Lieutenant General Frans van den Berg was an

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

officer who was appointed as the first ''Chief of Staff Planning'' in the

SADF The South African Defence Force (SADF) (Afrikaans: ''Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag'') comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence Fo ...

in 1986.

Early life

He was born in Kimberley and matriculated from

Potchefstroom High School for Boys Potchefstroom High School for Boys is a public English medium high school for boys situated in Potchefstroom in the North West province of South Africa. It is one of the oldest schools in South Africa. Historical perspective School history ...

Military career

He joined the Union Defence Force and served in the artillery. He was an instructor at the Army Gymnasium, he completed the British Long Gunnery Staff Course in 1962. Chief Instructor Gunnery at the School of Artillery & Armour. He served as Second in Command 4 Field Regiment during 1969, Second in Command School of Artillery in 1969 to 1970. Officer Commanding School of Artillery from 1970 to 1973 and simultaneously Director Artillery from 1970 to 1972, OC 81 Armoured Brigade 1973 to 1974. He was promoted to rank of

brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

in 1974. OC North Western Command 1974–1977 and simultaneously Director Artillery from 1974 to 1976,

Military Advisor Military advisors or combat advisors are military Military personnel, personnel deployed to advise on military matters. The term is often used for soldiers sent to foreign countries to aid such countries' militaries with their military education ...

Bophuthatswana Bophuthatswana (, ), officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana (; ), and colloquially referred to as the Bop and by outsiders as Jigsawland (In reference to its enclave-ridden borders) was a Bantustan (also known as "Homeland", an area set asid ...

from 1975 to 1977. He was tasked by the then Chief of the Army-Lt Gen

Constand Viljoen General Constand Laubscher Viljoen (28 October 19333 April 2020) was a South African Army officer and politician. He co-founded the Afrikaner Volksfront (Afrikaner People's Front) and later founded the Freedom Front Plus, Freedom Front (which ...

to visit the Israeli Combined Arms Training Center in 1977 that led to the creation of the Army Battle School in Lohatla.

Commandant Commandant ( or ; ) is a title often given to the officer in charge of a military (or other uniformed service) training establishment or academy. This usage is common in English-speaking nations. In some countries it may be a military or police ...

Army Battle School in 1978 to 1982. OC

Northern Transvaal Command Northern Transvaal Command was a command of the South African Army. It was active from 1959 to mid 2000 when it was disestablished. Formerly it was named Northern Command from 1946 to 1959. History Origins Union Defence Force Military Districts ...

1982–1983. Much later served as Chief of Staff Planning from 1986 to 1991.

Awards and decorations

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Notes

References

, - Year of birth missing South African Army generals Afrikaner people South African people of Dutch descent South African anti-communists South African military personnel of the Border War Military attachés Stellenbosch University alumni {{SouthAfrica-mil-bio-stub