Jan Dirk Breytenbach DVR SD SM MMM[3] (14 July 1932 – 16 June 2024) was a South African Special Forces military officer and author of military books. He is best known as the first commander of 1 Reconnaissance Commando, South Africa's first special forces unit. In his long career, he served in the Suez Crisis, the Biafran War, the South African Border War, and the Angolan Civil War, and attained the rank of colonel before his retirement. He died on 16 June 2024, at the age of 91.[4]
Jan Dirk Breytenbach | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 July 1932 |
| Died | 16 June 2024 (aged 91) George, South Africa |
| Allegiance |  South Africa United Kingdom[1] |
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 1 Parachute Battalion |
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |            [2] |
| Other work | Author |
Military career
editBreytenbach attended the Army Gymnasium in 1950, and was awarded the Sword of Peace in 1953 and joined the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm after serving in the Armoured Corps and saw service in the Suez Crisis in 1956. He rejoined the South African Defence Force in 1961[3] and soon after completed one of 1 Parachute Battalion's courses. Fritz Loots commissioned him to organise 1 Reconnaissance Commando in 1971.
In 1975 Breytenbach led Operation Savannah, the SADF's covert intervention in the Angolan Civil War. The remnants of this group became the elite 32 Battalion, or "Buffalo Battalion".
He attended Staff College in 1977[5] and was promoted to colonel. In 1978, led the SADF air assault on Cassinga, and has continued to the present day to contest opposing versions of the event in the press.[6]
He became senior staff officer for operations at Northern Transvaal Command and commanded 44 Parachute Brigade from 24 September 1980 to 31 December 1982. He founded the SADF guerrilla school, which he commanded until his retirement.[3]
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, as his brother opted for a left-wing approach. This influential family effectively covered the political spectrum.
Awards and decorations
editVan Riebeeck Decoration (DVR)
Southern Cross Decoration (SD)
Southern Cross Medal (1975) (SM)
Military Merit Medal (MMM) [2]
Pro Patria Medal (South Africa) (with Cunene Clasp) [a]
Southern Africa Medal
General Service Medal (South Africa)
Good Service Medal (Gold (30 Years))
Good Service Medal (Silver (20 Years))
Good Service Medal (Bronze (10 Years)) [2][7]
Naval General Service Medal (1915) (Great Britain)
Books by Jan Breytenbach
edit- Breytenbach, Jan (1986). Forged in battle. Saayman & Weber. ISBN 0-7971-0025-3.
- Breytenbach, Jan (1990). They live by the sword. Lemur. ISBN 0-620-14870-5.
- Breytenbach, Jan (1997). Eden's exiles, one soldier's fight for paradise. Queillerie. ISBN 1-874901-24-4.
- Breytenbach, Jan (2001). The plunderers. Covos Day. ISBN 1-919874-01-1.
- Breytenbach, Jan (2002). The Buffalo Soldiers, the story of South Africa's 32-Battalion, 1975–1993. Galago. ISBN 1-919854-07-X.
- Breytenbach, Jan (2008). Eagle Strike: The Story of the controversial airborne assault on Cassinga 1978. Manie Grove Publishing. ISBN 978-0-620-40614-7.
- Breytenbach, Jan (2011). The Tempered Sword: Forged in battle revisited; Operation Savannah and the birth of 32Bn. South Africa: Manie Grove Publishing. ISBN 978-0-620-500470.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Only the Cunene clasp was awarded, to members who served in Angola during Operation Savannah in 1975 and 1976. Recipients of the clasp wear a button, with the letter C encircled by a wreath, on the ribbon bar.
References
edit- ^ a b "Authors – Col. Jan Breytenbach". The Galago Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ a b c "History of the South African Special Forces". SAForces Club. Archived from the original on 20 January 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
- ^ a b c Els, Paul J. (2010). We conquer from above. PelsA Books. ISBN 978-0-620-46738-4.
- ^ "Recce legend Colonel (Ret) Jan Breytenbach passes". George Herald. 16 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
- ^ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452–1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 30. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
- ^ Shigwedha, Vilho Amukwaya (2011). Enduring suffering: the Cassinga Massacre of Namibian exiles in 1978 and the conflicts between survivors' memories (PhD thesis). Cape Town: University of the Western Cape. hdl:handle/11394/1711.
- ^ "Member Profile – Jan Breytenbach". Warinangola.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
External links
edit- The Silent War – Book on SA Special Forces History Archived 26 March 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- 32 Battalion Website
- SA Army Website. Archived 22 April 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- Partial mirror of the old, removed official SA Special Forces Brigade site.
- South African Special Forces League
- Jan Breytenbach at IMDb