South Africa and World War II: the decisive first two years on the home front (September 1939 - September 1941)

Authors

  • André Wessels University of the Free State, South Africa

Abstract

Sixty years ago the Second World War, the most devastating war the world has ever experienced, broke out. When Britain went to war against Nazi Germany on 3 September 1939, it placed the South African government of Gen. JBM Hertzog in a predicament. Since fusion and the formation of the United Party (UP) in 1934 the question of South Africa staying neutral or not in case of a war in Europe in which Britain would be involved, was debated on several occasions, but Hertzog - who was in favour of neutrality - and his Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. JC Smuts - who was in favour of some form of participation - decided to agree to differ on this crucial and emotional matter. At the begin- ning of September 1939 the cabinet was divided on the issue of neutrality and the matter was referred to the House of Assembly for a final decision. After a lengthy debate on Monday 4 September 1939, parliament rejected Hertzog's neutrality motion by 80 votes to 67 and accepted Smuts' motion in favour of qualified participation by the same majority.

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Published

1999-12-17

How to Cite

Wessels, A. (1999). South Africa and World War II: the decisive first two years on the home front (September 1939 - September 1941). Southern Journal for Contemporary History, 24(2), 1–24. Retrieved from https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/jch/article/view/4108

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