The military has loomed large in South African history but has been susceptible to changes in government in the past century.
Yet there has not been a substantial overview of the whole period. Ian van der Waag, an associate professor and head of the Department of Military History at Stellenbosch University, has filled that gap with this single volume book, in which he places the narrative within the broader national past.
He opens with the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), the greatest of British colonial campaigns. The bitter residue of this conflict had a direct bearing on the formation of the Union Defence Force (UDF) in 1912. An attempt was made to balance the competing demands of the English and Afrikaner sectors of the newly united nation.
After the war, South Africa cut back on military expenditure, with further savage cuts during the Great Depression. Yet the army remained an honoured and respectable profession.
When World War II started in 1939, the country was entirely unprepared for war. Yet the UDF rose to the challenge, growing into a significant military force.
The rise to power of the National Party in 1948 and the appointment of Frans Erasmus as defence minister had serious repercussions on the UDF. Erasmus disposed of all the UDF’s colonial origins in favour of traditions of the old Boer republics.
The promotion of Afrikaner nationalism and allegiance to the National Party came to dominate the military. The filling of posts with politically reliable types led to declining military efficiency, a dearth of expertise and an incoherent defence policy for the 1950s.
The negotiated settlement that led to the 1994 polls also resulted in another seismic shift in the Defence Force.
This book is a significant achievement, covering a daunting period with care and meticulous reference to sources.
Indeed, it is a milestone worthy of salute.
A Military History of Modern South Africa by Ian van der Waag is published by Jonathan Ball