Military history of South Africa during World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Political choices at outbreak of war
On the eve of
World War II the Union of
South Africa found itself in a unique political and military quandary. While it was closely allied with
Great Britain, being a co-equal Dominion under the 1931 Statute of Westminster with its head of state being the British king, the South African Prime Minister on September 1, 1939 was none other than
Barry Herzog - the leader of the pro-African and anti-British National party that had joined in a unity government as the
United Party.
Herzog's problem was that South Africa was constitutionally obligated to support Great Britain against
Nazi Germany. The Polish-British Common Defence Pact obligated Britain, and in turn its dominions, to help Poland if attacked by the Nazis. After Hitler's forces attacked Poland on the night of August 31, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany within a few days. A short but furious debate unfolded in South Africa, especially in the halls of power in the Parliament of South Africa. It pitted those who sought to enter the war on Britain's side - led by the pro-Allied/pro-British
African General (later
Field Marshal) and former Prime Minister
Jan Smuts - against Herzog, who wished to keep South Africa "neutral", if not actually pro-Axis.
Declaration of war against the Axis
On September 4, 1939, the United Party caucus refused to accept Hertzog's stance of neutrality in World War II and deposed him in favor of Smuts. Upon becoming Prime Minister of South Africa, he declared South Africa officially at war with Germany and the Axis. Smuts immediately set about fortifying South Africa against any possible German sea invasion because of South Africa's global strategic importance controlling the long sea route around the Cape of Good Hope.
John Vorster and other members of
Ossewabrandwag strongly objected to South Africa's participation in World War II and actively carried out sabotage against Jan Smuts' government. Smuts took severe action against the pro-Nazi South African Ossewabrandwag movement and jailed its leaders - including Vorster - for the duration of the war.
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