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The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945
Thesis (DEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2023
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| _version_ | 1867613901686833152 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Scherman, Jean-Pierre |
| author2 | Van der Waag, Ian Joseph |
| author_browse | Scherman, Jean-Pierre Van der Waag, Ian Joseph |
| author_facet | Van der Waag, Ian Joseph Scherman, Jean-Pierre |
| author_sort | Scherman, Jean-Pierre |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (DEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/128853 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:30.888Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/128853 The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 Scherman, Jean-Pierre Van der Waag, Ian Joseph Kleynhans, Evert Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Sciences. School for Security and Africa Studies. Military History. Soldiers -- World War,1939-1945 – Personnel narratives World War, 1939-1945 Prisoners of war South Africa. Union Defence Force UCTD Second South African Infantry Division Thesis (DEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The 2nd South African Infantry Division (2nd SA Inf Div) has long been considered the “lost” division in the history of South Africa’s Second World War. Unlike the other divisions raised by the Union Defence Force (UDF) during the war, the 2nd SA Inf Div’s combat record only stretched for approximately a year before the divisional headquarters and two infantry brigades were captured at Tobruk in North Africa in June 1942. Their short combat service, and the stigma of defeat, which clung to them even after the war’s end, meant a unique war experience – and an experience very different from other Springbok soldiers. Established on 23 October 1940, at Voortrekkerhoogte, the division had an authorised personnel strength of 21 315 service personnel, comprised solely of volunteers, who had signed the Africa Oath, whereby they consented to fight anywhere in Africa. After a year of training in the Union, the division embarked at Durban for the deserts of North Africa, where they experienced boredom and excitement as they constructed defences around El Alamein and were “blooded” during Operation Crusader. Their desert adventure ended suddenly with the capture of 10 722 members of the division at Tobruk. Initially held in prisoner of war (POW) camps in Africa and Italy, the Italian armistice in September 1943 provided the opportunity for many of the men to escape; the remainder were transported over the Alps to spend the remainder of the war as prisoners in Germany. Utilising the ‘New Military History’ approach, whereby the focus of a study shifts from the viewpoint of high-ranking men to that of the ordinary soldier on the ground, this dissertation examines the war-time experiences, from enlistment to demobilisation and memory, of these lost Springboks. Making use of their diaries, letters, notebooks, sketches, biographies, autobiographies, and stories, their war-time experiences are used to examine the formation, training, deployment, combat, and incarceration of the bulk of the men of the 2nd SA Inf Div. For the first time, the history of a South African infantry division has been studied in this manner - using the lived experiences of its men. Moreover, with sixty percent of all South Africa’s Second World War POWs originating from this division, this study provides further insight into the whole South African POW experience, including various divisional escape and evade narratives. This dissertation explains the network established by the UDF to aid escaping POWs, and the complex mission established to get the men home. Now, after more than eighty years, their voices have been rediscovered and examined, and an important gap in South Africa’s military historiography of the Second World War is filled. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die 2de Suid-Afrikaanse Infanterie Divisie (2de SA Inf Div) word lank reeds beskou as die “verlore”" divisie in die Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog. Anders as die ander divisies wat tydens die oorlog deur die Unieverdedigingsmag (UVM) opgerig is, sou die 2de SA Inf Div se gevegsrekord net oor ongeveer 'n jaar strek voordat die hoofkwartier, saam met twee infanteriebrigades, in Junie 1942 by Tobruk in Noord-Afrika gevange geneem is. Hul kort gevegsdiens, en die stigma van nederlaag, wat selfs ná die einde van die oorlog aan hulle vasgekleef het, het aan hulle 'n unieke oorlogservaring toegeken – 'n ervaring geheel en al anders as die meerderheid Springbok-soldate. Die divisie, wat op 23 Oktober 1940 by Voortrekkerhoogte gestig is, het 'n gemagtigde personeelsterkte van 21 315 dienspersoneel gehad, wat uitsluitlik bestaan het uit vrywilligers, wat die Afrika-eed onderteken het, waardeur hulle ingestem het om enige plek in Afrika te veg. Na 'n jaar van opleiding in die Unie het die divisie vanaf Durban na die woestyne van Noord-Afrika vertrek. Daar het hulle beide verveling en opwinding ervaar soos wat hulle die verdedigings rondom El Alamein versterk het. Hulle het ook vir die eerste keer kontak geslaan en hul vuurdoop ervaar tydens Operasie Crusader. Hul woestyn-avontuur is skielik beëindig met die oorgawe van Tobruk, waartydens 10 722 lede van die divisie gevangene geneem is. Hierna is hulle aanvanklik na Krygsgevangene-kampe in Afrika en Italië gestuur. Die Italiaanse wapenstilstand in September 1943 het vir talle krygsgevangenes die geleentheid gebied om te ontsnap; maar die oorblywendes is oor die Alpe vervoer om die res van die oorlog as krygsgevangenes in Duitsland deur te bring. Deur gebruik te maak van die ‘Nuwe Krygshistoriese’ benadering, waardeur die fokus van 'n studie verskuif word vanaf die oogpunt van hooggeplaaste offisiere na dié van die gewone soldaat op die grond, ondersoek hierdie proefskrif die oorlogservarings – vanaf aansluiting tot demobilisasie en herinneringe – van hierdie ‘verlore’ Springbokke. Deur gebruik te maak van hul dagboeke, briewe, notaboeke, sketse, biografieë, outobiografieë en stories, word hul oorlogservaringe gebruik om die vorming, opleiding, ontplooiing, gevegservaring en gevangeneming van die meerderheid van die manne van die 2de SA Inf Div te ondersoek. Vir die eerste keer is die geskiedenis van 'n Suid-Afrikaanse infanterie-divisie op hierdie wyse met behulp van die persoonlike ervaringe van die manskappe bestudeer. Bowendien, met omtrent sestig persent van alle Suid-Afrikaanse krygsgevangenes tydens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog, afkomstig uit hierdie divisie, bied hierdie studie verdere insig in die totale Suid-Afrikaanse krygsgevangene-ervaring, insluitend verskeie ontsnapping- en ontwykingsnarratiewe. Hierdie proefskrif verduidelik die netwerk wat deur die UVM gevestig is om ontsnappende gevangenes te help, en die komplekse missie wat gevestig is om die mans terug na Suid-Afrika toe te repatrieer. Nou, ná meer as tagtig jaar, is hul stemme herontdek en ondersoek, en word ’n belangrike leemte in Suid-Afrika se militêre geskiedskrywing ten opsigte van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog gevul. Doctoral 2023-11-01T11:38:21Z 2024-01-08T13:27:02Z 2023-11-01T11:38:21Z 2024-01-08T13:27:02Z 2023-12-15 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128853 en Stellenbosch University lv, 438 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Soldiers -- World War,1939-1945 – Personnel narratives World War, 1939-1945 Prisoners of war South Africa. Union Defence Force UCTD Second South African Infantry Division Scherman, Jean-Pierre The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 |
| title | The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 |
| title_full | The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 |
| title_fullStr | The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 |
| title_full_unstemmed | The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 |
| title_short | The wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd South African Infantry Division, 1940 – 1945 |
| title_sort | wartime experiences of the men of the 2nd south african infantry division 1940 1945 |
| topic | Soldiers -- World War,1939-1945 – Personnel narratives World War, 1939-1945 Prisoners of war South Africa. Union Defence Force UCTD Second South African Infantry Division |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128853 |
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