South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization

<p>The political, economic, social and military developments in the High Commissioned Territories (HCT) throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries were highly influenced by their southern neighbor. During the Second World War, these developments have a rather direct impact on British decis...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Deborah Shackleton
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Stellenbosch University 2012-02-01
Series:Scientia Militaria
Subjects:
Online Access:http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/176
id doaj-bd10cb70e48b4537ad22398d2d71dca4
record_format Article
spelling doaj-bd10cb70e48b4537ad22398d2d71dca42020-11-24T22:47:19ZafrStellenbosch UniversityScientia Militaria2224-00202012-02-0130210.5787/30-2-176South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War MobilizationDeborah Shackleton<p>The political, economic, social and military developments in the High Commissioned Territories (HCT) throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries were highly influenced by their southern neighbor. During the Second World War, these developments have a rather direct impact on British decision-makers in London and in southern Africa especially with regards to war mobilization, African military recruitment and labor issues. Much of what will be discussed in this paper must be understood in the context of British imperial organization and demands as formulated and dictated by the Colonial Office in London with coordination with the Office of the High Commissioner in South Africa who was responsible for the overall care and protection of the HCT. However, historical precedent, economic necessity, military exigencies, paternalism, and racial ideology also drove policy decisions regarding mobilization during WW II.</p> <p>Without going into great detail about the position of the British Empire in 1939 to defend itself against German aggressions, it is still important to accept in principle that Great Britain did not have the resources and manpower to fight the fight alone.</p> <p>As an island nation that hated to be dragged into the messy affairs of the continent, England wanted to confine herself to her own interests. By 1938 the British Army was designed primarily for home defense and was unprepared for rearmament and mobilization. I Many in positions of power questioned the role of imperialism and its subsequent militarism. Predatory imperialism violated the new ideas of liberalism, pacifism, and a growing sense that colonies should move towards self-government.2  Despite the lack of preparation and will to fight another brutal war, Britain would call upon its global dominions to answer the call of collective security against Hitler's transgressions.</p>http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/176South AfricaHigh Commission TerritoriesSecond World WarWar MobilizationAfrican military recruitmentBritish ArmyHitler's transgressions
collection DOAJ
language Afrikaans
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Deborah Shackleton
spellingShingle Deborah Shackleton
South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization
Scientia Militaria
South Africa
High Commission Territories
Second World War
War Mobilization
African military recruitment
British Army
Hitler's transgressions
author_facet Deborah Shackleton
author_sort Deborah Shackleton
title South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization
title_short South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization
title_full South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization
title_fullStr South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization
title_full_unstemmed South Africa and the High Commission Territories during the Second World War: Politics and Policies Affecting War Mobilization
title_sort south africa and the high commission territories during the second world war: politics and policies affecting war mobilization
publisher Stellenbosch University
series Scientia Militaria
issn 2224-0020
publishDate 2012-02-01
description <p>The political, economic, social and military developments in the High Commissioned Territories (HCT) throughout much of the 19th and 20th centuries were highly influenced by their southern neighbor. During the Second World War, these developments have a rather direct impact on British decision-makers in London and in southern Africa especially with regards to war mobilization, African military recruitment and labor issues. Much of what will be discussed in this paper must be understood in the context of British imperial organization and demands as formulated and dictated by the Colonial Office in London with coordination with the Office of the High Commissioner in South Africa who was responsible for the overall care and protection of the HCT. However, historical precedent, economic necessity, military exigencies, paternalism, and racial ideology also drove policy decisions regarding mobilization during WW II.</p> <p>Without going into great detail about the position of the British Empire in 1939 to defend itself against German aggressions, it is still important to accept in principle that Great Britain did not have the resources and manpower to fight the fight alone.</p> <p>As an island nation that hated to be dragged into the messy affairs of the continent, England wanted to confine herself to her own interests. By 1938 the British Army was designed primarily for home defense and was unprepared for rearmament and mobilization. I Many in positions of power questioned the role of imperialism and its subsequent militarism. Predatory imperialism violated the new ideas of liberalism, pacifism, and a growing sense that colonies should move towards self-government.2  Despite the lack of preparation and will to fight another brutal war, Britain would call upon its global dominions to answer the call of collective security against Hitler's transgressions.</p>
topic South Africa
High Commission Territories
Second World War
War Mobilization
African military recruitment
British Army
Hitler's transgressions
url http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/176
work_keys_str_mv AT deborahshackleton southafricaandthehighcommissionterritoriesduringthesecondworldwarpoliticsandpoliciesaffectingwarmobilization
_version_ 1725682010975895552