Andreas Liebenberg
Encyclopedia
General Andreas Liebenberg SSA SD SOE SM MMM (1938-1998) was a South African military commander. He joined the South African Army
as an infantryman in the early 1960s. In the early 1980s, he was a sector commander in the Border War
in South West Africa
.
He served as GOC Special Forces from 1982 to 1985, as Chief of the Army from 1985 to 1990, as Chief of Defence Force Staff for a few months in 1990, and then as Chief of the SA Defence Force
from 1990 to 1993. He was a member of the defence committee of the Transitional Executive Council which supervised the South African government during the final months leading up the first democratic election in 1994.
In 1995, he, former defence minister Magnus Malan
, and former defence force chief General Johannes Geldenhuys
were tried for murder, as a result of a military operation in which several civilians had been killed. They were all acquitted.
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
as an infantryman in the early 1960s. In the early 1980s, he was a sector commander in the Border War
South African Border War
The South African Border War, commonly referred to as the Angolan Bush War in South Africa, was a conflict that took place from 1966 to 1989 in South-West Africa and Angola between South Africa and its allied forces on the one side and the Angolan government, South-West Africa People's...
in South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
.
He served as GOC Special Forces from 1982 to 1985, as Chief of the Army from 1985 to 1990, as Chief of Defence Force Staff for a few months in 1990, and then as Chief of the SA Defence Force
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
from 1990 to 1993. He was a member of the defence committee of the Transitional Executive Council which supervised the South African government during the final months leading up the first democratic election in 1994.
In 1995, he, former defence minister Magnus Malan
Magnus Malan
General Magnus André De Merindol Malan was the Minister of Defence , Chief of the South African Defence Force and Chief of the South African Army.-Early life:...
, and former defence force chief General Johannes Geldenhuys
Johannes Geldenhuys
General Johannes Geldenhuys, SSA, SD, SOE, SM, is a former South African military commander who served as Chief of the South African National Defence Force between 1985 and 1990....
were tried for murder, as a result of a military operation in which several civilians had been killed. They were all acquitted.
See also
- List of South African military chiefs
- South African ArmySouth African ArmyThe South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...