In our second to last installment of history textbook blogging, we begin with the end of the 1930’s. They saw a dramatic resurgence of Afrikaner Nationalist spirit. The semi-secret group, Afrikaner Broederbond, an extreme wing of the populist Afrikaner nationalism, worked with the National Party to organize centenary celebrations of the Great Trek and the Battle of Blood River. These events involved hundreds of participants!
By now, the G.N.P. and the Afrikaner Broederband were supported by the majority of the poorer Afrikaners who felt alienated by the perceived elitism of the U.P. and its inability to deliver a better standard of living for all Whites. They demanded an even more radical system of racial discrimination and segregation.
South African’s entry into the second World War on the side of the allied powers had a major impact on the country. Hertzog resigned from the government over Smuts’ support of the war and his subsequent reconciliation with Malan led to the renaming of the nationalists. They became known as the Herenigde Nasionale Party, the Reunited National Party or the National Party (N.P.).
20th Century History 