Changes

==Early years==

==Early years==

Until 1978 the AWB existed in a nominal way, with no membership lists or cards (as part of an effort to avoid detection by the infamous secret service of the Apartheid government).  However in 1979 a wealthy AWB member, Albert Hertzog, began to fund the rent of an office in [[Pretoria]] which began to serve as an AWB headquarters.  The early 1980s witnessed tremendous growth amongst the right-wing of White South Africa, as President [[P.W. Botha]] warned that Afrikaners must “adapt or die”, which effectively signaled the commencement of a series of reforms which lead to the dismantling of Apartheid in 1990. The AWB grew rapidly and soon had an active membership in the thousands{fact}.

Until 1978 the AWB existed in a nominal way, with no membership lists or cards (as part of an effort to avoid detection by the infamous secret service of the Apartheid government).  However in 1979 a wealthy AWB member, Albert Hertzog, began to fund the rent of an office in [[Pretoria]] which began to serve as an AWB headquarters.  The early 1980s witnessed tremendous growth amongst the right-wing of White South Africa, as President [[P.W. Botha]] warned that Afrikaners must “adapt or die”, which effectively signaled the commencement of a series of reforms which lead to the dismantling of Apartheid in 1990. The AWB grew rapidly and soon had an active membership in the thousands.

==Early Militancy==

==Early Militancy==

On March 28th 1979 a group of 40 AWB members, including AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, bluffed their way into a lecture at the University of South Africa. The lecture was being given by Professor Floors Van Jaarsveld, a noted liberal who the AWB claimed had insulted an Afrikaner Christian celebration (the Day of the Vow). Van Jaarsveld was made an example by the AWB, who publicly tarred and feathered him.  

On March 28th 1979 a group of 40 AWB members, including AWB leader Eugene Terre’Blanche, bluffed their way into a lecture at the University of South Africa. The lecture was being given by Professor Floors Van Jaarsveld, a noted liberal who the AWB claimed had insulted an Afrikaner Christian celebration (the Day of the Vow). Van Jaarsveld was made an example by the AWB, who publicly tarred and feathered him.  

By 1988 the AWB enjoyed a large support base and membership, with estimates ranging from 5000 members to 70000{fact}. However, despite the efforts of the AWB, and other like-minded South Africans, in 1989 the newly inaugurated President De Klerk announced that Apartheid (a system of segregating South Africans by race; for example, non-Whites had severely restricted voting rights) was to end.  

By 1988 the AWB enjoyed a large support base and membership, with estimates ranging from 5000 members to 70000. However, despite the efforts of the AWB, and other like-minded South Africans, in 1989 the newly inaugurated President De Klerk announced that Apartheid (a system of segregating South Africans by race; for example, non-Whites had severely restricted voting rights) was to end.  

==Paramilitaries==

==Paramilitaries==

Throughout its history the AWB had a series of paramilitary wings, with their origins in a motorcycle gang called the "Stormvalke" (Afrikaans for Storm Falcons).

Throughout its history the AWB had a series of paramilitary wings, with their origins in a motorcycle gang called the "Stormvalke" (Afrikaans for Storm Falcons).

In 1990 the Aquila Guard  was replaced by the Wenkommando (Victorious Commandos), named after a Boer commando which defeated the Zulu army during the Great Trek (1835-1840). The Wenkommando, according to a South African government report issued in 1992, numbered some 15,000 men, divided into 250 units across South Africa{fact}.

In 1990 the Aquila Guard  was replaced by the Wenkommando (Victorious Commandos), named after a Boer commando which defeated the Zulu army during the Great Trek (1835-1840). The Wenkommando, according to a South African government report issued in 1992, numbered some 15,000 men, divided into 250 units across South Africa.

The Wenkommando was comprised of six different "wings" or "sections", including the Brandwagte (Sentinels) who were in charge of communicating any information on ANC or communist guerillas entering South Africa back to the AWB, as well as the Ystergarde (Iron Guard) who were tasked with defending senior AWB members at meetings and rallies.

The Wenkommando was comprised of six different "wings" or "sections", including the Brandwagte (Sentinels) who were in charge of communicating any information on ANC or communist guerillas entering South Africa back to the AWB, as well as the Ystergarde (Iron Guard) who were tasked with defending senior AWB members at meetings and rallies.

In October 1979 the AWB registered a political party (intended, initially, to contest seats in parliament during elections) with the Department of the Interior. The party was called the '''Blanke Volkstaat Party''' (BVP) which, translates in English as, the White People's State party.

In October 1979 the AWB registered a political party (intended, initially, to contest seats in parliament during elections) with the Department of the Interior. The party was called the '''Blanke Volkstaat Party''' (BVP) which, translates in English as, the White People's State party.

The BVP had four express purposes:{fact}

The BVP had four express purposes:

#To guarantee freedom (as the AWB saw it)

#To guarantee freedom (as the AWB saw it)

#To establish a ''Volkstaat'' (People's State, exclusively for Whites)

#To establish a ''Volkstaat'' (People's State, exclusively for Whites)

''Goedgevonden Farm''.  On May 11th 1991 some 2000 White farmers clashed with a contingent of the South African Police at a state-owned farm, named Goedgevonden, situated some 11 miles from Ventersdorp.  The farm was nestled between a number of privately owned White farms, in 1991 (as part of the government's reform program for Apartheid) the Land Acts were repealed. The Land Acts had previously given Whites exclusive rights to buy land in farming areas.

''Goedgevonden Farm''.  On May 11th 1991 some 2000 White farmers clashed with a contingent of the South African Police at a state-owned farm, named Goedgevonden, situated some 11 miles from Ventersdorp.  The farm was nestled between a number of privately owned White farms, in 1991 (as part of the government's reform program for Apartheid) the Land Acts were repealed. The Land Acts had previously given Whites exclusive rights to buy land in farming areas.

Due to the repeal a number of Blacks moved onto Goedgevonden farm. In the months following this White farmers nearby began to experience stock thefts{fact}, they asked the government to help, but the government didn't respond.

Due to the repeal a number of Blacks moved onto Goedgevonden farm. In the months following this White farmers nearby began to experience stock thefts, they asked the government to help, but the government didn't respond.

The AWB threatened, in late April 1991, that unless the government evicted the Blacks the AWB would do it. The government said the Blacks would be protected against the AWB.  On the evening of May 10th some 2000 White farmers went to Goedgevonden to remove the Blacks. The police had established cordons around the perimeter of the camp.  Even so, at 1.45 am on May 11th 1991 some 25 AWB men, on horseback, charged into the camp and began tearing down the makeshift houses.  

The AWB threatened, in late April 1991, that unless the government evicted the Blacks the AWB would do it. The government said the Blacks would be protected against the AWB.  On the evening of May 10th some 2000 White farmers went to Goedgevonden to remove the Blacks. The police had established cordons around the perimeter of the camp.  Even so, at 1.45 am on May 11th 1991 some 25 AWB men, on horseback, charged into the camp and began tearing down the makeshift houses.  

Commercial vehicles were then used by the White farmers to punch a hole through the police cordon. At 3.30 am the farmers poured into the camp and destroyed what was left of it after the attack at 1.45 am.  They were then routed by the police. At this point the police unexpectedly opened fire on the White farmers, injuring 4 (two of them sustained serious injuries){fact}.

Commercial vehicles were then used by the White farmers to punch a hole through the police cordon. At 3.30 am the farmers poured into the camp and destroyed what was left of it after the attack at 1.45 am.  They were then routed by the police. At this point the police unexpectedly opened fire on the White farmers, injuring 4 (two of them sustained serious injuries).

''Ventersdorp''.  Terre'Blanche and 2000 AWB supporters led a march on a National Party meeting being addresed by President De Klerk on August 9 1991 in Ventersdorp. In an ensuing gunfight 7 policemen were shot, 43 AWB supporters wounded (3 killed) and 15 innocent bystanders injured.

''Ventersdorp''.  Terre'Blanche and 2000 AWB supporters led a march on a National Party meeting being addresed by President De Klerk on August 9 1991 in Ventersdorp. In an ensuing gunfight 7 policemen were shot, 43 AWB supporters wounded (3 killed) and 15 innocent bystanders injured.

''Bophuthatswana''.  In 1994 the AWB were the heavily criticized in the international media hate campaign after they propped up the regime of [[Apartheid|Bantustan]] leader Lucas Mangope.  It was alleged that the 750 AWB paramilitary members who went into Bophuthatswana shot and killed 5 or more innocent Black civilians.{fact}

''Bophuthatswana''.  In 1994 the AWB were the heavily criticized in the international media hate campaign after they propped up the regime of [[Apartheid|Bantustan]] leader Lucas Mangope.  It was alleged that the 750 AWB paramilitary members who went into Bophuthatswana shot and killed 5 or more innocent Black civilians.

==1990-1994==

==1990-1994==

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).

 

 

== Sources ==

== Sources ==