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The Union of South Africa towards the outbreak of the Second World War

100%

Żukowski

Politeja : Pismo Wydziału Studiów Miedzynarodowych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego

2016

issue 42

17-31

At the outbreak of the Second World War the Union of South Africa was military unprepared and divided politically. The division into supporters and opponents of the war against Germany was clear, both in the Parliament, as well as in South African society, particularly among large parts of the Afrikaners it manifested itself as significant political support and public acceptance of the ideology of Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. The moderate Afrikaners and first of all the English‑speaking population supported joining the war on the side of the Allies. In the parliament, the issue has led to a government crisis. The Union of South Africa as a British Dominion finally declared war on Nazi Germany. In a relatively short time the state was able to prepare its institutions, society and economy for participation in the war. An important role in the consolidation of the political elite and society in the fight against Nazi Germany on the side of to the Allies was played J. C. Smuts.

Divided union: South African nationalist opposition from 1939 to 1943

72%

Touška M.

Prague Papers on the History of International Relations

2019

issue 2

73-95

South Africa’s participation in World War II was accompanied by a specific and, to some extent, paradoxical development. The declaration of war on Germany alongside Great Britain and other dominions was preceded by a government crisis that resulted in the collapse of Hertzog’s cabinet. The new coalition government led by Hertzog’s long-time political rival Jan Smuts had to face strong nationalist opposition. This opposition supported by Nazi Germany was extensive but fragmented, causing it to be defeated in the 1943 elections. However, this defeat led to a paradoxical result. The ultra-conservative and fiercely anti-British politician D.F. Malan became the undisputed leader of the opposition and capitalized on his position to clinch an electoral victory in 1948. The goal of this paper is to identify the reasons for this paradoxical development based on the analysis of both the activities of various opposition groups and personal animosities among their leaders. The analysis is based on the existing literature as well as on archival materials, in particular the reports of South African counterintelligence.

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1 Politeja : Pismo Wydziału Studiów Miedzynarodowych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego

1 Prague Papers on the History of International Relations

1 Touška M.

1 Żukowski

1 2019

1 2016

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The Union of South Africa towards the outbreak of the Second World War

Divided union: South African nationalist opposition from 1939 to 1943