Jan Breytenbach
Encyclopedia
Jan Breytenbach was appointed by the Founder of the South African Special Forces Brigade
- General Frits Loots - as the first commander of 1 Reconnaissance Commando
- the first unit founded within the South African Special Forces. He was also appointed as the first commander of the 32 Battalion
, known colloquially as Buffalo Battalion, as well as 44-Para Brigade.
Breytenbach retired from the military in 1987, and has written a number of books since then. He is the brother of South African poet and writer Breyten Breytenbach
and of war correspondent
/photographer Cloete Breytenbach. During the 1980s, Breyten and Jan Breytenbach held strongly opposing political viewpoints, so with his brother opting for a more moderate approach, this influential family effectively covered the political spectrum.
South African Special Forces Brigade
The South African Special Forces Brigade is the only Special Forces unit of the South African National Defence Force ....
- General Frits Loots - as the first commander of 1 Reconnaissance Commando
South African 1 Reconnaissance Commando
The 1 Reconnaissance Commando was the first South African special forces unit, founded by General Fritz Loots - the founder of the South African Special Forces, and the first General Officer Commanding of the South African Special Forces. He appointed 12 qualified paratroopers as the founder members...
- the first unit founded within the South African Special Forces. He was also appointed as the first commander of the 32 Battalion
South African 32 Battalion
32 Battalion was a special light infantry battalion of the South African Army, composed of black and white commissioned and enlisted personnel...
, known colloquially as Buffalo Battalion, as well as 44-Para Brigade.
Breytenbach retired from the military in 1987, and has written a number of books since then. He is the brother of South African poet and writer Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach is a South African writer and painter with French citizenship.-Biography:Breyten Breytenbach was born in Bonnievale, Western Cape, approximately 180 km from Cape Town and 100 km from the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas...
and of war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
/photographer Cloete Breytenbach. During the 1980s, Breyten and Jan Breytenbach held strongly opposing political viewpoints, so with his brother opting for a more moderate approach, this influential family effectively covered the political spectrum.
See also
- 32 Battalion (Book)32 Battalion (Book)32 Battalion: The Inside Story of South Africa's Elite Fighting Unit is a book written by Piet Nortje. For his entire adult life he had been a soldier. Half of his military career he spent with 32 Battalion. During early 1993 he volunteered to compile the story of 32 Battalion...
- 32 Battalion (South Africa)
- South African Border WarSouth African Border WarThe South African Border War, commonly referred to as the Angolan Bush War in South Africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa and Angola between South Africa and its allied forces on the one side and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's...