‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa
A large number of South African troops were captured by the Axis forces in the Western Desert after the crushing defeat at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 and the surrender of Tobruk in June 1942. Prior to these severe reverses, South African troops had barely tasted defeat on the battlefield during th...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Contree |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/886 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1839645623562797056 |
|---|---|
| author | Evert Kleynhans |
| author_facet | Evert Kleynhans |
| author_sort | Evert Kleynhans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A large number of South African troops were captured by the Axis forces in the Western Desert after the crushing defeat at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 and the surrender of Tobruk in June 1942. Prior to these severe reverses, South African troops had barely tasted defeat on the battlefield during the Second World War. Any illusions regarding fighting prowess and invincibility were, however, short-lived and brutally dashed by the German Afrika Corps. Amid the chaos and confusion that reigned at Sidi Rezegh, and searching questions asked of the defence of Tobruk, some 13 000 South African troops were captured. For each of these men, the experience of capture differed. Most felt anger and frustration when confronted with their new status as prisoners-of-war. Mental shock, physical deprivation, and the stigma and shame associated with surrender and capture would also haunt them.
Contribution: This article provides an exploratory investigation into the experiences of South African servicemen shortly before, during and after their moment of capture in the Western Desert. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fc3cd61c1b1140f3a43d6f1535a0df5a |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 0379-9867 2959-510X |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Contree |
| spelling | doaj-art-fc3cd61c1b1140f3a43d6f1535a0df5a2025-07-01T14:03:16ZafrAOSISContree0379-98672959-510X2025-06-01920e1e1210.4102/nc.v92i0.886871‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North AfricaEvert Kleynhans0The South African Military Academy, Department of Military History, Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University, Saldanha, South Africa; and, Centre for War and Diplomacy, Department of History, Lancaster University, LancasterA large number of South African troops were captured by the Axis forces in the Western Desert after the crushing defeat at Sidi Rezegh in November 1941 and the surrender of Tobruk in June 1942. Prior to these severe reverses, South African troops had barely tasted defeat on the battlefield during the Second World War. Any illusions regarding fighting prowess and invincibility were, however, short-lived and brutally dashed by the German Afrika Corps. Amid the chaos and confusion that reigned at Sidi Rezegh, and searching questions asked of the defence of Tobruk, some 13 000 South African troops were captured. For each of these men, the experience of capture differed. Most felt anger and frustration when confronted with their new status as prisoners-of-war. Mental shock, physical deprivation, and the stigma and shame associated with surrender and capture would also haunt them. Contribution: This article provides an exploratory investigation into the experiences of South African servicemen shortly before, during and after their moment of capture in the Western Desert.https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/886second world warunion defence forcenorth africasidi rezeghtobrukcapturesurrenderprisoners-of-war. |
| spellingShingle | Evert Kleynhans ‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa Contree second world war union defence force north africa sidi rezegh tobruk capture surrender prisoners-of-war. |
| title | ‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa |
| title_full | ‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa |
| title_fullStr | ‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | ‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa |
| title_short | ‘Hände hoch’: The South African experience of the moment of capture in North Africa |
| title_sort | hande hoch the south african experience of the moment of capture in north africa |
| topic | second world war union defence force north africa sidi rezegh tobruk capture surrender prisoners-of-war. |
| url | https://newcontree.org.za/index.php/nc/article/view/886 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT evertkleynhans handehochthesouthafricanexperienceofthemomentofcaptureinnorthafrica |