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The brutality of the Boer Wars

The destructive warfare that unfolded across South Africa

The brutality of the Boer Wars
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StarsInsider
22/06/2026 13:00 ‧ 14 hours ago | StarsInsider

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In the late 19th century, South Africa became a massive battleground on two separate occasions, as two factions with severely different ideologies fought over land, gold, and freedom. What unfolded over the course of two decades was a brutality never again seen in South Africa’s history.

At the center of the two Boer Wars were the Boers, descendants of European settlers who wanted to protect their republics, and the British Empire, which wanted greater control over the region. But what, exactly, led to these wars? And what brutalities were inflicted during them? Click on to find out.

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