Die rol en impak van Radio Zeesen as pro-Duitse propagandastasie tydens Afrikaners se anti- Britse verset teen Suid-Afrika se deelname aan die Tweede Wêreldoorlog, 1939 tot 1948

Abstract

With the onset of the Second World War, South Africa's population was divided over the stance of the country should take in the war. Resistance to South Africa's participation was particularly prominent among a section of the Afrikaner population who wanted to maintain absolute sovereignty and wanted no part in a "British" war. The period of the Second World War saw ongoing resistance efforts against war participation in South Africa, which were underpinned by complex motivations. Existing pro-German and anti-British sentiments often formed the base of anti-war opposition, but such sentiments often stemmed from Afrikaner nationalist sentiments. These existing sentiments were used by Germany to spread propaganda to South Africa. This was largely achieved though Radio Zeesen, a German radio station that broadcasted to South Africa in Afrikaans, with the aim of fuelling the Afrikaners' anti-war resistance in order to hinder the war effort. The purpose of this dissertation is to look at how Radio Zeesen's propaganda had an influence on Afrikaner resistance during the war. The dissertation explores how Radio Zeesen's propaganda was uniquely adapted to the South African context, while considering the existing dissatisfaction of the Afrikaner population during the war. By confirming and encouraging existing feelings of resistance, Radio Zeesen significantly influenced the internal climate of South Africa. The dissertation also focuses on the Afrikaans broadcasters who served at Radio Zeesen, and it is especially in this way that an original contribution is made. Existing academic literature does not provide a personal overview of the Afrikaans broadcasters, which may mistakenly create the impression that their service at Radio Zeesen presupposes a pro-German attitude. The overview of the announcers' background and an exploration of their experiences at Radio Zeesen thus contributes to historiography and addresses assumptions about Afrikaner resistance. This dissertation also discusses the consequences of the broadcasters' involvement with Radio Zeesen, articularly regarding the court cases that took place after the broadcasters were charged with treason. This dissertation shows the role and impact of Radio Zeesen's propaganda against the background of Afrikaner resistance, as well as an understanding the human agents involved, forms an important part of the history of South Africa in the Second World War.