Bad Guys: Personal Accounts of Military Service in the South African Defence Force 1969 to 1990

by Barry Fowler

Bad GuysPersonal Accounts of Military Service in the South African Defence Force 1969 to 1990Most people today, when presented with the more recently accepted picture of the Apartheid regime that ruled in South Africa until the mid-1990s, can be excused for believing that all personnel who served in the Armed Forces of the South African Defence Force during that time were “Bad Guys”, who personally suppressed the black population.With new and representative governments in power in both Namibia and South Africa today, not much evidence is likely to be produced to counter such an opinion. In this, and other books, we hope to present a human face of those involved in the SADF, most of whom were not remotely evil, and were just trying to make the best they could of a difficult and uncomfortable situation, without considering themselves to have been holding up the Apartheid regime.The 18 personal accounts in this book are by men who served part of their service in South-West Africa, during the border war.These are the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the men who were there.

401 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 22, 2021

Reviews

[Charles Withington · Rating 1 out of 5]

A few diamonds amongst a mine dump full of waste. The diamonds were the personal takes on national service and "the system" and good that people now felt free to express themselves. The mine dump of waste was the repetition ad nauseam of the boringly same experience of the first taste of the army - from train to trommel. I cannot understand why the editor did not make any effort in this regard.

Also interesting to see that probably half the contributors, professing to be proud South African citizens though many of whom understandably did not support the Nationalist government not the system, chose to settle overseas. Surely, after the war was when the country needed you most.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

For what it is, it was "fine." That is to say, it was a free Kindle Unlimited book. It really needed a lot more editing of the personal histories of these SADF veterans, but, meh, it was good.

I got what I wanted, which was: insight into what they were thinking during the wars, a look at what the leadership was like, a look at the impact of compulsory national service, and insight into what they knew (or would admit to knowing) at the time of their service.