The Naval War in South African Waters, 1939-1945

The Naval War in South African Waters, 1939-1945 PDF

Author: Evert Kleynhans

Publisher: African Sun Media

Published: 2022-03-23

Total Pages: 323

ISBN-13: 1991201745

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The Naval War in South African Waters, 1939-1945 provides a critical reappraisal of the naval war waged in South African waters during the Second World War. The book investigates this broad topic by focussing on several interrelated aspects such as: the wartime strategic importance of South African waters; the rival Axis and Allied naval strategies in the southern oceans; the development of the South African coastal defence system; the full extent of the Axis naval operations in the southern oceans; the naval intelligence war; and, finally, the antisubmarine war waged in South African waters. Based on extensive archival research in South Africa and the United Kingdom, and supplemented by a wealth of secondary material, the book introduces a fresh, in-depth discussion on a largely forgotten episode of South African military history.

War at Sea 1939-1945

War at Sea 1939-1945 PDF

Author: Jurgen Rohwer

Publisher: Booksales

Published: 2001

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 9781840673623

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A superb illustrated history of the naval operations of the Second World War. Two hundred and fifty photographs and an accompanying text describe the inter-related nature of the events which took place in the Baltic and North Seas, in the Arctic, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. The author deals with every aspect of the naval war from top-level discussions and decisions concerning technical requirements and operations, to the events of the battles themselves and their consequences for the people involved. He has tracked down a superb collection of rare photographs which portray as truthfully as possible the realities of war at sea.

20 Battles

20 Battles PDF

Author: Evert Kleynhans

Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers

Published: 2023-07-28

Total Pages: 365

ISBN-13: 1928248233

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Favouring manoeuvre over attrition and often punching above their weight, South African soldiers have become known for their tenacity, dash and ability to defy the odds. Their unique directive command style has also helped them to excel in defining battles and operations, from the campaign in German South West Africa in 1915 to the cross-border operations in Angola during the Border War. In 20 Battles, military historians Evert Kleynhans and David Brock Katz investigate the evolution of South Africa's armed forces over a century from 1913 to 2013. They track the evolution of the doctrine and structure of the defence force, uncovering historical continuity and the lessons learned from past battles and operations. What is clear is that when South African soldiers have the freedom to operate according to their manoeuvre doctrine, as they had in East Africa in 1916 and southern Ethiopia in 1941, they can achieve stunning results. But when hemmed in by rigid doctrine and a top-down command style, as at Delville Wood in 1916 and Tobruk in 1942, the results can be tragic. 20 Battles combines both battlefield drama and crisp analysis and in the process provides a much-needed perspective on the South African way of war.

Hitler's Spies

Hitler's Spies PDF

Author: Evert Kleynhans

Publisher: Jonathan Ball Publishers

Published: 2021-04-16

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 1776190211

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The story of the intelligence war in South Africa during the Second World War is one of suspense, drama and dogged persistence. In 1939, when the Union of South Africa entered the war on Britain's side, the German government secretly reached out to the political opposition, and to the leadership of the anti-war movement, the Ossewabrandwag. The Nazis' aim was to spread sedition in South Africa and to undermine the Allied war effort. The critical strategic importance of the sea route round the Cape of Good Hope meant that the Germans were also after naval intelligence. Soon U-boat packs were sent to operate in South African waters, to deadly effect. With the help of the Ossewabrandwag, a network of German spies was established to gather important political and military intelligence and relay it back to the Reich. Agents would use a variety of channels to send coded messages to Axis diplomats in neighbouring Mozambique. Meanwhile, police detectives and MI5 agents hunted in vain for illegal wireless transmitters. Hitler's Spies presents an unrivalled account of the German intelligence networks that operated in wartime South Africa. It also details the hunt in post-war Europe for witnesses to help the government bring charges of high treason against key Ossewabrandwag members.