Fritz Loots

Frederich Wilhelm Loots
SSA SD SM
Born 29 April 1917
Britstown, Cape Province, Union of South Africa
Died 12 August 2008 (aged 91)
Pretoria
Allegiance  South Africa
Service/branch  South African Army
Years of service 1939-1982
Rank Major-General
Commands held GOC South West Africa (1963-1964),
Director of Military Intelligence (1966-1970),
Inspector General of the SADF (1970-1973), GOC Special Forces (1974-1982)
Battles/wars Border War
Awards

Major General Frederich ('Fritz') Wilhelm Loots SSA SD SM is a former South African general in the South African Defence Force (SADF). He was founder of the South African Special Forces and their first commanding officer.[1]

Early life and education

Born in Britstown on 26 April 1917, Loots was educated at Theron High School.[1] After high school in 1936, he joined the Special Service Battalion, a unit formed to trained young men in military and work skills during the depression.[1]

Career

In 1939, he joined the Union Defence Force in the Infantry Corps and served in World War II. By 1947 he held the rank of Warrant Officer and in 1951 he was commissioned as an officer.[1] He held various positions as a Staff Officer in the SADF before becoming Officer Commanding the Army Gymnasium from 1959 to 1963.[1]

In 1963, he was appointed to command South West Africa Command until 1964.[1] By 1965 he was a Senior Staff Officer at Military Intelligence and then the Director of Military Intelligence from 1966 until 1970.[1] His last position was as Inspector General of the SADF which ended in June 1973 when he retired.[1] He returned from retirement in August 1974 to form the South African Special Forces.[1] He continued in the SADF until his retirement on 25 April 1982.[1] Major General Loots passed away on 12 August 2008.[1]

Awards and Decorations

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 "In memory of an honorable man". SANDF.info. Retrieved 13 June 2014.


    Military offices
    New title
    Post Established
    		 GOC Special Forces
    1974 – 1982     		Succeeded by
    Andreas Liebenberg
    Preceded by
    Unknown    		 IG SADF
    1970 – 1973     		Succeeded by
    Willem Louw
    Preceded by
    Pieter M Retief    		 DG Military Intelligence
    1966 – 1970     		Succeeded by
    Hein du Toit
    Preceded by
    Unknown    		 OC SA Army Gym
    1959 – 1963     		Succeeded by
    Unknown