suspected of murder, This attack proved unsuccessful. Eastern Europe. Stalin refused USSR as the dominant world although no firm evidence has That year, Hitler shifted his to punish the offenders. powers. Tensions among these ever appeared. primary goal from an overall After receiving a complaint former Allies grew, resulting in Stalin’s body was embalmed, victory on the Eastern Front, to about this from Yugoslav com- the Cold War. and then placed on display in the goal of securing the oil fields munist Milovan Djilas, Stalin In August 1949, the bomb Moscow’s House of Unions southern Soviet Union crucial to THE BIG THREE: Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt and asked how after experiencing was successfully tested in the for three days. The funeral in- a long-term German war effort. Winston Churchill at the Tehran Conference. the traumas of war a soldier deserts outside Semipalatinsk volved the body being laid to While Red Army generals saw could “react normally? And in Kazakhstan. Stalin also ini- rest in Lenin’s Mausoleum in evidence that Hitler would shift the war on the Eastern Front. the German Army Group Cen- what is so awful in his having tiated a new military build-up; Red Square on 9 March. efforts south, Stalin considered Germany attempted an encir- tre. fun with a woman, after such the was expanded this to be a flanking move in a clement attack at Kursk, which In 1944 the German armies horrors?” from 2.9 million soldiers, as it Legacy renewed effort to take Moscow. was successfully repulsed by the were pushed out of the Baltic With Germany defeated, Sta- stood in 1949, to 5.8 million by Shortly after his death, the In June 1942, the German Soviets. states, which were then re-an- lin switched focus to the war 1953. Soviet Union went through Army began a major offensive By the end of 1943, the Sovi- nexed into the Soviet Union. with Japan, transferring half a Within Western countries, a period of de-Stalinization. in Southern Russia, threatening ets occupied half of the territo- As the Red Army reconquered million troops to the Far East. Stalin was increasingly por- Malenkov denounced the Sta- Stalingrad; Stalin ordered the ry taken by the Germans from the Caucasus and Crimea, var- Stalin was pressed by his al- trayed as the “most evil dictator lin personality cult, which was Red Army to hold the city at all 1941 to 1942. ious ethnic groups living in the lies to enter the war and wanted alive” and compared to Hitler. subsequently criticised in Prav- costs. Stalin received good press in region were accused of having to cement the Soviet Union’s In his later years, Stalin was da. This resulted in the protract- the Allied countries and Time collaborated with the Germans. strategic position in Asia. in poor health. He took increas- In 1956, Khrushchev gave his ed .[509] In magazine named him “Man of Using the idea of collective On 8 August, in between the ingly long holidays; in 1950 and “Secret Speech”, titled “On the December 1942, he placed Kon- the Year” in 1942. responsibility as a basis, Stalin’s US atomic bombings of Hiro- again in 1951 he spent almost Cult of Personality and Its Con- stantin Rokossovski in charge of When Stalin learned that peo- government abolished their au- shima and Nagasaki, the Soviet five months on vacation at his sequences”, to a closed session holding the city. ple in Western countries affec- tonomous republics and between army invaded Japanese-occu- Abkhazian dacha. Stalin never- of the Party’s 20th Congress. In February 1943, the Ger- tionately called him “Uncle Joe” late 1943 and 1944 deported the pied Manchuria and defeated theless mistrusted his doctors; There, Khrushchev denounced man troops attacking Stalingrad he was initially offended, re- majority of their populations to the Kwantung Army. in January 1952 he had one im- Stalin for both his mass repres- surrendered. The Soviet victory garding it as undignified. Central Asia and . Over These events led to the Jap- prisoned after they suggested sion and his personality cult. there marked a major turning There remained mutual sus- one million people were deport- anese surrender and the war’s that he should retire to improve He repeated these denunci- point in the war. In commemo- picions between Stalin, British ed as a result of the policy. end. Soviet forces continued to his health. ations at the 22nd Party Con- ration, Stalin declared himself Prime Minister Winston Church- In February 1945, the three expand until they occupied all gress in October 1962. Marshal of the Soviet Union. ill, and U.S. President Franklin leaders met at the Yalta Confer- their territorial concessions, but Death In October 1961, Stalin’s By November 1942, the Sovi- D. Roosevelt, who were togeth- ence. Roosevelt and Churchill the U.S. rebuffed Stalin’s desire On 1 March 1953, Stalin’s body was removed from the ets had begun to repulse the im- er known as the “Big Three”. conceded to Stalin’s demand that for the Red Army to take a role staff found him semi-conscious mausoleum and buried in the portant German strategic south- In 1944, the Soviet Union Germany pay the Soviet Union in the Allied . on the bedroom floor of his Kremlin Wall Necropolis next ern campaign and, although made significant advances 20 billion dollars in reparations, After the war, Stalin was re- Volynskoe dacha. to the Kremlin walls, the loca- there were 2.5 million Soviet across Eastern Europe toward and that his country be permitted garded within the Soviet Union He had suffered a cerebral tion marked only by a simple casualties in that effort, it per- Germany, including Operation to annex Sakhalin and the Kurile as the embodiment of victory haemorrhage. He was moved bust. Stalingrad was renamed mitted the Soviets to take the Bagration, a massive offensive Islands in exchange for entering and patriotism. His armies con- onto a couch and remained there Volgograd. offensive for most of the rest of in the Byelorussian SSR against the war against Japan. trolled Central and Eastern Eu- for three days. He was hand-fed 52 53 Forged in with a good aerodynamic de- anti-aircraft guns more likely. promise, de Havilland made no sign and smooth, minimal skin Instead, high speed and good changes.. battle area, would exceed the P.13/36 manoeuvrability would make With design of the DH.98 specification. evading fighters and ground fire started, mock-ups were built, Furthermore, adapting the easier. the most detailed at Salisbury de Havilland Mosquito Albatross principles could save On 7 October 1939, a month Hall, where E0234 was later time. In April 1938, perfor- into the war, the nucleus of a constructed. Nicknamed the “Wooden Wonder”, in 1941 it was one of the fastest operational aircraft in the mance estimates were produced design team under Eric Bishop Initially, the concept was for world. Originally conceived as an unarmed fast bomber, the Mosquito would evolve during the for a twin Rolls-Royce Mer- moved to the security and se- the crew to be enclosed in the war into many roles and would be forged in battle. lin-powered DH.91, with the crecy of Salisbury Hall to work fuselage behind a transpar- Bristol Hercules (radial engine) on what was later known as the ent nose (similar to the Bristol he de Havilland DH.98 to medium-altitude daytime The Mosquito flew with the and Napier Sabre (H-engine) as DH.98. Blenheim or Heinkel He 111H), Mosquito is a British tactical bomber, high-altitude (RAF) and alternatives. The DH.98 was too radical but this was quickly altered to a twin-engined, shoul- night bomber, pathfinder, day other air forces in the Europe- De Havilland settled on de- for the ministry, which want- more solid nose with a conven- T signing a new aircraft that ed a heavily armed, multirole tional canopy. der-winged multi-role combat or night fighter, fighter-bomber, an, Mediterranean and Italian aircraft, introduced during the intruder, maritime strike, and theatres. The Mosquito was would be aerodynamically aircraft, combining medium The construction of the proto- Second World War. photo-reconnaissance aircraft. also operated by the RAF in the clean, wooden, and powered by bomber, reconnaissance, and type began in March 1940, but Unusual in that its frame The crew of two, pilot and Southeast Asian theatre and by the Merlin, which offered sub- general-purpose roles, as well work was cancelled again after is constructed mostly navigator, sat side by side. the Royal Australian Air Force stantial future development. as capable of carrying torpe- the Battle of Dunkirk, when of wood, it was nick- A single passenger could based in the Halmaheras and The new design would be does. With outbreak of war, the Lord Beaverbrook, as Minis- named the “Wooden ride in the aircraft’s Borneo during the . ministry became more recep- ter of Aircraft Production, de- Wonder”, or “Mos- bomb bay when nec- During the 1950s, the RAF re- tive, but still sceptical about an cided no production capacity sie”. essary. placed the Mosquito with the unarmed bomber. remained for aircraft like the Lord Beaver- The Mosqui- jet-powered English Electric DH.98, which was not expected brook, Minister to FBVI was of- Canberra. to be in service until early 1942. ten flown in special Beaverbrook told Air raids, such as Op- Background Vice-Marshal Freeman that eration Jericho – an By the early to mid-1930s, de work on the project should attack on Amiens Havilland had a reputation for stop, but he did not issue a spe- cific instruction, and Freeman ignored the request.

of Aircraft Production, nick- named it “Freeman’s Folly”, al- Prison in early 1944, and pre- luding to Air Chief Marshal Sir cision attacks against military Wilfrid Freeman, who defended intelligence, security, and po- Geoffrey de Havilland and his lice facilities (such as Gestapo innovative high-speed aircraft design concept against orders to headquarters). with the DH.88 Comet racer. scrap the project. On 30 January 1943, the 10th The later DH.91 Albatross air- In 1941, it was one of the fast- anniversary of the Nazis’ sei- liner pioneered the composite est operational aircraft in the zure of power, a morning Mos- wood construction used for the world. quito attack knocked out the Mosquito. faster than foreseeable enemy Originally conceived as an un- main Berlin broadcasting sta- Based on his experience with fighter aircraft, and could dis- To appease the ministry, de armed fast bomber, the Mosqui- tion while Hermann Göring was the Albatross, Geoffrey de Hav- pense with a defensive arma- Havilland built mock-ups with In June 1940, however, Lord to’s use evolved during the war speaking, putting his speech off illand believed that a bomber ment, which would slow it and a gun turret just aft of the cock- Beaverbrook and the Air Staff into many roles, including low- the air. make interception or losses to pit, but apart from this com- ordered that production should 54 55 focus on five existing types, From mid-1942 to mid-1943, “In 1940 I could at least fly as retired from No. 3 Civilian An- namely the Supermarine Spit- Mosquito bombers flew high- far as Glasgow in most of my ti-Aircraft Co-Operation Unit fire, fight- speed, medium or low-altitude aircraft, but not now! It makes (CAACU) in May 1963. er, Vickers Wellington, Arm- daylight missions against fac- me furious when I see the Mos- No fewer than 21 countries, strong-Whitworth Whitley, and tories, railways and other pin- quito. I turn green and yellow including South Africa, operat- Bristol Blenheim bombers. point targets in Germany and with envy. The British, who ed Mosquitos at some stage. Work on the DH.98 prototype German-occupied Europe. can afford aluminium better There are approximately 30 stopped. Apparently, the pro- From June 1943, Mosquito than we can, knock together a non-flying Mosquitos around ject shut down when the design bombers were formed into the beautiful wooden aircraft that the world with four airworthy team were denied materials for Light Night Striking Force to every piano factory over there examples, three in the United the prototype. guide RAF Bomber Command is building, and they give it a States and one in Canada. In the aftermath of the Bat- heavy bomber raids and as speed which they have now in- The largest collection of tle of Britain, the original order “nuisance” bombers, dropping creased yet again. What do you Mosquitos is at the de Havil- was changed to 20 bomber var- Blockbuster bombs - 1,800 kg make of that? There is nothing land Aircraft Heritage Centre iants and 30 fighters. Wheth- “cookies” – in high-altitude, the British do not have. They in the United Kingdom, which er the fighter version should high-speed raids that German have the geniuses and we have owns three aircraft, including have dual or single controls, or night fighters were almost pow- the nincompoops. After the war the first prototype, W4050, the should carry a turret, was still WOODEN WONDER: Pilots and crew pose in front of a Mos- erless to intercept. is over I’m going to buy a Brit- only initial prototype of a Sec- uncertain, so three prototypes quito. Note the four .303 machine guns in the nose. As a night fighter from mid- ish radio set – then at least I’ll ond World War British aircraft were built: W4052, W4053, 1942, the Mosquito intercepted own something that has always design still in existence in the and W4073. On 24 November, taxiing tri- folk, of the first operational Luftwaffe raids on Britain, no- worked.” 21st century. The second and third, both als were carried out by Geof- Mosquito Mk. B.IV bomber, tably those of Operation Stein- From 1943, Mosquitos with turret armed, were later dis- frey de Havilland Jr., the de serial no. W4064. bock in 1944. Starting in July RAF Coastal Command at- Specifications (B Mk.XVI) armed, to become the proto- Havilland test pilot. On 25 No- Throughout 1942, 105 1942, Mosquito night-fighter tacked Kriegsmarine U-boats General characteristics types for the T.III trainer. This vember, the prototype made its Squadron, based next at RAF units raided Luftwaffe airfields. and intercepted transport ship • Crew: 2 (pilot, bombardier/ caused some delays, since half- first flight, piloted by de Havil- Horsham St. Faith, then from As part of 100 Group, it was concentrations. navigator) built wing components had land Jr., accompanied by John 29 September, RAF Marham, flown as a night fighter and as The Mosquito also proved • Length: 13.56 metres to be strengthened for the re- E. Walker, the chief engine in- undertook daylight low-level an intruder supporting Bomber a very capable night fighter. • Wingspan: 16.51 metres quired higher combat loading. stallation designer. and shallow dive attacks. Command heavy bombers that Some of the most successful • Height: 6.31 metres The nose sections also had to Apart from the Oslo and Ber- reduced losses during 1944 and RAF pilots flew these variants. • Gross weight: 8,210 kg be changed from a design with Operational history lin raids, the strikes were mainly 1945. For example, Wing Command- • Engines: 2 x Rolls-Royce a clear perspex bomb-aimer’s The de Havilland Mosquito on industrial and infrastructure In another example of the er Branse Burbridge claimed Merlin 76 V-12 liquid-cooled position, to one with a solid operated in many roles, per- targets in occupied Netherlands daylight precision raids car- 21 kills, and Wing Commander piston engine, 1,710 hp nose housing four .303 machine forming medium bomber, re- and Norway, France and north- ried out by the Mosquitos of John Cunningham claimed 19 • Propellers: 3-bladed con- guns and their ammunition. connaissance, tactical strike, ern and western Germany. Nos. 105 and 139 Squadrons, of his 20 victories at night on stant-speed propellers On 3 November 1940, the anti-submarine warfare and The crews faced deadly flak on 30 January 1943, the 10th Mosquitos. aircraft, painted in “prototype shipping attacks and night and fighters, particularly Fo- anniversary of the Nazis’ sei- The Mosquito flew its last Performance yellow” and still coded E0234, fighter duties, until the end of cke-Wulf Fw 190s, which they zure of power, a morning Mos- official European war mission • Max speed: 668 km/h was dismantled, transported by the war. called snappers. Germany still quito attack knocked out the on 21 May 1945, when Mos- • Range: 2,100 km road to Hatfield and placed in In July 1941, the first produc- controlled continental airspace main Berlin broadcasting sta- quitos of 143 Squadron and 248 • Service ceiling: 11,000 me- a small, blast-proof assembly tion Mosquito W4051 was sent and the Fw 190s were often al- tion while Commander in Chief Squadron RAF were ordered to tres building. to No. 1 Photographic Recon- ready airborne and at an advan- Reichsmarschall Hermann continue to hunt German sub- • Rate of climb: 14.5 m/s Two Merlin 21 two-speed, naissance Unit (PRU), at RAF tageous altitude. Göring was speaking, putting marines that might be tempted single-stage supercharged en- Benson. The secret reconnais- Collisions within the forma- his speech off the air. A second to continue the fight; instead Armament gines were installed, driving sance flights of this aircraft tions also caused casualties. It sortie in the afternoon incon- of submarines all the Mosqui- • Bombs: 1,800 kg three-bladed de Havilland Hy- were the first operational mis- was the Mosquito’s excellent venienced another speech, by tos encountered were passive dromatic constant-speed con- sions of the Mosquito. handling capabilities, rather Goebbels. E-boats. Avionics trollable-pitch propellers. En- On 15 November 1941, 105 than pure speed, that facilitated Lecturing a group of German The last operational RAF GEE radio-navigation gine runs were made on 19 Squadron, RAF, took delivery those evasions that were suc- aircraft manufacturers, Göring Mosquitos were the Mosqui- November. at RAF Swanton Morley, Nor- cessful. said: to TT.35’s, which were finally 56 57 A - Four .303 machine guns X - Rudder mass balancd B - Camera Y - Rudder trimming tab de Havilland Mosquito C - Ruder pedals Z - Elevator mass balance D- Control column A2 - Retractable tail wheel E - Bullet proof screen B2 - Gun bay folding doors F - Pilot’s seat C2 - Carburettor air intake G - Oil and Glycol radiators D2 - Inboard fuel tanks H - Hydromatic airscrews E2 - Radiator shutter I - Exhaust flame damper F2 - Compression rubber un- J - Rolls Royce Merlin engine dercarriage leg K - Undercarriage hydraulic jack G2 - Four 20 mm cannon L - Outboard fuel tanks P M - Front main spar H N - Spaced double skin (upper) G O - Rear main spar O C M E N J F L D B K I A

R Q

T S

U X V W

Z G2 Y D2 E2 B2 C2 P - Navigation light F2 Q - Aileron A2 R - Single plywood skin (lower) S - Ailreon trimming tab T - Landing light U - Flap V - Petrol tank cover W - Pitot head

58 59 On 31 , 25 Mosquitos from 140 Wing Roy- al Air Force (RAF) of the 2nd Tactical Air Force, bombed the Gestapo headquarters at the University of Aarhus. battlefield After World War II, the RAF called the mission the most successful of its kind during the war. uring World War II most countries oc- Background cupied by the Nazis had an active re- Aarhus was occupied by Ger- Dsistance movement. As far as possible, man forces, which established the Allies provided support to resistance move- their headquarters for the Jut- ments. This support was often in the form of land area in the eastern parts A weapons, equipment, training and intelligence. of the University of Aarhus, The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was placing their main offices and a a British World War II organisation. It was of- archives in the buildings usual- A rare photograph of the . A Mosquito can be seen in the upper ficially formed on 22 July 1940 under Minis- ly reserved for student dormito- UP IN FLAMES: left of the photograph as, below, one of the targeted buildings is hit by another bomb. r ter of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton, from ries. the amalgamation of three existing secret or- In Aarhus, the Gestapo was h ganisations. Its purpose was to conduct espio- headed by Eugen Schwitzge- crippled as supplies dried up. conducted a reconnaissance last waves would attack with nage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied bel; the , In Aarhus the resistance groups mission with 544 Squadron. incendiary bombs to maximise u Europe (and later, also in occupied Southeast led by Obersturmbannführ- faced another problem as Grethe Plans were drawn up and the the damage to the Gestapo ar- Asia) against the Axis powers, and to aid local er Lonechun and the , Bartram from communist and date for the raid was set for 31 chives. resistance movements. commanded by Oberstleutnant resistance circles in Aarhus was October 1944. The bombs were set to ex- s SOE agents would be parachuted into occu- Lutze, were also based there. hired as an informant by the plode with a delay of eleven pied countries or sometimes landed from a sub- The 577th Volksgrenadier Gestapo in March–April 1944. Planning seconds since in such a low marine. Their main task was to liase with local Division was based in Aarhus Bartram informed on some 50 The attack was planned by level attack, the bombs had the resistance movements and provide training. during the raid. On 25 August resistance members leading to members of the British Spe- potential to damage the aircraft During the war SOE agents operated in many 1944 the unit was established; many groups in and around the cial Operations Executive and that dropped them. It was also occupied countries including France, Italy, by September its draftees were city being dismantled by Ger- the American Office of Strate- decided that it would take place A Crete, Denmark, Norway, Yugoslavia and Hol- transferred to the 47th Infantry man authorities, including the gic Services. They identified on a workday, between 11h30 land. They would be fluent in the local language Division and the last members in June 1944. the raid as an especially chal- and noon, since few Danish i and could blend in with the civilian population. left Aarhus on 10 November to On 7 October the Gestapo lenging one because the main prisoners would be held in the One of the many dangers facing agents oper- fight later on the Western Front. arrested the courier Ruth Phil- targets, the university dormito- offices at this time, as most of ating in enemy territory was the risk of being The summer and autumn of lipsen who worked directly for ries in which Gestapo had their them would have been escort- r captured. Any prisoners captured by the Na- 1944 was a difficult time for the leadership of the Jutland headquarters, had civilian hos- ed back to their cells elsewhere zis that were regarded as high-value prisoners the resistance in Jutland. On resistance. Vagn Bennike, the pitals on both sides nearby so on campus for lunch, while the would be handed over to the Gestapo for inter- 13 December 1943, the British chief of operations in Jutland, precision was needed to mini- majority of the Gestapo staff rogation. paratrooper Jakob Jensen was immediately called an emer- mise civilian casualties. would be present and preparing The Geheime Staatspolizei (Secret State Po- caught by the Gestapo in Aar- gency meeting. Plans to assault A training area in 1:1 scale for the lunch break at noon. lice), abbreviated Gestapo, was the official se- hus. the Gestapo headquarters were was drawn with chalk, where Three squadrons were to sup- R cret police of Nazi Germany and German-occu- During interrogation he sup- discussed but deemed infeasi- the pilots picked for the attack ply 25 aircraft, 24 Mosquito pied Europe. plied information about the ble. Bennike finally sent a tele- made two test runs before the Mk.VI fighter-bombers and a a The force was created by Hermann Göring in networks of supply groups in gram to his contacts in London. raid. Mosquito Mk. IV reconnais- 1933 by combining the various security police Jutland which resulted in many “The resistance in Jutland It was eventually decided that sance aircraft from the Royal i agencies of Prussia into one organisation. The groups being destroyed and 145 is about to be torn up by the the attack would take place in Air Force Film Production Unit, Gestapo were brutal in their interrogation meth- people being arrested, includ- Gestapo. I insistently ask that four waves, about one minute to film the raid. Twelve Mus- ods and were experts when it came to torture, ing the on 11 dormitories 4 and 5 may be de- apart: the first waves would tang Mk. III fighters from 315 d both physical and psychological. March 1944. stroyed by aerial attack.” carry regular bombs to blast (Polish) Squadron would escort The resistance movement The British evaluated the sit- open the buildings containing them, to defend the bombers throughout the peninsula was uation and on 26 October 1944 the Gestapo offices, while the from fighters based at the Ger-

60 61 man airbase at Grove and create bombs exploded and four min- Sandbæk managed to escape confusion by attacking minor utes later, they were followed in the confusion. Philipsen got German targets around central by the second wave, then the off relatively unscathed but Jutland. third and fourth, attacking with Sandbæk was badly injured and Journal of the South African Legion All aircraft would carry ex- incendiaries. had to receive secret medical Tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Legioen tra fuel tanks to make sure they The later waves were en- treatment to recover from his could make the long trip across gaged by flak crews from the wounds. Both of them reached the North Sea. The destination German light cruiser Nürnberg, the safety of Sweden soon The SA Legion is a national organisation, part of a world- and target of the mission were present in Aarhus Harbor and a thereafter. wide family that addresses the needs of ex-service per- not disclosed to the pilots until Mosquito from the fourth wave Though the bombing was sonnel and their dependents by way of housing, pensions, their final briefing at 08h00 on was severely damaged. Instead precise, destroying dorms 4 and employment and general welfare. It is apolitical, non-sec- 31 October. of returning to base, another 5 and doing considerable dam- On 30 October, the date and Mosquito escorted it across the age to the Langelandsgade bar- tarian, non-racial, non-sexist and non-partisan. time for the raid was settled for Kattegat, where it continued on racks, several bombs missed. the next day at 11h30. As a fi- alone to Sweden, landed safely The university main building, The Springbok is the official journal of the South African nal preparation, the aircraft and and was destroyed by the crew which was being built at the Legion. Read the February issue of Springbok by clicking crews involved in the raid gath- before they were apprehended time, was accidentally struck on the cover to the left. ered at the airbase at Swanton by Swedish authorities. by a bomb that had somehow Morley at 08h00 on the day of The rest of the aircraft exited managed to skip down the halls the attack for a final briefing. Danish airspace in their desig- of the building, killing about Editor’s Note When the fighters from 315 nated waves between 12h16 and ten members of the construc- The SA Legion is an organisation that all South African military veterans should consider becom- (Polish) Squadron landed, it 12h34 - about two hours later, tion crew and injuring the chief ing a member of. was discovered that four of them they landed safely in England. architect, C. F. Møller. The SA Legion is dedicated to: had broken tailwheels, so it was Most of the Gestapo archives, • Fostering the spirit of self-sacrifice, comradeship and co-operation that inspired members of the decided to proceed with just the Aftermath including many of the files on armed forces to work together in the common interest of their country. remaining eight. At 08h40, take The Danish underground the Danish resistance, were de- • Perpetuating the memory of those who fell and were left behind to lie in foreign fields. off began in pairs and at 09h20 press estimated that 150–200 stroyed in the attack; the ex- Find out more about the SA Legion by visiting their website by clicking here. all thirty-three were in the air. Gestapo members and some 30 tent of the damage remains un- Danes perished in the attack. known, though it is clear that Bombing An internal German report set the loss of files and experienced Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate The attack force entered Jut- their losses from the offices in personnel severely hampered and find out more about the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. land around the coastal town the dormitories to 39, of whom the Gestapo’s efficiency in Den- of Henne around 11h20 and 27 were SS officers employed mark. The Gestapo reinforced the Germans were alerted at in the Gestapo, including Eu- their numbers in Denmark after 11h36. As planned, 315 Squad- gen Schwitzgebel and the re- the attack, to the point where ron broke off around Grove and maining twelve were from oth- the number of agents were al- 140 Wing continued on towards er departments of the German most doubled. Skanderborg. police, mostly office workers. Similar raids were carried out At 11h38, the first wave Another 20 German casu- by Mosquitos and these includ- reached the rendezvous at Skan- alties were reported from the ed: derborg Lake, followed shortly Langelandsgade barracks, 18 • , a simi- after by the other three waves. being soldiers. Three prison- lar attack on Gestapo head- While the other waves circled ers from the Danish resistance quarters in , the lake waiting their turn, the were present for interrogation Denmark first wave broke off and reached inside the dorms during the at- • , a similar Aarhus in about three minutes. tack: Ruth Philipsen, the resist- attack on Amiens Prison in The crews got a sighting of ance leader Harald Sandbæk France the dorms with the Gestapo and a third prisoner. • Oslo Mosquito raid, a simi- offices and dropped 4,1 tons The third prisoner perished lar attack on Gestapo head- of bombs. At 11h41, the first in the attack but Philipsen and quarters in Oslo, Norway. 62 63 Gaming

Matt O’ Brien is now in the tank repair- ing and restoration business. He’s just wondering what to do with all the parts left over once he’s finished.

ver the past year or so it from the engine stand. Then You can also go into your in- mechanic simulator you remove the turret and place ventory and see if you have any Ogames have become it on the turret stand. of the parts that are missing. If popular. You will then need to remove you do you can then outsource First of all there was Car Me- all of the parts from the engine, the repairs. This, however, can chanic Simulator. Then there turret and also from both the work out rather expensive. was a Motorbike Mechanic hull exterior and hull interior. Once I have restored the en- Simulator and, recently, a Plane And trust me, there are a lot of gine to 100% condition I then Mechanic Simulator (which we parts. turn my attention to the turret. reviewed in the February issue I tend to start with the engine, Once again every part that of Military Despatches). I remove all parts that can be can be removed must be taken also get a tank museum. Some- have purchased the blue prints • M26 Pershing The premise of each of these removed and then I use the rust off. This time, however, you times you will get an e-mail to a tank then you can craft • M10 Wolverine games was similar. You were removal tool to remove the rust need to do more than just de- saying that someone thinks they spare parts. A lot more tanks, including given a car, motorcycle or air- from the engine block. I then rust and sandblast the turret and know where a tank is buried. You can also purchase a paint British ones, are coming soon. craft which you had to repair. use the sandblasting tool to get parts. You will need to spray it You then go to the area and, room where you can repaint If you’re interested in tanks, The latest offering in the me- it clean and shiny. with a primer and then paint it. using a jeep and a metal detec- your tanks in different colours, then this game is a must. And I chanic simulator games is Tank I then start to reassemble the Once you’ve replaced any tor, try and discover where it is place decals on them, or even must admit that I’m having a lot Mechanic Simulator, and natu- engine. As I put each part back missing parts, de-rusted, sand- buried. Once you have found it camouflage them. of fun with it. rally I had to give this one a go. I remove the rust and sandblast blasted, primed, painted, and you can dig it up and transport Currently the game is still in This game is slightly different it. assembled the tank the repairs it back to your workshop. Once early access, so it means that to the other mechanic simulator As you assemble the engine are done and you can complete you have repaired and restored the developers are still working games. This time you start off you may find that there are parts the contract. it, you can place it in your mu- on it. with a workshop where you can missing. For instance it may re- You will then receive both seum. The public will then pay It already has 14 tanks avail- repair and restore tanks. You quire an oil filter, dipstick, fuel money and reputation points to visit the museum. able and they are: also have a tank museum. pump and exhaust. for the job. The money is used Reputation points will allow Russian People will send you an e- You have a number of options to buy tank parts and can also you to buy a quad bike, magne- • KV-1 mail and offer you a contract to to get hold of these parts. First be used to buy blue prints for a tometer and even a drone. The • KV-2 repair or restore a tank. If you of all you can open your com- tank or even a brand new tank. drone is vital in actually finding • T34/76 accept the contract then the tank puter and go to the Tank Repair Reputation points are also buried tanks. • T35/85 will be delivered to your work- Shop. Here you will find vari- important. You use these to pur- You can also find collect- German shop. Nearly all of the tanks ous parts that you can purchase. chase upgrades, and trust me, ible articles in the area such as • PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf. H you receive will be covered in You can buy a part in various you will need them. weapons, helmets, medals and • PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. A rust. stages of repair. For example The first thing you will need badges, and these can also be • PzKpfw IV Ausf. G The tank is placed over an you can buy a part that is rust- to upgrade is from a normal displayed in your museum. • PzKpfw III Ausf. J inspection pit and is ready for ed, dirty, primed or painted. wrench to a wrench gun. This The more tanks and collect- • PzKpfw III Ausf. M Publisher - PlayWay SA you to start work. Also in your Obviously a painted part is will undo bolts far quicker and ibles you have, the more you • StuG III Ausf. G workshop you have an engine far more expensive than one also undo rusted bolts - some- can charge visitors to the mu- • SdLfz 251/1 Ausf. D half- Genre - Simulator stand and a turret stand. that is rusted. I tend to buy a thing a normal wrench cannot seum. track Score - 8/10 The first thing you need to do rusted part, fit it, then de-rust do. Upgrades will also allow you American Price - R130 (on Steam) is remove the engine and hang and sandblast it. Now earlier I said that you to buy a crafting bench. If you • M4A3E8 Sherman 64 65 Book Review Movie Saving Private Ryan Review Released: 1998 Running time: 169 minutes Director: The Fighting Doc

t is Saturday afternoon, to fulfil an overriding passion aving Private Ryan is a ings took place. Before they Ryan is distressed about his 19 July 1975, next to a to help the beleaguered south- 1998 American epic war can withdraw James Ryan from brothers, but is unwilling to Idry riverbed in Rhode- ern African country in its fight film directed by Steven combat they first have to locate leave his post. Miller combines sia’s north-eastern operational against what he perceived to S area, in a war against commu- be a communist bid to secure Spielberg and written by Robert him. his unit with the paratroopers in Rodat. Set during the Invasion Miller and his squad move out defense of the bridge. He devis- nist-backed guerrillas. the sub-continent. John was a of Normandy in World War II, to Neuville, where they meet es a plan to ambush the enemy A Rhodesian combat medic very complex individual who, the film is notable for its graph- a squad of the 101st engaged with two .30-caliber guns, Mol- receives an order to descend right until his death, was in a ic portrayal of war and for the against the enemy. Caparzo is otov cocktails, anti-tank mines into the riverbed to attend to two permanent state of internal con- intensity of its opening 27 min- killed by a German sniper who and improvised satchel charges critically wounded troopers, flict as to his mission in life: he utes, which includes a depiction is then killed by Jackson. They made from socks. their figures seemingly lifeless wishes he had a wife; he tells of the Omaha Beach assault locate a Private James Ryan, Elements of the 2nd SS Pan- on the sand. The whereabouts young American girls that they during the . only to learn that he is not the zer Division arrive with two Ti- of the insurgents is not known. must produce strong sons who Captain John H. Miller (Tom right one. From passing sol- ger tanks and two Marder tank As the medic, displaying a red will fight the good fight; he is Hanks) is a United States Army diers, Miller learns that Ryan is destroyers, all protected by cross, moves in, shots ring out disillusioned by his failures; Ranger taking part in the land- defending an important bridge German infantry. Will Miller and he sustains a fatal head he admits he is a weak leader, ings at Omaha Beach. in Ramelle. succeed? Will Ryan be rescued? wound. That medic is 24-year- virtually offering an apology But, finally, as a combat med- After the beach has been cap- Near Ramelle, Miller decides Watch the movie to find out. old American John Alan Coey. for his own shortcomings; he ic - a pioneer in this concept - tured Miller is given a special to neutralize a German machine The film was nominated for Driven by his Christian faith vacillates endlessly; he admits he finds his much sought-after assignment. He must take his gun position at a derelict radar eleven at the and an ardent belief in the threat to being unable to identify the destiny. squad (Tom Sizemore, Edward station, despite his men’s mis- 71st Academy Awards. of global communist hegemo- path he needs to take to achieve Paperback: 200 pages Burns, Barry Pepper, Giovanni givings. Wade is killed in the ny, Coey had come to Rhodesia his mission. Cost: R250 Ribisi, Vin Diesel, Adam Gold- skirmish. At Upham’s urging, berg, and Jeremy Davies) and Miller declines to execute a sur- find Private First Class James viving German soldier, and sets Francis Ryan (). him free. Losing confidence in Ryan is one of four brothers Miller’s leadership, Reiben de- and three of them have died clares his intention to desert, within the space of a few days prompting a confrontation with while serving in the US mili- Horvath. Miller defuses the tary. standoff by disclosing his civil- When the US War Depart- ian career as a high school Eng- ment learns that three of the lish teacher, about which his four sons of the Ryan family men had set up a betting pool; have been killed in action, they Reiben decides to stay. order that the remaining son be At Ramelle, they find Ryan found, withdrawn from combat, among a small group of par- and sent home. atroopers preparing to defend The problem is that James the key bridge against an immi- Ryan is a member of the 101st nent German attack. Miller tells Spider Zero Seven Battle for Cassinga Parabat Airborne Division. They para- Ryan that his brothers are dead, R370 R220 R280 chuted into Normandy during and that he was ordered to bring Click on the poster to watch a the night, hours before the land- him home. trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 66 67 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

Some of the significant military events that happened in April. Highlighted in blue are the names • 1941 - German Afrika Ko- pa. He was 26. • 1984 - Four South Afri- of those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the month rps, commanded by General • 1981 - Lance Corporal Ean cans and a British national of April. Erwin Rommel, take Ageda- Andrew Chapman Pettit charged with illegally ex- bia and Zuetania, Libya. from H Company, 1 Para- porting military equipment 1 April • 1967 - JARIC, voted best Constable Uutafehe Rjipo- • 1941 - Nazi occupiers dis- chute Battalion was acciden- to South Africa. • 1865 - During the Ameri- support unit of the SA Air sa (27). Special Constable band the Dutch Boy Scouts. tally killed after he and his • 1987 - A US State Depart- can Civil War, Confederate Force 2003, is established Daniel Sakaria (28). Special • 1943 - Allied air raid on Tu- section were extracted from ment report says Israel, troops of General George as a section of the Central Constable Zaako Uaapulate- nis causes considerable dam- a contact with SWAPO/ France and Italy have contin- Pickett were defeated and Phototechnical Establish- na (25). age just before Axis troops PLAN insurgents. Their Buf- ued to maintain and upgrade cut off at Five Forks, Vir- ment (CPE), initially based • 1994 - Soldiers roll into Na- start their final withdrawal fel Troop carrier overturned a major weapons systems for ginia. This sealed the fate of at AFB Swartkop. tal to quell unrest threatening from Tunisia. while travelling at high South Africa since the 1977 Confederate General Robert • 1977 - An unsuccessful mil- the national election. • 1952 - The United States speed and he was thrown out UN arms embargo was im- E. Lee’s armies at Petersburg itary coup is staged in Chad. • 1997 - The strike crafts SAS posthumously awards SA and crushed by the vehicle posed. and Richmond and hastened • 1985 - Rifleman Daniel Kobie Coetzee, P.W. Botha Cheetah Squadron pilot, when it rolled onto him. He • 1987 - Rifleman Domingos the end of the war. Aupini from 201 Battalion and Frederic Creswell are Lieutenant R.M. du Plooy, was 19. Cassela from 32 Battalion • 1893 - USN establishes SWATF was killed when renamed SAS Job Maseko, with the Silver Star for “gal- • 1982 - The beginning of was Killed in Action in a the rate of Chief Petty Of- struck by a bullet resulting SAS Shaka and SAS Adam lantry in action”. Du Plooy the Falkland Islands War as contact with enemy forces ficer. from an accidental discharge Kok on the occasion of the was killed the previous year troops from Argentina in- near Evale in Southern An- • 1913 - South African Police of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He Navy’s 75th anniversary. in the Korean War. vaded and occupied the Brit- gola during Operation Kake- (SAP) is founded. was 22. • 2002 - The South African • 1957 - The Union Jack is ish colony located near the been. He was 27. • 1922 - The South African • 1985 - Rifleman D. Haupindi Navy (SAN) is 80 years old. lowered and British occupa- tip of South America. The • 1987 - Rifleman N. Ngombe Naval Service is founded. from 202 Battalion SWATF • 2003 - USMC Task Force tion of Simon’s Town comes British retaliated and defeat- from 102 Battalion SWATF With the ships the Protea, was Killed in Action during a Tarawa secures An Nasiri- to an end after 143 years. ed the Argentineans on June was Killed in Action dur- Sonneblom and Immortelle contact with SWAPO/PLAN yah in Iraq after a hot week- South Africa takes formal 15, 1982, after ten weeks of ing a contact with SWAPO/ it formed the nucleus of a insurgents. He was 21. long fight. possession of the historic combat, with about 1,000 PLAN insurgents in South- South African navy. • 1986 - Special Constable An- base. lives lost. ern Angola. He was 23. • 1933 - Heinrich Himmler drek Mwandinovanhu from 2 April • 1978 - Rifleman Carvalho • 1983 - Gunner Lodewyk • 1988 - 2nd Lieutenant Jaco- becomes Police Commander the South West Africa Police • 1879 - Relief of British gar- Esals from 32 Battalion was Jozef Engelbrecht from 4 bus Hendrick Diedericks of Germany. Counter-Insurgency Wing: rison besieged by Zulus at Killed in Action in Southern Artillery attached from 101 Battalion SWATF • 1943 - Japanese aircraft Ops K Division (Koevoet) Eshowe. Angola during a contact with to 61 Mechanised Battalion was Killed in Action in a attack the Russell Islands. was Killed in Action during • 1879 - The battle of Gingind- enemy forces near Omalapa- Group was Killed in Ac- landmine explosion during a • 1945 - Okinawa: 60,000 U.S. a contact with SWAPO in- lovu during the Anglo-Zulu tion in a landmine explosion contact with SWAPO/PLAN soldiers and Marines land, surgents in Northern Owam- War takes place. The British during operations against insurgents. He was 24. on Easter Sunday. boland. He was 27. defeat Cetshwayo and the SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1988 - Two members from • 1945 - US First & Ninth Ar- • 1989 - South Africa reports kraal is destroyed. in the Tsumeb area. He was the South West Africa Police major clashes with guerrillas • 1904 - Herero tribesmen mies meet to form the Ruhr Erwin 19. Counter-Insurgency Wing: pocket. in Namibia on eve of cease- near Okaharui, German West • 1984 - Gunner Alfred Lok- Ops K Division (Koevoet) • 1954 - The US Army forms fire. Africa (now Namibia) defeat Rommel ington Tomes from 17 Field were Killed in Action dur- its first helicopter battalion at • 1989 - Five members from German forces under Major Regiment was critically ing a contact with SWAPO/ Fort Bragg. the South West Africa Police Von Glasenapp. wounded during a contact PLAN insurgents in Northern • 1955 - The Greek national- Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1916 - German Zeppelins with the enemy forces in Owamboland. They were: ist EOKA movement makes Ops-K Division (Koevoet) bomb a distillery in Rosyth, Southern Angola on 29 Mar Special Sergeant Kandjunga several bomb attacks against were Killed in Action. The causing a flood of fine whis- 1984. He was evacuated to 1 Tenaseu (27). Special Ser- British facilities in Cyprus. casualties were: Special key. Military Hospital in Pretoria geant Usebiu Ndemwimba • 1960 - France detonates Constable George Daw- • 1917 - US President Wilson where he succumbed to his (29). her second atom bomb, in id (24). Special Constable asks Congress to declare war wounds on 2 April 1984. He • 1989 - Rifleman Marius van the Sahara. Mathais Lukas (29). Special against Germany. was 27. der Merwe from 32 Battalion 68 69 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April was Reported Missing while (400 men, no artillery) and • 1978 - Rifleman Steven a contact with PLAN insur- Namaqualand starts as Gen. • 1980 - ANC insurgents on patrol near Buffalo. He British encamped behind Dennis Oscar Pearson from gents in Northern Owam- Smuts demands the surren- launch a rifle, rocket and gre- went for a swim amongst the stone breastworks on the 5 SAI Died of Wounds re- boland. He was 26. der of the town but is curt- nade attack on Booysens Po- reeds and it is thought that he heights of Mostertshoek. De ceived when his patrol was • 1986 - Lance Corporal Jan ly rejected by Col. W.A.D. lice Station, Johannesburg. was taken by a crocodile. He Wet sends a note to the Brit- ambushed by SWAPO/ Hendrik Labuschagne from Shelton, commander of the Pamphlets are scattered de- remains unaccounted for and ish demanding their surren- PLAN insurgents. the Technical Service Corps British forces. manding the release of Wal- has no known grave. He was der and claims to have three • 1981 - Rifleman Hendrik was killed when struck by a • 1940 - Katyn Forest: The So- ter Sisulu from Robben Is- 21. Krupp guns and reinforce- Kasper Jordaan from SWA bullet resulting from an acci- viets begin mass executions land. • 1989 - Ten members of the ments on the way. SPES Unit SWATF was dental discharge of a fellow of Polish military officers, • 1986 - Second Lieutenant South West Africa Police • 1900 - General P.A. Cronje Killed in Action while at- soldier’s rifle. He was 23. police officials, and intellec- Izak Johan Lourens from Counter-Insurgency Wing: and his wife, with Colonel tached to 53 Battalion out on • 1989 - Constable Daniel Jo- tuals, about. 20,000 die over 911 Battalion SWATF died Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Adorf Schiel and about 1,000 a patrol north of Etale. When hannes Jacobus Fourie from several weeks. in the Opuwa Hospital after Units were killed during Republican prisoners of war, returning to base, the patrol Ops-K Division (Koevoet) • 1941 - Rommel takes Beng- contracting Meningitis & a number of contacts with sails from Cape Town for St crossed Oom Willie se pad was killed in action. He was hazi. Malaria. He was 19. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Helena. and one of the horses deto- 25. • 1943 - The US 4th Marine • 1986 - Corporal Alfonso Al- in Northern Owamboland. • 1941 - The British forces nated an Anti-Tank mine, Division is established at berto from 32 Battalion died The casualties were: Spe- evacuate Benghazi, major killing him instantly. He was 4 April San Diego. from causes unknown. He cial Warrant Officer Leonard seaport of north-eastern Lib- 20. • 1884 - Japanese Admiral • 1945 - Heavy fighting begins was 27. Benjamin (34) Sergeant Sar- ya, in the face of the German • 1982 - Rifleman Lourens Isoroku Yamamoto was born in southern Okinawa. • 1987 - Corporal Fernandez el Hercules van Tonder (25). advance. Date given as 7 Maritz Bieldt from Infantry in Nagaoko, Honshu. • 1945 - Hungary liberated Andre from 32 Battalion Special Sergeant Daniel April 1941 in another source. School was killed when his • 1900 - The battles of Red- from Nazi occupation. was Killed in Action during Teteiko (25). Constable Jo- • 1942 - Bataan: Japanese Buffel Troop Carrier over- dersburg, where the Boers • 1949 - Twelve nations signed a contact with enemy forces hannes Jacobus Badenhorst launch a major offensive. turned approximately 20 km under Gen. De Wet defeat the treaty creating NATO, near Evale in Southern An- (24). Constable Leon Thorne • 1944 - British bombers at- outside Oshakati. He was 21. the Royal Irish Rifles, and the North Atlantic Treaty gola during Operation Kake- (21). Special Constable tack the German battleship • 1982 - Captain Michael Nor- Mostertshoek, take place. Organization. The nations been. He was 26. Nambahu Abiatal (27). Spe- ‘Tirpitz’ in Norwegian wa- man Amos Giani from Army British surrender at Mostert’s united for common military • 1988 - SADF Gaborone raid cial Constable Joseph An- ters. Intelligence, attached to 72 Hoek. Boer forces capture defense against the threat of kills four. dreas (29). Special Consta- • 1945 - USSR renounces Apr Motorised Brigade, was nearly 500 Lee-Metford ri- expansion by Soviet Russia • 1989 - Corporal Hermann ble Thomas Johannes (26). ‘41 non-aggression pact with killed in a military vehicle fles. into Western Europe. Carstens from 1 Reconnais- Special Constable Filippus Japan. accident at Muldersdrift. He • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1961 - UN troops defending sance Regiment was Killed Joseph (24). Special Consta- • 1974 - Ordinary Seaman was 30. War. The siege of Okiep in an airfield in Katanga prov- in Action during fierce fight- ble Muyunga Kakonyi (28). Leonard Arthur Farmer from • 1982 - Security Council de- ince, Congo (now Demo- ing with a numerically supe- Special Constable Fernendo SAS Saldanha was acci- mands Argentina withdraw cratic Republic of Congo), rior force of heavily armed Tyipoya (25). Special Con- dentally killed during basic from the Falkland Islands. are attacked by ‘mobs’. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents stable Aktofel Silvanus (26). training while doing pole PT. • 1985 - Rifleman Heilia Mi- • 1978 - Barend Hendrik Janse near Eenhana. He was 20. He had to hold the pole be- kael from 101 Battalion van Rensburg (Ben) (80), • 1989 - Three members from 3 April hind his head and do press- SWATF was accidentally founder of the War Museum 101 Battalion Romeo Mike, • 1865 - The Confederate ups. The pole slipped and killed in Southern Angola in Bloemfontein, dies. SWATF were Killed in Ac- capital of Richmond surren- fell on his head, severely in- when a Casspir Armoured • 1978 - Two members of SWA tion during fierce fighting in dered to Union forces after juring him. He died a short Vehicle drove over him while SPES accidentally drowned Northern Owamboland as the withdrawal of General while later. He was 18. he was sleeping. He was 19. in the Olifants River near 101 Battalion Romeo Mike Robert E. Lee’s troops. • 1977 - Rifleman Carel Hen- • 1985 - Special Constable Doornkop. They were: Rifle- and Koevoet elements con- • 1900 - The battle of Mostert- drik Kotze from the South Johannes Tjiposa from the man Wayne Darrell Norman tinued to intercept and en- shoek, near Reddersburg, Coast Commando was acci- South West Africa Police Meyers (18). Rifleman Mari- gage large groups of very takes place. The beginning dentally killed during train- Counter-Insurgency Wing: us van Zyl (20). heavily armed SWAPO/ of a two-day battle between ing manoeuvres at Umtent- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Isoroku Yamamoto PLAN insurgents cross- General De Wet’s forces weni. He was 32. was Killed in Action during ing into Owamboland from 70 71 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

Southern Angola. The casu- • 1948 - As riots rage around mar Qaddafi of Libya. Nine out the British Isles, in prepa- Military Vehicle Accident in a crocodile approximately alties in this contact were: Cairo, the Egyptian army days later, President Ronald ration for D-Day. Mamelodi during Operation 1km below the Epupa Falls Rifleman E. Anunyela. (26). kills twenty-five civilians. Reagan ordered a retaliatory • 1977 - Rifleman S. Henrique Xenon. He was 23. where he and others in his Rifleman J. Mandume (24). • 1964 - Douglas MacArthur air strike against Libya. from 32 Battalion was Killed • 1996 - Thousands of Libe- section were swimming. He Rifleman N. Kapentse (23). dies at the age of 84. • 1988 - Special Constable in Action during a contact rians flee their homes amid has no known grave and re- • 1989 - Lieutenant Christiaan • 1979 - Special Constable Uakandjangu Tjiumbu from with enemy forces in South- fierce fighting between gov- mains unaccounted for. He Phillipus Els from 1 Special Wilino Shamoketa from the the South West Africa Police ern Angola. He was 29. ernment troops and members was 20. Service Battalion Died in South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1981 - Rifleman Petrus Jaco- of an ethnic faction. • 1989 - Soviet submarine ‘K- Hospital at Ruacana from Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) bus Venter from SWA SPES 278 Komsomolets’ sinks af- Wounds sustained during a Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action dur- Unit SWATF was Killed in 7 April ter a fire in the Norwegian contact with SWAPO/PLAN was Killed in Action dur- ing a contact with SWAPO/ Action during a contact with • 1917 - US Navy takes over Sea, 42 die. insurgents near Ongandjera ing a contact with SWAPO/ PLAN insurgents in North- SWAPO/PLAN insurgents all wireless stations for the • 1994 - Rampaging troops on 03 April 1989. He was 20. PLAN insurgents in North- ern Owamboland. He was near the Cut Line. He was duration of World War I. kill Rwanda’s acting premier ern Owamboland. He was 26. 23. • 1945 - The Japanese bat- and eleven Belgian UN sol- 5 April 28. • 1996 - Heavy fighting in • 1982 - Rifleman Hymje tleship Yamato is sunk by diers and civil war erupts in • 1900 - Combat-General • 1979 - Captain Martin Mogadishu, the capital of Landsman from 8 SAI was American carrier-based Rwanda, a day after a mys- Georges-Henri Anne Ma- Charles Silberbauer from 85 Somalia, leaves seventeen killed in a Military Vehicle bombers and torpedo bomb- terious plane crash claimed rie Victor Compte de Vil- Combat Flying School was dead. Accident in Eastern Kavan- ers with the loss of most of the lives of the presidents of lebois-Mareuil, a former killed during a training exer- goland. He was 19. her crew. Rwanda and Burundi. commander in the French cise at the Roodewal Bomb- 6 April • 1983 - Corporal I.S. Kamu- • 1966 - US recovers lost • 1997 - Government soldiers Foreign Legion, makes a ing Range near Pietersburg • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer noko from 202 Battalion H-bomb from sea off Palo- in Lubumbashi, Zaire’s sec- valiant last stand against when his Dassault Mirage War: General Lord Methuen SWATF was Killed in Ac- mares, Spain. ond largest city lay down the British at Boshof and is IIID2Z struck the ground buries Combat-General De tion during a contact with • 1984 - Rifleman Daniel their arms and join the cause killed. He tried to attack the while trying to recover after Villebois-Mareuil with full SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Stephanus Venter from 1 Par- of rebels advancing on the nearby railway with a force carrying out a practice rocket military honours. 1500 men in Northern Owamboland. achute Battalion was Killed city. of 75 foreign volunteers attack. He was 28. of the Loyal North Lanca- He was 23. in Action in a landmine ex- (mostly French and Dutch) • 1983 - Private Patrick Cor- shires form the Guard of • 1984 - The elite republican plosion during anti-insurgent 8 April and eleven burghers but was nelius Engel from 16 Main- Honour. guard mounts an unsuccess- operations just north of the • 1940 - Royal Navy destroy- trapped by General Lord tenance Unit was killed • 1916 - German parliament ful coup against President Cut-line. He was 22. er HMS Glowworm is sunk Methuen and a force of over when his Withings recov- approves unrestricted sub- Paul Biya of Cameroon. • 1985 - Special Sergeant after a gallant fight with the 750, assisted by four field- ery vehicle collided into the marine warfare • 1987 - Private Russell Joseph Sakaria Naholo from the German heavy cruiser Admi- guns. De Villebois-Mareuil’s rear of a stationary vehicle at • 1917 - Following a vote by Brissett from 1 Medical Bat- South West Africa Police ral Hipper. men attempt to escape whilst Oshivello. He was 19. Congress approving a dec- talion Group was killed in a Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1945 - Okinawa: Marines he makes his stand but are • 1984 - Rifleman Joseph Sin- laration of war, the U.S. en- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) probe Japanese lines on the captured. dimba from 202 Battalion tered World War I in Europe. was Killed in Action dur- Motobu Peninsula. • 1916 - Battle of El Hanna: SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1939 - Great Britain & Po- ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1950 - Unarmed US Navy Unsuccessful British attempt tion during a contact with land sign military pact. PLAN insurgents in North- patrol plane is shot down to break the Turkish siege of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. • 1941 - The SA Brigade en- ern Owamboland. He was over the Baltic Sea by Soviet Kut. He was 23. ters Addis Ababa during 32. aircraft. • 1939 - Germany: “Aryan” • 1986 - A bomb exploded at World War II. • 1985 - Rifleman Willem • 1958 - Corporal Francois youth ordered to join the Hit- a popular discotheque fre- • 1941 - Germans bomb Bel- Jacobus Du Randt from 3 Willem Bornman from 4th lerjugend. quented by American mili- grad, 17,000 reportedly die. SAI Oscar Company (Mor- Field Regiment died from • 1942 - Eighty-six South Af- tary personnel in West Ber- • 1943 - The British and US tars) was Reported Miss- injuries received in a col- ricans survive a Japanese at- lin, killing two U.S. soldiers armies link up in Africa. ing after being attacked by lision between a car and a tack on the HMS Cornwall and a Turkish woman. Amer- • 1944 - The Supreme Allied train at the Meyer Street lev- near the coast of Ceylon ican intelligence analysts at- Commander cancels all fur- Paul Biya el crossing at Potchefstroom. (now Sri Lanka). tributed the attack to Muam- ther military leaves through- He was 22. 72 73 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

• 1980 - Lieutenant Christo rendered to General Ulysses Krugel from 4 Squadron was accidentally killed when he March began as American do Squadron SWATF was Stephan Grundling from 2 S. Grant in the village of Ap- killed when his AT-6 Har- was crushed between two and Filipino prisoners were Killed in Action during Op- Field Engineer Regiment pomattox Court House. The vard crashed near Leslie dur- vehicles at Walvis Bay. He forced on a six-day march eration Yahoo while flying was killed in a military vehi- surrender occurred in the ing a routine training flight. was 27. from an airfield on Bataan in support of Koevoet an- cle accident at Impala Base. home of Wilmer McLean. He was 22. • 1997 - Rebels in Zaire con- to a camp near Cabanatuan. ti-insurgent operations in the He was 20. Terms of the surrender, writ- • 1976 - Corporal Michael quer Lubumbashi, second Some 76,000 Allied POWs Elundu area. He was 52. • 1980 - Rifleman Lesley An- ten by General Grant, al- Barnett from 2nd Battalion, largest city in the country. including 12,000 Americans • 1982 - Special Constable drew Scholtz from 3 SAI lowed Confederates to keep Regiment Bloemspruit was • 1999 - Members of his own were forced to walk 60 miles Shitelgipo Hamukwaya from was Killed in Action during a their horses and return home. killed when the bus he was Presidential Guard gun down under a blazing sun without the South West Africa Police contact with SWAPO/PLAN Officers were allowed to driving was involved in a Niger’s president, Ibrahim food or water to the POW Counter-Insurgency Wing: insurgents in Kavangoland. keep their swords and side head-on collision with a ci- Bare Mainassara. camp, resulting in over 5,000 Ops K Division (Koevoet) He was 20. arms. vilian vehicle approximately • 2003 - CorporalEdward American deaths. was Killed in Action dur- • 1981 - Omar Bradley, the • 1917 - After a massive mine 100km from Grootfontein. Chin, US Marine Corps, • 1945 - The Nazi concentra- ing a contact with SWAPO/ “Soldier’s General,” last US explosion, Canadian troops He was transporting school plants the US and Free Iraq tion camp at Buchenwald PLAN Insurgents in North- 5-star officer, dies at the age storm Vimy Ridge, initiating children from Grootfontein flags on the statue of Sadam was liberated by U.S. troops. ern Owamboland. He was of 88. the Battle of Arras. back to Rundu at the time of Hussein in Firdos Square, • 1972 - The Convention on 27. • 1986 - Two members from • 1940 - Germany invades the accident. He was 22. Baghdad, which is then the Prohibition of the De- • 1983 - Rifleman John Kern- 101 Battalion were Killed in Denmark, which promptly • 1977 - Rifleman Graham pulled down. velopment, Production and eels Samson from the South Action during a Contact with surrenders. Werner Hempstead from 8 Stockpiling of Bacteriolog- African Cape Corps died SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1940 - Germany invades SAI was killed in a non-op- 10 April ical (Biological) and Toxic from a gunshot wound acci- in Southern Angola. They Norway. erational military vehicle • 1918 - Near Toul, in eastern Weapons and their Destruc- dentally sustained. He was were: Corporal Noag Kavari • 1944 - Japan offers to medi- accident in Northern Owam- France, the 104th Infantry tion, to which SA is a party, 19. (23). Rifleman Joao Domin- ate peace between Germany boland. He was 20. begins four days determined is signed in Moscow, Lon- • 1985 - Rifleman Douw Ger- gos (26). and Russia. • 1978 - Candidate Officer defense against a German don and Washington. brand Du Plessis from 4 Re- • 1988 - Staff Sergeant Marius • 1945 - RAF sinks Pocket Fred Johan Forster from 1 assault, to become the first • 1975 - Sergeant Nicolaas connaissance Regiment ac- Horn from 5 SAI was killed Battleship Admiral Scheer’in Reconnaissance Regiment American regiment to be Johannes Steyn from the cidentally drowned during a while returning in a convoy port. was accidentally shot and awarded the Croix de guerre. Technical Service Corps, training exercise. He was 19. from Eshowe. He was 27. • 1945 - Wilhelm Canaris, killed at Katima Mulilo • 1940 - First Battle of Narvik: attached to the Rundu Mili- • 1986 - Petty Officer Des- • 1988 - Lance Corporal Car- German admiral and chief while participating in a “live Royal Navy destroyers de- tary Base was killed instant- mond John Pekeur from los Thomas Moon from the of the Abwehr, the German fire” shooting exercise. He feat German destroyers, two ly while travelling between SAS Wingfield was killed South African. Cape Corps military intelligence service, was 20. of which are lost. Rundu and Katima Mulilo near Schmidtsdrift when the was Killed in Action dur- was executed in Flossenbürg • 1981 - Private Jacob Jo- • 1942 - During World War II in when, approximately 20km rear tyre of his Landrover ing a contact with SWAPO/ concentration camp for high hannes Kotze from 61 Mech- the Pacific, the Bataan Death from Rundu, the rear tyre on burst causing the vehicle to PLAN insurgents in South- treason on the orders of Ad- hanised Battalion Group his vehicle burst, causing the overturn. He was 29. ern Angola. He was 21. olf Hitler. was killed when his Buffel vehicle to leave the road and • 1991 - Though the govern- • 1997 - Zaire’s President • 1965 - Lance Corporal Jo- Troop Carrier overturned at overturn. He was 27. ment refused to comply with Mobutu Sese Seko declares hannes Burger from the Tsumeb. He was 19. • 1978 - Rifleman S.M. Chico- the ANC ultimatum issued a nationwide state of emer- South African Corps of Mil- • 1984 - Trooper Jacobus Fran- to from 32 Battalion was on 5 April, defence minister gency in response to rebel itary Police was killed at Fo- cois Engels from 202 Battal- Killed in Action during a Magnus Malan offers to re- advances. chville when his motorcycle ion SWATF was Killed in contact with enemy forces in sign if it is in the interests of was involved in a collision Action during a contact with Southern Angola. He was 27. SA or the SADF. He also an- 9 April with a vehicle while he was SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. • 1982 - Major Helmuth Ad- nounces the firing of Civilian • 1868 - After over 500,000 doing military convoy duty. He was 19. olf Kessler from 1 South Co-operation Bureau (CCB) American deaths, the Civ- He was 33. • 1987 - Corporal Charles West Africa Air Comman- head, Joe Verster and twen- il War effectively ended as • 1969 - Candidate Officer Pierre Du Plessis from ty-seven other members of General Robert E. Lee sur- Marthinus Jacobus Hendrik Walvis Bay Command was Omar Bradley the CCB.

74 75 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April • 1993 - Chris Hani, the leader was Killed after suffering a 12 April thur Wienand from 10 An- War of the Axe. killed. Felix Malloum takes of the South African Com- gunshot wound accidentally • 1861 - The American Civil ti-Aircraft Regiment was • 1868 - British forces under over at the head of a sev- munist Party and chief of inflicted while attached to War began as Confederate killed when his Unimog ve- Robert Napier capture Mag- en-member junta. staff of uMkhonto we Sizwe, Alpha Company, 5 SAI. He troops under the command hicle overturned in Kavan- dala in Ethiopia. • 1976 - Corporal Anton Leon the armed wing of the Afri- was 18. of General Pierre Beaure- goland. He was 18. • 1906 - Battle of Oviumbo: Broodryk from 1 Parachute can National Congress, is • 1982 - Sapper Brian Robert gard opened fire at 04:30 on • 1979 - Corporal Willem Jo- The Herero defeat the Ger- Battalion Died of Wounds gunned down as he steps out Gibbs from 2 Field Engi- Fort Sumter in Charleston, hannes de Beer from 3 SAI, mans. received in a landmine ex- of his car in the driveway of neer Regiment attached to South Carolina. attached to 2 Special Service • 1940 - Second Battle of Nar- plosion in Southern Angola his Boksburg home. the Army Battle School was • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- Battalion was accidentally vik: Royal Navy battleship while on patrol near the Cut- killed instantly at Olifant- er War: Peace negotiations killed in Zeerust after being Warspite and accompanying line. He was 20. 11 April shoek after receiving mul- commence in Pretoria be- knocked down by a civil- destroyers sink eight Ger- • 1976 - Captain Granville • 1838 - Zulu warriors ambush tiple shrapnel wounds in an tween delegations of the ian bus while on a weekend man destroyers. Duvenhage from Benoni Petrus Lafras (Piet) Uys and accidental rifle grenade ex- Boer Republics and General pass. He was 19. • 1941 - Heavy German attack Commando suffered a fatal his men at Italeni. Uys, his plosion. He was 19. Lord Kitchener and Alfred • 1979 - Prime Minister P.W. on Tobruk. heart attack while on duty at son Dirkie and seven of his • 1982 - Special Consta- Milner. An initial request by Botha announces that three • 1942 - Burma: the British Leydsdorp and died shortly followers are killed in battle. ble Pedro Sakaria from the the Boers to retain their inde- members of the staff of the Burma Corps breaks. afterwards. He was 26. • 1898 - US President McK- SWA Police Counter-Insur- pendence is met with incre- United States Embassy in • 1943 - Katyn: Nazis find • 1976 - Rifleman Eugene inley asks for Declaration of gency Wing: Ops K Divi- dulity. South Africa have been giv- graves of 13,000 Polish of- Medhurst from 5 SAI was War against Spain. sion (Koevoet) was Killed • 1945 - Okinawa: 150 kami- en a week to leave the coun- ficers killed by Soviets. Killed in Action during a • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- in Action during a contact kaze attack the Allied fleet, try. They have photographed • 1945 - Soviets capture Vien- contact with enemy forces in er War: General Kemp, in with SWAPO Insurgents in sinking one destroyer. sensitive military installa- na. Southern Angola. He was 19. charge of the Lemmer, Du Northern Owamboland. He • 1966 - First B-52 raids on tions by a secret camera in- • 1950 - The Arab League • 1979 - Corporal Rian Rix Toit, Liebenberg, Celliers, was 28. North Vietnam. stalled in a diplomatic air- signs a mutual defence treaty from 11 Commando Reg- and Potgieter comman- • 1986 - Special Consta- • 1972 - Private Willem Ockert craft. in Cairo. iment was Killed in Ac- dos (approximately 2,600 ble Matias Vilho from the van den Heever from North • 1986 - Rifleman Kefas • 1960 - France becomes tion during a contact with burghers), suffers a defeat at SWA Police Counter-Insur- West Command Headquar- Kalenga Dala from 32 Bat- fourth nuclear power, with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Roodewal, Transvaal, after gency Wing: Ops K Divi- ters was killed in a military talion died from Meningitis an atomic bomb test in the near Okatope Base south of attacking a British force of sion (Koevoet) was Killed vehicle accident at Kroon- in the hospital at Buffalo. He Sahara. Ondangwa. This was his last 11,000 men. Cmdt Potgieter in Action during a contact stad. He was 19. was 24. • 1974 - Two members of 11 patrol before going home and fifty burghers are killed. with SWAPO Insurgents in • 1972 - Sergeant Martin Squadron SAAF were Killed from the Border. He was 18. • 1942 - Burma: Japanese be- Northern Owamboland. He Christoffel Klue from the 13 April when their Cessna 185D • 1979 - An attempt is made gin a major offensive against was 26. Army Service Corps, at- • 1846 - Xhosa tribesmen at- crashed shortly after take- by Rhodesian forces to kill the British. • 1990 - Angolan Government tached 4 Artillery Regiment tack British forces at Burn’s off from Mpalela Island in guerrilla leader Joshua Nko- • 1956 - France sends 200,000 agrees to begin peace talks Headquarters was killed af- Hill in the Amatola, in the Eastern Caprivi during a ra- mo. reservists to Algeria. with rebel group Unita in ter being knocked down by a tion re-supply flight for the • 1982 - Rifleman Eugene • 1961 - Trial of Adolf Eich- Portugal. civilian vehicle while stand- South African Police. The James Ashford from 8 SAI man begins in Israel. • 1991 - Major Robert Michael ing by the roadside when casualties were: 2nd Lieu- was accidentally shot dead • 1979 - Signaller Gerhardus Turner from 85 Combat Fly- their convoy stopped for a tenant (Pilot) Jacobus Hen- during live firing exercises at Johannes Jacobus Senekal ing School was killed after rest break while travelling drik Louw Bonthuys (23). Riemvasmaak. He was 18. from Grootfontein Head- his Atlas MB326KM Impala between Bloemfontein and Private Johan Hugo Human • 1983 - A Defence Amend- quarters Signal Unit, at- Mk II suffered engine failure Potchefstroom. He was 46. (19). ment Bill provides for an tached to 52 Battalion was while on final approach to • 1975 - Atlas Corporation • 1975 - A military coup in alternative form of national critically wounded while sit- land at AFB Pietersburg. He completes deliveries to the Chad overthrows President service for conscientious ob- ting on his bed at the Unit. ejected from the aircraft too South African Air Force Ngarta Tombaloaye, who is jectors, who oppose military He was 19. late and directly into trees (SAAF) of a first series of service on religious grounds. • 1980 - Rifleman John Ed- that killed him instantly. He Impala MK-2 jet fighters. PW Botha The offer is not extended to ward McEwan from 5 SAI was 34. • 1978 - Gunner William Ar- objectors motivated by polit- 76 77 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

ical values. help fight Germans. tration camp. V. Tobias (21). Rifleman L. yssinia. • 1838 - Zulu warriors near • 1987 - Private Frederick • 1943 - The German Fifth • 1952 - First test flight of a Sindere (20). Rifleman F. • 1944 - US begins planning the Tugela River overwhelm Wayne Childsmith from the Panzer Army under General prototype B-52. Shikusho (20). Rifleman J. “Operation Olympic” - the Robert Biggar, leader of a Provost School was killed Gustav von Vaerst begins to • 1982 - Rifleman Brian Rich- Muyevu (19). invasion of Japan. force of about seventeen while standing in a “Ride evacuate from Tunis. Rom- ard Buttland from the South • 1985 - South Africa’s For- • 1945 - US troops enter Englishmen, twenty Khoi Safe “ zone on his way back mel departed on 9 March. African Cape Corps, at- eign Minister announces that Nuremberg. with guns and about fif- from Weekend pass after • 1945 - Tokyo fire bomb tached to the Army Catering South African troop with- • 1947 - Rudolf Höss, 45, teen hundred Africans from completion of Basic Train- raids: B-29s damage Imperi- Corps died in hospital after drawal from Angola is to be German SS commandant of around Port Natal. Thirteen ing when he was run over by al Palace. contracting malaria in the completed within a week. Auschwitz, is hanged in Po- of the English and most of an South African Police ve- • 1953 - offensive Operational Area. He was • 1986 - US attempts an air land. their African followers are hicle driven by an underage in Laos. 25. strike at Colonel Muammar • 1971 - Major Jan Wilhelm killed. scholar (the Senior Police • 1983 - Rifleman Barend • 1982 - Eight SADF and Kadhaffi’s home in Libya Arnhem Loubser from 1 • 1916 - General Jan Chris- Superintendant’s son) who Christoffel Dippenaar from SWATF members attached in the biggest US air strike Maintenance Unit was acci- tiaan Smuts, in charge of was not authorised to drive the Infantry School was to 61 Mechanised Battalion since the Vietnam War. Lib- dentally killed in a train ac- British, South African and the vehicle. He was 18. killed in a private vehicle ac- Group were Killed in Ac- ya claims forty people have cident at Kimberley. He was Indian troops in Kenya, fi- • 1988 - Captain H Pienaar cident on the Clocolan - La- tion when their Ratel was been killed. The US says the 42. nally has the Germans on the from the South African In- dybrand road. He was 21. ambushed and knocked out raids are in response to an • 1981 - Two members from run. Colonel Paul von Let- fantry Corps, attached to • 1986 - U.S. warplanes, on by RPG-7 anti-tank rockets explosion at a Berlin disco- Infantry School were killed tow-Vorbeck’s troops (3,000 Group 70 Headquarters at orders from President Ron- near Tsintsabis by a group theque in which two Ameri- in a private vehicle accident Europeans and 11,000 Aska- Katima Mulilo was killed ald Reagan, bombed the of heavily armed SWAPO/ cans were killed on 5 April. on the National Highway ri) had heavily outnumbered instantly after suffering fatal Libyan cities of Tripoli and PLAN insurgents during • 1990 - Rifleman Stoney van near Richmond while on the British East African Ri- head injuries while driving Benghazi in retaliation for Ops Yahoo. The casualties Wyk from the Cape Regi- weekend pass. The casualties fles. to Windhoek to attend an In- the April 5th terrorist bomb- were: 2nd Lieutenant Dan- ment was Killed in Action were: Corporal Cornelius Jo- • 1941 - Yugoslavia surrenders formation/Intelligence Con- ing of a discotheque in West iele Rudolf van der Westhu- after being shot dead by per- hannes Potgieter (19). Rifle- to the Germans. ference. He was 25. Berlin in which two Ameri- izen (49). Corporal Maartin sons unknown while on foot man Jacobus Albertus Cilli- • 1942 - Germans begin to de- can soldiers were killed. Jacobus van Jaarsveld (20). patrol during anti-riot opera- ers (18). stroy the Sobibor Concentra- 14 April • 1994 - Dissident soldiers Lance Corporal Johannes tions in a township in Mpu- • 1982 - Rifleman Jan Dan- tion Camp. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer shoot dead Lesotho’s deputy Jacobus van den Berg (20). mulanga. He was 24. iels Gerhardus Du Toit from • 1945 - Mussolini flees from War: The first Boer prisoners prime minister and seize four Rifleman Leonard Patrick 1 SAI, attached to 61 Mech Salo, heading for Milan. of war arrive at St Helena, on cabinet ministers in a mutiny Hough (20). Rifleman Mar- 16 April Battalion was Killed in Ac- • 1961 - A U.S.-backed at- board of the Milwaukee. over a planned government ius Petersen (19). Rifleman • 1916 - The French Army tion during Ops Yahoo when tempt to overthrow Premier • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer probe into the army. Johan Hendrik Potgieter forms the Escadrille Amer- he detonated a landmine dur- Fidel Castro of Cuba failed War: Cmdt Jan H. Theron, (30). Rifleman Barend Jaco- icaine. ing a contact with SWAPO/ disastrously in what became Danie Theron’s successor 15 April bus Wolfaardt (19). Rifleman • 1938 - Britain recognizes PLAN insurgents. He was known as the Bay of Pigs fi- as commander of Theron’s • 1936 - Italian forces occu- Jan Kouswab (40). the Italian annexation of Ab- 18. asco. Scouts, dies of gastric fe- py the Abyssinian town of • 1983 - Nine recruits from • 1998 - The military com- • 1975 - Khmer Rouge cap- ver in the Calvinia district, Dessye, having advanced 202 Battalion SWATF were mander of the Palestine Lib- ture Phnom Penh, initiating Namaqualand. 201 kilometres in five days. murdered by SWAPO/PLAN eration Organisation (PLO), a reign of terror. • 1914 - The first air attack on • 1942 - George VI awards the Special Forces Typhoon Khalil al-Wazir, is assassi- • 1980 - Sergeant Carel Petrus a warship: Mexican revolu- George Cross to the people Unit members in a Kraal in nated in Tunisia. Israeli gun- Greyling HC from 1 Re- tionary pilot Gustavo Adolfo of Malta. Northern Owamboland. The men are blamed. connaissance Regiment was Salinas Camiña bombs the • 1943 - US code breakers casualties were: Rifleman T. killed in a military vehicle Federalista gunboat ‘Guerre- discover Admiral Yamamo- Sikwaya (18). Rifleman A. 17 April accident in the Eastern Ca- ro’, at Topolobampo, Mexi- to will visit the Solomon Is- Mushambe (19). Rifleman V. privi. He was 33. co, causing slight damage. lands. Muyota (19). Rifleman T.K. • 1981 - Corporal Clive Fisher • 1940 - British and French • 1945 - British Army liber- Mukwambi (20). Rifleman Ronald Reagan from the Infantry School was troops land in Norway to ates Bergen-Belsen concen- M. Matamu (19). Rifleman killed in a private vehicle ac- 78 79 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

cident on the National road but the raid boosted Allied chusetts, about 70 armed mi- Easter holidaymakers from Ops K Division (Koevoet) Sergeant Leon Blaauw (21). near Mossel Bay. He was 21. morale following years of litiamen stood face to face South Africa and blowing up was Killed in Action dur- Trooper Denis Aden Naude • 1982 - Rifleman Derek -Jur unchecked Japanese military on Lexington Green with a a Rhodesian Railways train ing a contact with SWAPO/ (22). SAP Constable Coen- gens Deysel from 5 SAI was advances. British advance guard unit. and part of the track on the PLAN insurgents in North- raad Hermanus Dreyer (21). accidentally killed at the Joz- • 1983 - Two members from An unordered ‘shot heard Rutenga link to Beit Bridge. ern Owamboland. He was • 1979 - Lieutenant Com- ini Training Base when he the SWA Police Counter-In- around the world’ began • 1980 - Rifleman Jacobus 37. mander Dennis Mallalieu was struck by a bullet result- surgency Wing: Ops K Divi- the American Revolution. Petrus Koekemoer from 7 • 1988 - Corporal Edward from the Simonstown Naval ing from the accidental dis- sion (Koevoet) were Killed A volley of British rifle fire SAI was killed after suffering Clive Yeo from the South Base died after suffering a charge of a fellow soldier’s in action during a contact was followed by a charge multiple shrapnel wounds African Engineer Corps was fatal heart attack while at the rifle. He was 20. with SWAPO/PLAN insur- with bayonets leaving eight in a mortar bomb explosion attached to 101 Battalion Base. He was 57. • 1983 - General Mark W gents in Northern Owam- Americans dead and ten during a live firing exercise SWATF. He was Killed in • 1980 - Rifleman Simon Clark, dies at the age of 87. boland. They were: Special wounded. in Northern Owamboland. Action while disarming an Stumbo from 5 Reconnais- • 1984 - Rifleman Johann Sergeant Jacob Saulo (34). • 1906 - Bambatha Rebellion: He was 19. enemy anti-tank mine that sance Regiment was Killed Christiaan Rheeder from the Special Constable Thimo- Over 7,000 British troops are • 1981 - Rifleman Karel Jo- was booby-trapped with an in Action during a contact Infantry School was killed theus Maritina (25). called out to quell Zulu ag- han Cronje from 5 SAI was anti-lifting device. He was with enemy forces in South- in a private vehicle accident • 1988 - Lance Corporal Piet- gression in Natal. based at Okalongo and had 20. ern Angola. He was 18. on the Beaufort West - Rich- er Gerhardus Viljoen Du Toit • 1915 - World War I: West been feeling ill for approx- • 1990 - Truce ends the Nica- • 1981 - Leading Seaman Pe- mond road. He was 19. from the South African Med- Africa. Combined An- imately two weeks. He was raguan Civil War. ter James Henderson from • 1984 - Two members from ical Corps, attached to 201 glo-French forces take Man- evacuated to 1 Military Hos- SAS Inkonkoni accidentally 7 SAI were killed at Nehone Battalion SWATF was killed dera, Cameroon. pital after being diagnosed 20 April drowned in Durban during a in Southern Angola after in action. He was 19. • 1919 - Britain sends more with cerebral malaria. He • 1889 - Adolf Hitler was born naval training exercise. He suffering multiple shrapnel • 1988 - Major Lucas Freder- troops to Egypt to help quell succumbed not long after ad- in Braunau am Inn, Austria was 22. wounds in an accidental ri- ick Lotter, the 53 Battalion nationalistic unrest. mission. He was 19. on this day. • 1982 - Rifleman Gerhardus fle grenade explosion. The SWATF Intelligence Of- • 1941 - US Marines begin • 1984 - Rifleman Frank Cor- • 1934 - Heinrich Himmler Petrus Cornelius Hattingh casualties were: Corporal ficer, was Killed in Action in construction of an airfield on rie from the South African becomes head of the Prus- from 1 SAI, attached to 61 Phillipus Botha (20). Rifle- Southern Angola just north Wake Island. Cape Corps was killed after sian secret police. Mechanised Battalion Group man Cecil Rhodes Dippe- of Alpha Tower early / mid- • 1943 - Jews in the Warsaw being struck by a bullet re- • 1941 - German bombers raid was killed at Tsumeb when a naar (19). evening while following en- Ghetto staged an armed re- sulting from the accidental Athens. Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehi- • 1994 - Lance Corporal W.Z. emy spoor. He was 29. volt against Nazi SS troops discharge of a fellow sol- • 1945 - Okinawa: U.S. forces cle accidentally drove over Matwa from 61 Mechanised • 1988 - Rifleman Alberto attempting to forcibly deport dier’s rifle. He was 21. capture Motobu Heights, in him. He was 20. Battalion Group was acci- Nunes Dinu from 32 Bat- them to death camps. • 1985 - Special Warrant Of- the north. • 1982 - Sergeant Frederick dentally killed during opera- talion was Killed in Action • 1960 - The South West Af- ficer Alfons Kumulo from • 1947 - Peleliu: 27 Japanese Albertus Francois Claasen tions connected with Opera- during a contact with enemy rican People’s Organisation the South West Africa Police troops surrender, 18 months from the South West Africa tion Jumbo. He was 22. forces in Southern Angola. (SWAPO) is founded in Counter-Insurgency Wing: after World War II ended. Police Counter-Insurgen- He was 29. Windhoek with Sam Nujo- • 1976 - Two members from cy Wing: Ops K Division 18 April • 1989 - Lance Corporal Ber- ma as leader. Regiment President Steyn (Koevoet) Died of Wounds • 1934 - The U.S. Army ends nardus Lambertus Saayman • 1961 - Portuguese forces are and one member of the received on 10 April 1982 use of sabers as a combat from 110 Air Commando reinforced for continuing South African Police were during Operation Yahoo. He weapon for the . Squadron SAAF was killed conflict against the Movi- killed when their Eland Ar- was 25. • 1942 - The first air raid on while participating in a 2-day mento Popular de Libertação moured Car was involved • 1987 - Rifleman Wilson Ad- mainland Japan during World Commando Camp when his de Angola (MPLA, Popular in a head-on collision with a ams from the South African War II occurred as General Cessna 182 flew into high Liberation Movement of An- South African Police vehicle Cape Corps was accidentally James Doolittle led a squad- ground in the Montague gola) based near Luanda. at Ruacana. They were: Staff shot dead by a fellow soldier ron of B-25 bombers taking Mountains east of Robert- • 1976 - Guerrillas launch two while he was standing guard off from the carrier Hornet to son. He was 39. separate raids in the far south at the Van Der Stel Shooting bomb Tokyo and three other 19 April of Rhodesia near the Trans- Adolf Hitler Range. He was 17. cities. Damage was minimal, • 1775 - At dawn in Massa- vaal border, killing three 80 81 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

21 April from Rundu. He was 19. hausen Concentration Senegalese troops are to be Kankara from 202 Battalion sabotage. • 1836 - The Battle of San Ja- • 1978 - Private Barry Craig Camp, near Oranienburg in sent to help put down the SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1916 - The Irish “Easter Re- cinto between Texans led by Rieder from SWA SPES Brandenburg, which held tribesmen revolt in Moroc- tion during a contact with bellion” begins. Sam Houston and Mexican Unit SWATF was accidental- many political leaders from co. However, Germany has SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1942 - Japanese troops ad- forces led by Santa Anna ly killed at Oshivello during Captive Nations and special protested that France will in Northern Owamboland. vance on all fronts in Burma. took place near present day a night practice ambush. He military prisoners. be breaking the terms of the He was 22. • 1954 - Security forces round Houston. The Texans deci- was 20. • 1961 - French army rebels 1906 Algerias accords on • 1987 - Rifleman Kobus up more than 10,000 men in sively defeated the Mexican • 1983 - Glen Joseph Fleischer seize Algiers. Moroccan independence. Christopher Du Preez from the biggest anti-Mau Mau forces thereby achieving in- from 3 SAI was found dead • 1976 - Three members from • 1918 - The Zeebrugge Raid: the South African Cape operation since the state of dependence. at Potchefstroom with a gun- the Regiment Christiaan At heavy cost the Royal Corps was killed in a Mili- emergency was declared in • 1918 - During World War I, shot wound to the head, ap- Beyers were Killed in Ac- Navy & Royal Marines earn tary Vehicle Accident on the Kenya eighteen months ago. the Red Baron (Manfred von parently self-inflicted as no tion when their patrol was eight Victoria Crosses block- Ben Rossouw Highway at • 1969 - US B-52s drop 3,000 Richtofen) was shot down foul play was suspected. He ambushed by a numerically ing the harbour exit Kuilsriver. He was 18. tons of bombs on VC posi- and killed during the Bat- was 18. superior force of SWAPO/ • 1925 - Rebel leader Abdel • 1988 - Three members of tions inside Cambodia. tle of the Somme. He was • 1987 - Two members of the PLAN insurgents while they Krim’s troops enter French 102 Battalion SWATF were • 1975 - Under an amendment credited with 80 kills in less SADF were killed when were escorting a work team, Morocco. Killed in Action in Southern to the Defence Act the defi- than two years, flying a red their military vehicle was busy on the Ruacana to • 1945 - Allies in Italy reach Angola, South West of Techi- nition of superior officer is Fokker triplane. British pi- involved in a head-on colli- Ovamboland pipeline, back the Po River. pa when their Romeo Mike changed with the effect that lots recovered his body and sion with a civilian vehicle at to Etale Base. The casualties • 1979 - Rifleman Alfredo Ma- Teams were ambushed by a White and Black members buried him with full military Rundu. The casualties were: were: Lieutenant Douglas nuel Tchizondo from 32 Bat- superior force of SWAPO/ of the Defence Force will honours. Lance Corporal Clifton Da- Gerald Hinds (20). Rifleman talion was Killed in Action PLAN and FAPLA troops. have equal status. • 1941 - Greece surrenders to vid Kilroe (21). Rifleman Johannes Roelof Fouche during a contact with enemy The casualties were: Lance • 1980 - “Desert One”: US op- Nazi Germany. Hans Harold Scheepers (25). (26). Rifleman Jozua Fran- forces in Southern Angola. Corporal I. Handura (23). eration to save 52 hostages • 1945 - Red Army reaches the • 1992 - Three members of cois Naude (21). He was 26. Rifleman K. Kapulke (19). in Iran, fails, eight die. outskirts of Berlin. the South African Medical • 1983 - Corporal Jan de Klerk • 1980 - Soviet sub catches Rifleman U. Mbinge (20). • 1982 - One member from 5 • 1956 - A military pact be- Corps Training Centre were Botha from 5 SAI was Killed fire off Japan, nine die. • 1988 - Sapper Carl Sachse SAI and one member from tween Egypt, Saudi Arabia killed in a Military Vehicle in Action during a contact • 1982 - Rifleman Noe Vasco from 13 Field Engineer Reg- 101 Battalion SWATF were and Yemen is finalised. Accident on the Potchef- with SWAPO/PLAN insur- from 32 Battalion was killed iment was killed when he killed when the Buffel Troop • 1966 - Two members of 17 stroom to Westonaria Road. gents near the Cut-Line. He when he was accidentally accidentally detonated an carrier in which they were Squadron and three passen- They were: Lance Corporal was 20. run over by a military vehi- anti-personnel mine while traveling overturned near gers were drowned when Efstratios Kladis (18). Pri- • 1988 - Lance Corporal Ste- cle at Buffalo Base. He was in the process of laying out a Eenhana in Northern Owam- their Alouette III, Serial No. vate Bradley John Gordon ven Charles Trollip from the 32. minefield. He was 26. boland. The Casualties were: 65 suffered engine failure (19). Private Roelof Freder- 2nd Battalion Regiment De • 1984 - Rifleman Johannes Rifleman Glen Bjorn Du and crashed into the sea off ick Malan (19). La Rey drowned after falling 24 April Plooy (21). Rifleman Ronald Terrace Bay, South West Af- into a crocodile infested riv- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Andreas (26). rica. They Air Force casual- 22 April er near Skukuza in the Kru- er War: A dynamite factory, ties were: Lieutenant Tobias • 1915 - Second Battle of ger National Park while on which forms part of the Beg- 25 April Johannes Winterbach (22). Ypres: Germany introduces patrol. He was 26. bie Engineering Workshop, • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Air Corporal Henry George poison gas. • 1990 - Nigeria’s ruling gen- Johannesburg, is destroyed War: Relief of Jammersberg Morton (21). • 1941 - World War II: Tripoli erals crushed a six-hour re- in an explosion. The destruc- Drift: The relief columns • 1967 - Military coup in comes under bombardment bellion by junior officers. tion is blamed on British under Generals Hart and Greece. by British warships. Barbazon arrive at Wepener. • 1977 - Corporal Heinrich • 1944 - Hitler & Mussolini 23 April General De Wet returns to Rudolph Bigalke from 3 SAI confer at Berchtesgarten. • 1873 - Ashanti War breaks his primary goal of disrupt- was killed when his military • 1945 - Soviet and Polish out in Africa. ing British supply lines. vehicle overturned 20km troops liberate the Sachsen- • 1911 - French, Algerian, and Manfred von Richtofen • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo-

82 83 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

er War: General Jan Chris- He was 19. Pass, three columns of Rom- Action in Northern Owam- contracted malaria while on first engagement of the bush tiaan Smuts surrenders to the • 1980 - Lieutenant Peter Hen- mel’s Deutsches Afrika Ko- boland when he accidentally operations in South Eastern war. British under a flag of truce. ry Hollis from 8 Squadron rps have crossed the border detonated a booby-trap in an Angola and was admitted to • 1967 - Muhammad Ali re- Deneys Reitz who agrees to was Reported Missing in from Libya to Egypt. enemy weapons cache that the Rundu Sickbay where he fuses induction into the US act as Smuts’ orderly joins Action over Southern Ango- • 1943 - North Africa: Access his patrol had located. He unfortunately died. He was Army. him. However, on discov- la while flying an Impala Mk to the Tunisian plain is open was 20. 21. • 1971 - Samuel Lee Gravely, ering that orderlies are not II. His body was later recov- to the Allies following the • 1994 - Rifleman Shadrack • 1987 - Special Constable Jr., is promoted to rear admi- treated as officers, Reitz is ered. He was 25. capture of Longstop Hill. Vusi Mnisi from 121 Battal- Stefanus Willem Kanghende ral; the first black admiral in instantly promoted to chief- • 1980 - Sapper Adeo Marais • 1944 - Allied troops begin ion was shot dead by persons from the South West Africa the US Navy. of-staff. from the School of Engi- concentrating at assembly unknown while on foot pa- Police Counter-Insurgen- • 1975 - Signaler Josef Jaco- • 1915 - Gallipoli Campaign: neers was killed instantly in areas in Britain for D-Day. trol during anti-crime opera- cy Wing: Ops-K Division bus Mare’ from 2 Signal 78,000 British & ANZAC an accidental explosion at • 1961 - French Army rebels tions at Loskop in KZN. He (Koevoet) was Killed in Ac- Regiment was killed in a troops undertake an amphib- the Units ammunition store. once again try to take power was 33. tion during a contact with military vehicle accident. He ious landing He was 17. in Algeria. SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents was 18. • 1941 - General Erwin Rom- • 1981 - Corporal Barend Fred- • 1966 - Lieutenant Herman 27 April in Northern Owamboland. • 1982 - Corporal Marcus An- mel’s Deutsches Afrika Ko- erick Burger from the South Alan Day from 1 Squadron • 1940 - Himmler orders es- He was 28. thony Harris-Dewey from rps forces the British out of African Catering Corps was was killed when his Cana- tablishment of the Auschwitz 701 Battalion SWATF was Halfaya Pass, just south- killed in a military vehicle dair CL13B Sabre crashed Concentration Camp. 28 April Killed in Action during a east of Sollum, and back to Accident at Elandsfontein. near Pilansberg during a rou- • 1941 - German troops occu- • 1919 - The League of Nations contact with SWAPO/PLAN the Buq Buq–Sofafi line in He was 20. tine training flight. He was py Athens. is established, with General insurgents. He was 20. Egypt. 24. • 1945 - Italian partisans Jan Smuts and Prime Min- • 1984 - Rifleman Phillip Fou- • 1945 - The Red Army com- 26 April • 1975 - Corporal John Cor- capture Mussolini and Clara ister Louis Botha as the two rie van Vuuren from 4 SAI pletely surrounds Berlin. • 1679 - The Castle of Good nelius Hanekom from 5 Petacci, near Lake Como. representatives of the Un- was accidentally killed out- • 1945 - US & Soviet forces Hope, oldest and most his- Military Works Unit was • 1984 - Corporal Reginald ion of South Africa. Smuts side Amsterdam when Ra- meet at Torgau on the Elbe toric building in SA, is com- accidentally drowned while Patrick Briggs from 1 SWA played an important role in tel 22C drove into the rear River. pleted. swimming at Rundu. He was SPES Unit, SWATF was the drafting of the Covenant of Ratel 22B in conditions • 1961 - Fourth nuclear bomb • 1936 - Italian troops assem- 27. critically injured when his of the League. of extremely poor visibility test by France in the Sahara. ble for an attack on Addis • 1982 - Lance Corporal Gert Buffel Troop Carrier was in- • 1945 - Twenty-three years during a sandstorm. He was • 1977 - The Chief of Staff Ababa, Ethiopia. Gotlieb Gouche from 1 Para- volved in a collision with ci- of Fascist rule in Italy ended 19. (Operations) says that the • 1937 - During the Spanish chute Battalion was acciden- vilian vehicle on the Ondan- abruptly as Italian partisans • 1998 - Nigeria’s former dep- development of South Af- Civil War, the ancient town tally killed when his Buffel gwa-Oshivello road causing shot former Dictator Benito uty leader, General Oladipyo rica’s defence has made the of Guernica was attacked Troop Carrier overturned at the Buffel to overturn. He Mussolini. Other leaders of Diya, and five others are country completely self-suf- by German warplanes. Af- Kombat near Grootfontein. was 20. the Fascist Party and friends sentenced to death by firing ficient from an arms point of ter destroying the town in a He was 20. • 1984 - Rifleman Glen Scott of Mussolini were also killed squad for plotting to over- view. three hour bombing raid, the • 1982 - Rifleman Dawid Maitland Clark from 5 SAI along with his mistress, Clara throw military leader Gener- • 1978 - Private Alan David planes machine-gunned flee- Lukas from SWA SPES Unit, Petacci. Their bodies were al Sani Abacha. Dixon from 16 Maintenance ing civilians. SWATF was killed when his then hung upside down and Unit at Grootfontein was • 1941 - East Africa: The Ab- Buffel Troop carrier over- pelted with stones by jeering 29 April killed just outside the town yssinian fortress of Dessie, turned in Owamboland. He crowds in Milan. • 1781 - French fleet under of Rundu when his Magi- roughly half-way between was 22. • 1956 - The French leave Vi- Admiral Suffren prevents rus Deutz truck, loaded with Addis Ababa and Amba Ala- • 1982 - The Falklands War: etnam. Britain from seizing Cape of supplies for the 32 Battalion gi, is captured by General Argentine forces on South • 1966 - Seven guerrillas are Good Hope. element stationed at Nkuren- Alan Cunningham’s South Georgia surrender to the killed in Rhodesia (now • 1916 - The Irish “Easter Re- kuru, overturned when the African divisions. British. Zimbabwe) at Sinoya in the bellion” ends. vehicles front tyre suffered • 1941 - North Africa: Follow- • 1983 - Rifleman Thomas An- • 1918 - Germany’s main of- a blow-out, causing him to ing the fall of the Halfaya drew Ross from 1 SWA Spes Muhammad Ali fensive on the Western Front lose control of the vehicle. Unit, SWATF was Killed in 84 85 This month in military history ... April

in World War I ends. him. He was 20. • 1945 - The Red Banner is • 1945 - German representa- • 1984 - Rifleman Antonio raised over the Reichstag tives in Italy surrender dur- Paulus from 101 Battalion Building in Berlin. ing World War II. SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1945 - Adolf Hitler (56) • 1945 - The SA 6th Division tion during a contact with commits suicide in his bun- crosses Brenta River and is SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. ker. then redirected to Milan in He was 26. • 1979 - Private Martinus Jo- Italy in World War II. • 1987 - Lance Corporal Paul hannes Schroeder from the • 1945 - US troops liberate the Douglas Elliot Hayes from Technical Service Corps was Nazi concentration camp at the South African Medical critically injured in a private Dachau. Services College, was killed vehicle accident between • 1946 - Tokyo: 28 former Jap- in a private motor vehicle ac- Vrede and Standerton on 09 anese leaders indicted as war cident. He was 20. March 1979. He succumbed criminals. to his injuries in 1 Mil Hos- • 1970 - US & South Vietnam- 30 April pital on 30 April 1979. He ese troops invade Cambodia. • 1881 - France invades Tuni- was 19. • 1975 - Last US personnel sia from Algeria on a pretext, • 1980 - Terrorists seize the pull out of Vietnam. and later establishes a pro- Iranian Embassy in London. • 1978 - Two members from tectorate. • 1982 - Rifleman Eddie 5 Reconnaissance Regiment • 1828 - King Shaka is mur- James Barnard from 4 SAI were accidentally killed at dered by his brothers. was critically wounded by a Fort Rev, the Special Forces • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer fellow soldier while on duty base at Air Force Base On- War: The ZAR’s fourth and in Northern Owamboland. dangwa, when an explosive last Creusot ‘Long Tom’ is He was 19. device they were preparing dynamited before falling • 1983 - Sergeant B. Mukosho for an external operation, into British hands, only 200 from 202 Battalion SWATF detonated prematurely. The metres from the charging en- was Killed in Action during a casualties were: Warrant Of- emy. contact with SWAPO/PLAN ficer Class 1 Johannes Lam- • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- insurgents. He was 27. bertus Conradie HC VRM er War: An official report • 1987 - Three members from (34). Corporal Cecil James states that British columns 5 Maintenance Unit were Eayrs (23). have completely or partially killed in a military vehicle • 1980 - Rifleman S.D. Ernes- destroyed 158 farms and an accident at Ondangwa. The to from 5 Recce Regiment unknown number of Black casualties were: Private Booi was Killed in Action during villages. Julies (21). Private Nicolaas a contact with enemy forces • 1936 - The Ethiopian capital, Koopman (18). Private Esau while on operations in South- Addis Ababa, is lost to the Oosthuizen (19). ern Angola. He was 25. Italians. • 1991 - A military coup is ex- • 1980 - Rifleman Albertus Jo- • 1942 - British troops evacu- ecuted in Lesotho. hannes Oosthuizen from 1 ate Mandalay in Burma. • 1996 - In Liberia, shells and SAI was killed in a military • 1943 - Bergen-Belsen Con- gunfire rip through central vehicle accident in Bloem- centration Camp for Jews es- Monrovia and a diplomatic fontein. He was 19. tablished. enclave. US Marines shoot • 1983 - Rifleman Tjaart • 1945 - Red Army liberates and kill three Liberians firing Jacobs from 6 SAI was acci- the Ravensbruck concentra- toward the US Embassy. dentally killed when a bun- tion camp. ker wall collapsed on top of 86 00 quiz Military World War II tanks Despatches 1. Cruiser Mk V Crusader (Britain) 2 2. M3 Stuart (USA) Website 3. Panzer IV (Germany) 4. KV-1 (Russia) 5. StuG III (Germany) 6. Matilda Mk II (Britain) 8 7. Panzer III (Germany) “Things don’t have to 8. T34/76 (Russia) change the world to be 9. Cruiser Mk VIII Cromwell important.” (Britain) Steve Jobs 10. Panzer V Panther (Germa- 13 ny) 11. M10 Wolverine (USA) 12. Joseph Stalin-2 (Russia) 13. Panzer VI Tiger 1 (Germa- ny) 14. M4 Sherman (USA) 15. Mk IV Churchill (Britain)

Useful links Our aim is to make the Military Despatches website easy to use. Even more important to us, we Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- want to make the website informative and interesting. The latest edition of the magazine will be line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. available, as will all the previous editions. More over, there will be links to videos, websites, and Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for articles that our readers may find interesting. So check out the website, bookmark it, and pass the veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The URL on to everyone that you think may be interested. second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. Have you checked out the bookshelf on the website? Here you can open and read individual articles on screen with no need to download anything.

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