Johan Hendrik Breytenbach


Johan Hendrik Breytenbach was the official South African state historian for the Second Boer War.
He was employed by the National Archives in Pretoria and studied the Second Boer War since 1940. In 1959 the Minister of Education, Arts and Science appointed Breytenbach state historian for the Second Boer War, supervised by the Department of History of the University of Pretoria. When Breytenbach died in 1994, he had published five volumes of his Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899–1902 between 1969 and 1983, with two further volumes at the planning stage. Using Breytenbach's notes, the State Archives finalised and published Volume 6 posthumously in 1996, concluding with a treatment of the Battle of Bergendal. Apart from this major work Breytenbach published many books and articles on South African history.

Quotes

Breytenbach on the reason to undertake Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899–1902:
Breytenbach justified Boer general Piet Cronjé's controversial surrender to the British at the Battle of Paardeberg on 27 February 1900:

Publications

Breytenbach's publications, all in Afrikaans, include:
  • 1940: Andries François du Toit, sy Aandel in die Transvaalse Geskiedenis, Proefskrif Pretoria : Unisa, 1940. In 1942 in Series: Argiefjaarboek vir Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis.
  • 1940: Gedenkalbum van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, Editor. Kaapstad, Nasionale Pers, 1940.
  • 1943: with Beyers, Coenraad; Venter, P. J.; Franken, J. L. M.; Thom, H. B.; Botha, C. Graham: Argief-jaarboek vir Suid-Afrikaanse Geskiedenis/ Archives Year Book for South African History , Authority of the Minister of the Interior, 1943.
  • 1948-1949:
  • * 1948: Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog I. Voorspel tot die stryd, Nasionale Pers Beperk, Kaapstad, 1948.
  • * 1949: Die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog II: Ontplooiing van die Boere-offensief Oktober 1899, Nasionale Pers Beperk, Kaapstad, 1949.
  • 1949: Die betekenis van die tweede Vryheidsoorlog; vyftig jaar: 11 Okt. 1899 -- 11 Okt. 1949, Johannesburg: F.A.K., 1949. Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge. Derde Uitgawe 2002, with A. E. Breytenbach: Die Volkskomitee vir die Herdenking van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog, 2002..
  • 1949-1956: with Pretorius, H. S., and Joubert, D. C.: Suid-Afrikaanse Argiefstukke; Notule Van Die Volksraad van die Suid-Afrikaanse Republiek . Dl. I : 1844-1850, dl. II : 1850-1853, dl. III, dl. IV : 1859-1863, dl. V :, Dl. VI : 1866-1867. Cape Times Ltd. for the Government Printer, Cape Town.
  • 1950: Kommandant Danie Theron: Baasverkenner van die Tweede Vrijheidsoorlog, Kaapstad: Nasionale Boekhandel Beperk, 1950.
  • 1952-1953, with van der Vyver, W.B.: Suid-Afrikaanse Argiefstukke; Oranje-Vrystaat No. 1 : Notule van die Volksraad van die Oranje-Vrystaat. Deel 1 , South African archival records. Orange Free State, two volumes, Government Printer, Parow, Cape.
  • 1954: Die Geskiedenis van die Krugerstandbeeld, Pretoria : Die Krugergenootskap, 1954. Nasionale Kultuurhistoriese en Opelugmuseum, Pretoria, 1979.
  • 1958: Notule van die Natalse Volksraad , Staatsdrukker, Parow 1958-1987. Reeks: Suid-Afrikaanse argiefstukke. Vol. 1: Notule Natalse Volksraad 1838-1845; Vol. 2: Records of the Natal Executive Council 1846-1848; Vol. 3: Records of the Natal Executive Council 1849-1852; Vol. 4: Records of the Natal Executive Council 1853-1856; Vol. 5: Records of the Natal Executive Council 1856-1859; Vol. 6: Records of the Natal government house despatches 1845-1846.
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  • 1980: with Jan Ploeger: Majuba gedenkboek : uitgegee ter herdenking van die Boere se stryd ter verkryging van hul onafhanklikheid 'n eeu gelede, Roodepoort : Cum Boeke / CUM Books, 1980. /.

Scans of Breytenbach: ''Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 18991902''

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