Battlefields South Africa
What truly made history's greatest warriors legendary?
In Battlefields South Africa, we step beyond the names and delve into the heart the action—exploring the pivotal moments, bold strategies, and fateful decisions that shaped history's most iconic battles.
Each episode brings history to life with the help of our host and celebrity guest. Together, they unravel the story of a famous battle using a stunning large-scale model of the battlefield. With its engaging storytelling, immersive visuals, and relatable discussions, Battlefields invites audiences to learn from history while experiencing the drama of the past in a fresh, dynamic way.
Three Battles That Shaped South Africa's History
Military history can only teach us what we are willing to learn and does have practical applications that are relevant to the modern world. For instance, military history is used by policymakers, military planners and international organisations to inform their decisions and shape their strategies.
Understanding the lessons of past conflicts can help to inform present and future military operations, improving the effectiveness of military interventions and reducing the risk of unintended consequences.
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The Battlefields Scale Models
Battlefields South Africa tells the story of the three battles that shaped our country's rich history with the use of large scale models of the
battlefields These maps allow the geography of each battlefield to come alive, giving us insight into the decisions made by the battlefield commanders. Labels and markers for different topographical features can also easily be added to the model to further identify the features of the battlefield.
The Battle of Isandlwana 1879
The Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom. A Zulu force of some 20,000 warriors attacked a portion of the British main column consisting of approximately 1,800 British, colonial and native troops with approximately 350 civilians.
The battle was a decisive victory for the Zulus and caused the defeat of the first British invasion of Zululand. The British Army had suffered its worst defeat against an indigenous
The Battle of Colenso 1899
This was the third and final battle fought during the Black Week of the Second Boer War. It was fought between British and Boer forces from the independent South African Republic and Orange Free State in and around Colenso, Natal, South Africa on 15 December 1899. Inadequate preparation, lack of reconnaissance and uninspired leadership led to a British defeat.
The Battle of Spion Kop 1900
In an attempt to lift the siege of Ladysmith in the Second Boer War (1899 - 1902) a British force tried to capture Spion Kop. A tactical error saw them endure a day under heavy fire before they withdrew leaving the Kop in Boer hands
The Battle of Delville Wood (France) 1916
The 1st South African Infantry Brigade made its Western Front début as part of the 9th (Scottish) Division and captured Delville Wood, in the Somme River Valley in Northern France, on 15 July. The SouthAfricans held the wood until 19 July, at a cost in casualties of 2536 men.
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