Figure 1.--South Africa played a relatively limited combat role in World war II, but its ciontribution was important at the begiining when Britain was not yet fully mobilized, easpexially in East Africa and the Western Desert. The press caption here, probanlytakenin late-1941, read, "South African Air Force in Action: Piots of the South african Air Force have done splendid work in the brilliant campaign against the Italiansin Abyssinia (Ethiopia) ad Italian EastAfrica. The longand short of it: Six foot six S.A.A.F. Intelligence Officer with a native boy, captured with the Itlian Forces. After questioning he was sent back to his 'Coal Black Manny'". We are not sure why the Italian forces would inckude such young children.
The Union of South Africa was created after the Boer War (1910). The Union consisted of the Cape Colony, Natal Colony, and the Boer republics of the Orange Free State, and Transvaal. The two major political parties, the South African Party and National Parties, merged to form the United Party in an attempt to unite Afrikaners and English-speaking whites (1934). The union did not last long, the two parties split only 5 years later (1939). The issue that split the United Party was joining Britain in war against the Germans. The Afrikaner dominated National Party sympathised with NAZI Germany in part because of the importance the NAZIs placed on race. Hertzog did not want to join the British in the War. He proposed that South Africa should remain neutral. Smuts wanted to support the British. Smuts won a narrow parliamentary vote. Smuts was appointed prime minister and South Africa declared war. The National Party left the United Party and continued to be pro-Germany even after the NAZIs invaded and occupied the Netherlands. South African units played an important role in early phases of the War before Britaon had fully mobilized its forces. The South Africans played a key role in the British campaign which defeated the Italians in East Africa (1941). They then proceeeded to play an important role in the Western Desert (1941-43). The South Africans also fought in the Italian campaign (1943-45). The South African forces were segregated. White troops (135,000) served in combat units. Africans and Coloreds (70,000) served in labor and transport units. South Africa was an important source of raw materials (platinum, uranium, and steel). South African ports (Durban and Cape Town) were also an import part of the Allied supply lines. This was especially important when the Axis had closed the the Mediterranean and supplies to the Desert Army had to flow around the Cape of Good Hope. They continued to be useful to supply Allied forces in India and Burma.
Dominion Background: Union of South Africa (1910-39)
The Union of South Africa was created after the Boer War (1910). The Union consisted of the Cape Colony, Natal Colony, and the Boer republics of the Orange Free State, and Transvaal. The two major political parties, the South African Party and National Parties, merged to form the United Party in an attempt to unite Afrikaners and English-speaking whites (1934). The union did not last long, the two parties split only 5 years later (1939).
Pro-NAZI Sentiment (1930s)
The NAZIs in Germany attracted the interest of many Afrikaners during the 1930s. The idea of Aryan racial superiority appealed to the Afrikaners. The Dutch were included in the Aryan people that Hitler and the NAZIs wanted to unify. Other ideas such as anti-Semitism and the use of the state to promote racial policy also had appeal. Neo-Nazis composed mosly of Afrikaaners formed the Greyshirts (1933). They gained considerable support in rural areas. Afrikaners participating in the commemoration of the Great Trek organizd the Ossewabrandwag (Oxwagon Sentinel) para-military group (1938). Their goal was to promote a 'love for fatherland' and to create an Afrikaner republic in South Africa, using force if necessary to do so. At the outbreak of the War, the Ossewabrandwag claimed a membership of a quarter if the Afrikaanerv population--
0.25 million people out of the total Afrikaner population of slightly more than 1 million. Primeminuster Hertzog's minister of defense before the War Oswald Pirow. When Herzog led the country into the War, Pirow formed a group within the National Party which he named the New Order. It expoused a fascist program of remaking South African society from the ground up along German NAZI lines. Smuts prevailed in the cabinet and became primeinister. Primeminister Hertzog resigned and joined with D.F. Malan (the future NP primnenminister) to form the Herenigde (Reunited) National Party (HNP). The Government arrested several thousand members of the Ossewabrandwag, including John Vorster (another future NP primeminister) and interned them for antiwar activities.
Joining Britain in the War (September 1939)
Britain declared war on Germany (September 3, 1939). South Africa was the only Dominion that proved reluctant to come to Britain's aid. The issue which split the United Party was joining Britain in the war against the Germans. The Afrikaner dominated National Party sympathised with NAZI Germany in part because of the importance which the NAZIs placed on race. Primeminister Hertzog did not want to join the British in the War. He proposed that South Africa should remain neutral. Jan Smuts, a prominant figure in the United Party and a former primeminister, wanted to support the British. Smuts managed to win a narrow parliamentary vote. Smuts was then appointed prime minister and South Africa declared war. The National Party left the United Party and continued to be pro-German even after the NAZIs invaded and occupied the Netherlands. Hertzog and many followers joining the National Party faction D.F. Malan had organized in 1934 and maintained outside the Unity Party.
Military Campaigns
South African units played an important role in early phases of the War before Britain had fully mobilized and deployed its forces. The South Africans played a key role in the British campaign which defeated the Italians in East Africa (1941). They then proceeeded to play an important role in the Western Desert (1941-43). The South Africans also fought in the Italian campaign (1943-45).
Force Organization
The South African forces were segregated. White troops (135,000) served in combat units. Africans and Coloreds (70,000) served in labor and transport units.
Japan
DF Malan and some in the NP who symphizized with the Germans and thus the Axis after Pear Harbor justified Japanese expansion (December 1941). And a string of stunning Japanese victories, including Singapore abnd Burma, made it uncertain where, or if, the Japanese could be stopped. They saw Soviet communism as the real threat South Africa. He ignored the fact that Japan did not attack the Soviet Union, bur only America and the British and Dutch colonies. The Nationalists thus did not see Japan as much of a threat, The United Party govemment took developments in the Pacific much more seriously. Prime Minister General Smuts said that should Japan attack South Africa, he would arm all able-bodied blacks and coloureds. [Paton, p. 277.] The Japanese did send a powerful naval task force into the Indian Ocean, but the American naval victory at Midway (June 1942) ended in realistic prospect for Japanese advances west as far as South Africa .
Raw Materials
South Africa was an important source of raw materials (platinum, uranium, and steel).
Supply Lines
South African ports (Durban and Cape Town) were also an import part of the Allied supply lines. This was especially important when the Axis had closed the the Mediterranean and supplies to the Desert Army had to flow around the Cape of Good Hope. South African ports continued to be useful to supply Allied forces in India and Burma.
Economic Benefits
World War II proved to be an economic bonanza for South Africa. Britain and other European countries no longer produced jnufactured good for exports. This stimulated thegrowth ofmanufacturing and service industries in South Africa.
African Population
This created a demand for labor which caused the migratioj of Africans to towns and cities. This movement had begun notably (1930s), but expanded during the War. One source describes it as a 'flood'. The towns and cities were primarily white before the 1930s, but by the end of the War the majority of the town populations was Black. Africans migrating into the towns built squatter camps on the outskirts of what remained largely white cities. The squaters put togetgher improvised shelters from whatever materials they could lay their hands on. As the urban African populations grew, the began to make political demands.
Political Developments
The United Party won a general election during the War, winning a large majority (1943). They were optimistic about a similar result in the next general election after the War (1948). The United Party proclained equivocal race policie. The Afrikaaner dominated National Party (NP) charged that the government's 'weakness' was threatening white supremacy in the country. The NP issued a statement that strongly supported white supremecy. The diocument used the word apartheid to describe its program of of a program of stricter segregation and discrimination. The National Party with the support of a small fringe group, the National Party won the 1948 election by a narrow margin. Daniel Fran�ois Malan (1874�1959) of Hugenot origins became the first NP Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954. He was the champion of Afrikaner nationalism abnf the father of the Apartheid systen which was implemented during his period as primeminister.
