unit8

WWII can be seen as just a continuation of WWI with a pause in between 1919 and 1939 or 1937 if you include the conflict between Japan and China. Some German Generals wanted to invade the USSR in steps and plan each operation as progress was made yearly, they were over ruled by the Corporal. One of the most decisive points of WWII was the air war in which Germany lost control of the skies above the battle fields and Germany. This affected production, movement of armaments and troops etc and hindered them on all aspects of fighting the war effectively. Hindered the U-Boats on their transit in the Bay of Biscay and tied up vast numbers of 88 Flak guns and man power to defend Germany which would have been more use at the fronts. Germany's largest fault was having what could be called a purely tactical airforce and no strategic arm to the Luftwaffe. The fighters (Bf 109) were short ranged as they had been designed to be based just behind the front line and the bombers were all medium two engined and were nothing more than flying artillery for the Heer, they also had a very light bomb load. If the Germans had a Stratigic bomber they could of hit the USSR's production centres, mainly the electric power stations and tankograd beyond the Urals. The four engined Fw 200 Condor had series problems and lots broke up either in the air or on landing etc as their design could not take the punishment of military aviation.

South African Centurions once up graded are called Olifants (Elephants) and there is a range of models and they are still in service. All of Switzerlands Centurions were bought from South Africa in the late 1950's or early 1960's.

South Africa used the 25 pounder and 5.5" gun well into the 1980's for training as well as in combat. Both guns were used in Angola in 1975 and all through what is termed the Border War on the Namibian (South West African) Angolan border which ended in 1989/90.

The German tanks are all Panzer V's called Panther The first photo labeled not much left is a Berg Pather, no turret and has abit of box structure The rest look like G models of the Panther range. From the front no drivers visor on front glasis, the rack down the side from which the bazooka plates hang from

The Sword of the Nation belonged to the Ciskei Forces and not the Transkei. I have their cap badges as well as the flash with one spare of each. Am still trying to figure out how to up load photographs. I have about 700 shoulder flashes.

Name is Garth. I served in Uniform, Riot Unit and finished in forensics as a Fingerprint expert in South Africa's oldest fingerprint office, Pietermaritzburg. This office was started by the Natal Police and is a story all in itself. Unit8 is short for Riot Unit 8 based in Pietermaritzburg and was responsible for the Natal Midlands area including Kokstad and surrounding area. Later Riot Units were called Internal Stability Unit when they became closed units. Used Green coloured vehicles during that time period. For Riot duties sjamboks and cut down "pick handles" were issued and mainly used in areas without Zulu or Xhosa. Reason being, you did not want to ever baton charge a group of Zulu's as from very young their idea of fun/sport was stick fighting and they excel at this sport of theirs, and in all demos/riots the vast majority of them were carrying sticks or weapons of some sort.

The shotgun visible is the SA made muzler which appeared in the early 1990's, it is a much heavier version of the Beretta model 200 and 202. The reason for it being heavier is that is a combined weapon, replaced the Beretta shotgun, 37mm Stopper (baton rounds and tear gas) and the need to carry an R1 to launch tear gas grenades. The muzler can fire rubber bullets 12 bore in size. They come in the blue cartridge case. Stun grenades tear gas canisters The latter two with ballistic rounds that would blow the barrel of a normal shotgun.

The South African Police (SAP) baton was also carried in an internal pocket on the right leg. Just by the trouser pocket on right leg. This pocket was also covered by the summer (safari style) and winter tunics. Wooden batons were with drawn from service approx 1985/6. I remember handing mine in reluctently.

I only have the gorgets for the SAPolice at the moment and am just trying to figure out how to load the photographs of them. They are very similar to the cap visor scrambled egg. A photograph of the SADF with Protea visor scramled egg can be seen in the book South African War Machine page 9

The SAPolice senior officers used a ALOE plant for their scrambled egg on cap visors and on the collar gorget patches. The SADF senior officers used the protea flower scrambled egg on their cap visors The new (SAPS) South African Police Service use the Aloe plant as the centre of the new cap badge and the same scrambled egg and gorget patches, only change on the gorgets is the button which has the SAPS emblem and not the SAP badge

The SAPolice was created in 1913, three years after the Union of South Africa was created by the amalgamation of four British Colonies into one country. In 1957 the British Crown was removed from the SAP badges, which is four years before South Africa left the British Commonwealth and became a Republic. Senior Officers also wore a more ornate cap badge in bullion wire and later in enamel In 1994 the SAPolice came to an end when the South African Police Service (SAPS) was created by amalgamating all of the 9 or 10 Homeland Polices Forces and the SAPolice into one new National Force. Plus members from the ANC and PAC Armed Wings who did not want to go to the Defence Force