Customer Reviews
All Quiet On The Southern Front - By: Charles Vasey, 31 Aug 2008 
This is a book of anecdotes from young SADF national servicemen about their lives in & around the Border War which went from the Portuguese withdrawal in 1975 to Mandela's release in 1990. The range of individuals is admirably wide. There is a volunteer, a conscientious objector, a gay guy & the usual crowd of daft young lads. Of course there are innumerable stories of Army/Navy/Airforce "bull", of rites of passage, drinking & smoking, silly larks & horrible experiences. What came through to me especiallly was how young these men were to be killing (but not, as one says, watching American Gigolo). They had barely begun to form their own views (which is why the military wanted to form these views for them). The question of the war's morality is not reallly of interest to these young men who are in the grip of something much more horrible - corporals. The accounts from the late Eighties where the front-line states had Soviet aircraft make it clear that these battles were not just turkey-shoots.
Seven reprints can't be wrong - By: Clare, 07 Aug 2007 
The "war" in South Africa was quite odd for women ... most took no part in military service at alll. What we did was spend two years waiting for sons, husbands, boyfriends or friends to return. Very often the man who left was not the same person who came back. This book tells you why. I read it in a day ... it was riveting. Could the author find more former servicemen & write a sequel?
Een twak drie een! - By: D. J. Williams, 06 Feb 2007 I was given this book as a gift for Christmas 2006...and what a superb one it was. I was conscripted into the SADF (South African Defence Force) in January 1985 until December 1986, two years of my life. I was just 18. I spent many months doing "basic" training & "JL's" (Junior Leaders) & eventuallly spending 13 months on the Angolan/South West African border, defending against the "enemy". I lived & fought with the profound & highly respected 32 Battalion...and have many fond memories of the men who gave up so much of their lives for their families & now have nothing to show for it. This book certainly captures the emotions, fears, joys, camaraderie & much much more. It is amazing how much the young men had to endure for the safety of others at that time, but to be quite honest, it taught self-discipline, working under intense pressure & developing strong bonds amongst many other character building traits. It was a time that I will never forget & will always hold fond, yet sometimes sad memories.This book brings back the good & bad times...and does it very well. 32 Battalion, I salute you.
Brilliant - By: Ania, 02 Jan 2007 This book gives afantastic insight into the apartheid system, & reminds us of things we may have forgotten about - the illegal wars in other countries in Southern Africa, the use of the army to supress township resistance & many other aspects of life in South Africa.
The book alllows young conscripts to describe their experiences & through doing so reflect on their role in the machinery of the apratheid state. Many also come face to face with the true horror of apartheid making them question the morality of the system.
This is a fantastic book for anyone who is interested in the recent history of South Africa. Highly recommended.
