Days Of The Generals: The Untold Story of South Africas Apartheid-era Military Generals [Paperback]

Hilton Hamann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 23, 2007

Days of the Generals is based on interviews with the former generals of the South African Defence Force: Magnus Malan, Constand Viljoen, Jannie Geldenhuys, Georg Meiring, Hein du Toit and Chris Thirion. For the first time, they have opened up and told their side of the story about events in southern Africa from the 1970s to the present. Theirs is an explosive story, giving behind-the-scenes information about covert operations, secret meetings, strategic alliances and full-scale war. The book looks in detail at South Africa's involvement in Angola, Namibia and Mozambique. It examines the armed struggle of the ANC and the state's war weapons, South Africa's nuclear program and other "top secret" issues. This is essential reading for anyone interested in southern African politics and military history.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Hilton Hamann entered the South African Defence Force as a conscript in 1975, and was stationed in Angola. He subsequently became the Sunday Times's military correspondent and wrote for a number of well-known international magazines and newspapers, such as Soldier of Fortune. In this role he travelled extensively with the SADF, accompanying them into many battles. He currently runs a news syndication company.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Struik Publishers; 1st edition (July 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1868723402
• ISBN-13: 978-1868723409
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,047,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Days gone, June 27, 2008

By 

Booker "booky" (WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Days Of The Generals: The Untold Story of South Africas Apartheid-era Military Generals (Paperback)

Though misunderstood SA was the last standing west friendly state in dictatorship ridden Africa.

Takes us on a view since the early 1960's.

Years after its collapse, we get this book with an inside overview of the old SA government, and its mistrust towards its own defenders, especially by De Klerk.

In the end he regretted saying he'd given in to them too easy, getting nothing in return.
Finally realising he'd been taken for a ride by the ANC?
Duped, mate? -Yeah too late though, and there are no turnings back.

Typical how politicians wake up only when its too late.
The harm is done now.

How ironic the most powerful armed forces in the African continent didn't have a say in the vanishing of the last white tribe in Africa.

The Boers fought the zulus, fought the british, fought for freedom and independence from tyranny.

Leave it to the politicians to through away generations of struggle.
And History goes on and on.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but doubtful of some of the claims, May 18, 2010

By 

H. Williams - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Days Of The Generals: The Untold Story of South Africas Apartheid-era Military Generals (Paperback)

The book gives a first hand look at the methods used by the apartheid regime in South Africa to stay in power ,keeping the communists out and the blacks oppressed.It does have credible allegations but one must bear in mind that the author does have a bias .He portrays the apartheid regime as being humane and fair towards blacks ,Which they obviously were not and claims that South Africa won a decisive victory at cuito cuanavale which is dubious if not false.