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The '''Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging''' (Afrikaans: ''Afrikaner Resistance Movement'') is a [[south Africa]]n white separatist [[racism|racist]] movement founded in 1973 by seven [[conservative]] Afrikaners. Since its inception, the AWB has attracted criticism from both the National Party (who ruled [[South Africa]] under [[Apartheid]]), as well as liberal anti-Apartheid activists.

The '''Afrikaner Weerstandsbeweging''' (Afrikaans: ''Afrikaner Resistance Movement'') is a [[south Africa]]n white separatist [[racism|racist]] movement founded in 1973 by seven [[conservative]] Afrikaners. Since its inception, the AWB has attracted criticism from both the National Party (who ruled [[South Africa]] under [[Apartheid]]), as well as liberal anti-Apartheid activists.

The AWB’s founding members were [[Eugene Terre'Blanche]] (who subsequently occupied the post of leader and has remained leader to the present day), Jan Groenewald, JJ Jordaan, DJ Jordaan, Renier Oosthuizen and Piet Preller. All 7 men founded the group in the garage of Eugene Terre’Blanche’s home in Heidelberg in July 1973.  

The AWB's founding members were [[Eugene Terre'Blanche]] (who subsequently occupied the post of leader and has remained leader to the present day), Jan Groenewald, JJ Jordaan, DJ Jordaan, Renier Oosthuizen and Piet Preller. All 7 men founded the group in the garage of Eugene Terre’Blanche's home in Heidelberg in July 1973.  

The AWB’s origins lie in an earlier right-wing party, the Herstigte Nasionale Party (Re-constituted National Party), which vehemently opposed the reforms of the Apartheid government from 1966 onwards. The HNP, by the May 1981 general election attracted moderate support from within the white electorate, winning approximately one third of the Afrikaner vote (but only 16% of the overall white vote).

The AWB's origins lie in an earlier right-wing party, the Herstigte Nasionale Party (Re-constituted National Party), which vehemently opposed the reforms of the Apartheid government from 1966 onwards. The HNP, by the May 1981 general election attracted moderate support from within the white electorate, winning approximately one third of the Afrikaner vote (but only 16% of the overall white vote).

==Early years==

==Early years==

==1990-1994==

==1990-1994==

AWB membership plummeted following De Klerk’s announcement that Apartheid would end, falling continuously until 1994 when it constituted only a few hundred members.  However splinter groups of the AWB, namely the Orde Boerevolk (Order of the Boer Nation), were involved in the execution of large scale bombing campaigns against left-wing targets (with Black trade union offices and National Party offices being favourite targets).

AWB membership plummeted following De Klerk's announcement that Apartheid would end, falling continuously until 1994 when it constituted only a few hundred members.  However splinter groups of the AWB, namely the Orde Boerevolk (Order of the Boer Nation), were involved in the execution of large scale bombing campaigns against left-wing targets (with Black trade union offices and National Party offices being favourite targets).

In 1991 De Klerk, against the advice of senior policemen, held a meeting in the right-wing stronghold of Ventersdorp (where the AWB had its headquarters from 1989 onwards). In the ensuing chaos, as AWB members attempted to hand a petition to DeKlerk, 3 AWB members were killed and some 43 injured as the police and AWB exchanged gunfire.

In 1991 De Klerk, against the advice of senior policemen, held a meeting in the right-wing stronghold of Ventersdorp (where the AWB had its headquarters from 1989 onwards). In the ensuing chaos, as AWB members attempted to hand a petition to DeKlerk, 3 AWB members were killed and some 43 injured as the police and AWB exchanged gunfire.

In the days leading up to the democratic South African elections of 1994, dozens of explosions rocked numerous locations across South Africa (including Jan Smuts airport in Johannesburg). A total of 21 people were killed and 176 injured in the AWB’s pre-election bombing campaign.

In the days leading up to the democratic South African elections of 1994, dozens of explosions rocked numerous locations across South Africa (including Jan Smuts airport in Johannesburg). A total of 21 people were killed and 176 injured in the AWB's pre-election bombing campaign.

==Assasination of Chris Hani==

==Assasination of Chris Hani==

==Flag controversy==

==Flag controversy==

The AWB’s flag is a Triple Sevens with a red and white background, the 3 sevens represent the 777 of God (in direct conflict with the 666 of Satan), the white represents the supposed purity of the AWB’s ideals and the red represents the blood of Jesus Christ.

The AWB's flag is a Triple Sevens with a red and white background, the 3 sevens represent the 777 of God (in direct conflict with the 666 of Satan), the white represents the supposed purity of the AWB's ideals and the red represents the blood of Jesus Christ.

Some journalists have described the AWB as “neo-nazi”, although the AWB claims to no longer be anti-semitic (as of the revised Program of Principles, released in 1988).  The AWB has only three requirements for membership (as laid out in its first Program of Principles), that members must be white, Christian and proficient in [[Afrikaans]].  The early AWB flag was simply a four pointed star (opposing the five pointed star of Zionism and the five pointed star of communism, both of whom the AWB were decided enemies).

Some journalists have described the AWB as “neo-nazi”, although the AWB claims to no longer be anti-semitic (as of the revised Program of Principles, released in 1988).  The AWB has only three requirements for membership (as laid out in its first Program of Principles), that members must be white, Christian and proficient in [[Afrikaans]].  The early AWB flag was simply a four pointed star (opposing the five pointed star of Zionism and the five pointed star of communism, both of whom the AWB were decided enemies).