South West Africa

South West Africa (Suidwes-Afrika) was the former name of the present day nation of Namibia. Beginning in 1884, the region was known as German South-West Africa (Deutsch-Südwestafrika) and was considered a part of the German Empire, despite repeated insurrections. During the First World War, the territory was taken from the Germans by South African forces, after which it became a League of Nations mandate territory under the Union of South Africa. Following the Second World War, South Africa objected to the region coming under control of the United Nations and came to regard it as a fifth province.

The South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) was founded in 1960 as an African nationalist organization working for independence from South Africa and majority rule. SWAPO organized its own paramilitary wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), and in 1966 launched a guerilla campaign against the South African government. From 1966 until 1989 what came to be known as the Border War (or the Namibian War of Independence) raged within South West Africa, and was eventually drawn into neighboring Angola as well. The war would ultimately involve multiple combatants, including the South African Defence Force, South West African Territorial Force (SWATF), South West African Police (SWAPOL), and Angolan UNITA forces, as well as SWAPO, Angolan government forces (FAPLA), Cuban military forces, members of the South African guerilla movement Umkonto We Sizwe (MK), and military forces from Zambia. As international pressures gathered against South Africa in the late 1980s and South African forces faced increasingly serious opposition against Cuban fighter jets and armored units, a peace accord was reached in August 1988.

In cooperation with a United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG), the long process of demolization began, with a few skirmishes continuing to be fought. The UN Security Council ultimately were forced to disband the Koevoet counter-insurgency force of the SWAPOL, as they were continuing to deploy on combat operations well into 1989. In November 1989, however, elections were held, with the new Constituent Assembly holding its first meeting on 21 November 1989. The nation would officially achieve independence and change its name to the Republic of Namibia in 1990.

The South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) was the name of the nation's armed forces prior to independence. The SWATF were essentially an auxiliary of the South African Defence Force (SADF), wearing similar uniforms but having their own distinctive head dress and unit insignia. The standard uniform of the SWATF was the same chocolate brown or nutria-colored clothing worn by the SADF, and the only SWATF unit known to have deployed in camouflage were the 1st SW Africa Reconnaissance Unit. Within the South West African Police (SWAPOL), a unique counter-insurgency force (Koevoet, meaning crowbar) had been created and were issued their own distinctive camouflage uniform.

South West African Camouflage Patterns

• The unique "grasslands" camouflage design developed for Koevoet was issued from the unit's inception in 1980 until disbandment in 1989. The design is a horizontal pattern of russet and dark olive green foliated shapes on a sandy background. A muted version of the pattern was also produced (below, right) with tags labeled A.I.R., which it has been suggested indicates the pattern was "Anti-Infa Red." There has, however, been some discussion over the plausibility of this moniker, and some sources have suggested the pattern was simply a variant produced by a company named AIR.

• Members of Koevoet also wore both types of camouflage of the South African Police sporadically. Some of these items were produced locally, and featured screenprinted unit logos on the sleeves or pockets.

• The pattern seen below is a commercial one produced in South Africa, but was procured in limited numbers for issue to the SWATF 1st Reconnaissance Unit (SWA Special Forces) in the late 1980s. The pattern was never officially adopted, and sources suggest all clothing and field equipment was distributed on an individual request basis. At least two different color variations have been documented, with either a yellowish-tan or a greenish-grey base.