AUGUST 1988 NEWSLETTER

Professor H.G. Garson addressed the Society on "Smuts and the South African Home Front: A Reassessment" on 14th July,

Following the outbreak of the Second World War South Afica joined the Allied cause. Apart from the troops that were sent up north, the war was also fought in the seas around South Africa. The Cape Sea Route was of vital import.ance to the Allied cause as most supplies for the Allied Forces in North Africa went around the Cape and then through the Suez Canal to Egypt, thus avoiding Axis controlled waters. The Union's political control of the hinterland ensured that this was never seriously threatened. A threat to the East Coast was perceived after the entry into the war of Japan. Up to 1942 the expectations of a German victory were high amongst the enemies of Smuts's government.

The war effort was not however enormous.Some 335,000 people served in the Allied Forces - about 3% of the total population. There was considerable opposition to enlistment in elements of the white population. The economy was only partially mobilized. The population did however experience food shortages, petrol rationing and the inconvenience of the blackout in certain cities. On the political front there was some sabotage and rioting, but no real threat to the government.

Field Marshal Smuts applied himself to the maximisation of the South African war effort. His priorities were firstly the War Front and secondly the Home Front. A major centralisation of authority was vested in Smuts as, in addition to holding the position of prime minister, he also held the portfolios of Defence and External Affairs. He saw South Africa's task as to assist in the "struggle to uphold western civilization against the powers of evil and darkness". Rather than attack his enemies he would try to use victories in the field in an attempt to convert his political opponents. He undertook a heavy programme of public meetings.

The whole legitimacy of South Africa's entry into the war was questionable. Although Hertzog's neutrality motion was defeated it was felt that an election might have been lost. Smuts was consequently asked by the Governor-General to form a government. It can truly be said that nowhere else was so bitterly a divided nation brought into the war. Some Afrikaners were pro German and some neutral. The Ossewa Brandwag was formed in 1938 and was a significant factor on the Home Front with its involvement in sabotage and attacks on soldiers. It was undeniably fascist in outlook. Evidence of an Ossewa Brandwag coup "attempt" was obtained in 1941 and Roby Leibrandt was arrested. In the same year all Citizen Force rifles were called in and only reissued to those who volunteered. There was also a purge of OB members from the Police Force. In 1942 strikes by black workers were declared to be illegal. The number of persons interned peaked at 582 in July 1943. Interstingly enough, there was no press censorship or banning of political organisations.

The percentage of non-white serviceman serving in the Armed Forces was 38%, 77,200 men served in the African Military Corps and 45,000 in the Cape Corps. The latter included Indians as well as Coloureds. It is of interest to note that in September 1939 Smuts depended on the votes of 3 native members of the House of Assembly. Initial attempts at recruitment were disappointing - the situation only improving when the chiefs became involved. Most recruits came from the Northern Transvaal. There was disatisfaction[sic] concerning discriminatory pay and the fact that they served in a non combatant status and were not armed. Generally, they were diluted into white units to fulfill menial tasks. There was a propaganda programme to justify the war to blacks, and, the fear existed that the Japanese could be viewed as liberators from the whites. In short, there was no liberal reform during the war years.

Maurice van Biene expressed a warm word of thanks for a most interesting and well presented lecture.

1988 is the 400th anniversary of the Spanish Armada's attempted invasion of England. Consequently, the meeting opened with the first part of a brief overview of these events, namely, the causes of the war and the organisation of the opposing fleets.

Future Meetings

Johannesburg - August 11th - Mr. Hamish Paterson - "The Bloody Game: The Battles of Bannockburn, Killicrankie and Prestonpans."

- September 8th Brigadier M. Fourie "Revolutionary Warfare on the Border."

The Johannesburg Meetings take place in the J.C. Lemmer Auditorium, S.A. National Museum of Military History, Saxonwold, Johannesburg at 20h00.

Durban

- August 11th - Dr. Gerry Brereton-Stiles "Battles of the Middle Ages."

Cape Town

- August 11th - Dr. Ryno Greenwall will talk on Melton Prior, the British war correspondent, and his Boer War activities.

STEWART STILES