The battle of Cassinga, 4 May 1978: A historical reassessment

Part 1: The course of the battle and ensuing controversy

Authors

  • Leo Barnard University of the Free State

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38140/sjch.v31i3.542

Abstract

The battle of Cassinga between paratroopers of the South African Defence Force (SADF) and elements of SWAPO on 4 May 1978 was shrouded in controversy right from the start. These military hostilities in the south of Angola occurred against the background of specific events in South-West Africa (now Namibia). In this article, the controversy is examined in detail. The importance of oral tradition/accounts, currently the subject of discussion in South African historiography, is acknowledged in this article via verbatim transcriptions of interviews with the commander of the South African Parachute Brigade, Maj.-Gen. MJ du Plessis and other relevant role-players.

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Published

2006-12-31

How to Cite

Barnard, L. (2006). The battle of Cassinga, 4 May 1978: A historical reassessment: Part 1: The course of the battle and ensuing controversy. Southern Journal for Contemporary History, 31(3), 131–146. https://doi.org/10.38140/sjch.v31i3.542

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Section

Articles