South African Propaganda Agencies and the Battle for Public Opinion during the Second World War, 1939–1945

Abstract

South Africa's entry into the Second World War in 1939 was complex. The Smuts government lacked nation-wide support and experienced hostile reactions from opponents of its war policy. It was also subjected to Nazi propaganda offensives, which intensified national divisions and undermined public morale. In response, the Union authorities adopted a volunteer policy for military service and embarked on a massive drive to secure positive public opinion and national support for the war policy. This move led to the establishment of various publicity and propaganda organisations to influence public opinion and to stimulate enthusiasm for the war. However, inadequate policy direction and lacking a solid framework to guide propaganda organisation and operations created inter-agency frictions and rivalries. The study on which this article is based, examined the main propaganda agencies, the Bureau of Information (BOI), the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) and the Union Unity Truth Service (UUTS), which contested one another for jurisdiction, authority and power to shape public opinion in South Africa during the war. The analysis focused on the rationale for their establishment, their purpose, objectives and activities. Then the article reports on the interinstitutional relationships, organisational politics and competition, and how these aspects affected the Union's propaganda enterprise, mobilisation drive and the prosecution of the war effort.

Alien Springboks: Foreign Volunteers in South Africa’s Union Defence Force, 1940–1945

“…As discussed in Chapter 6, official and semi-official agencies such as the Bureau of Information (BOI), Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI), South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Union Unity Truth Service (UUTS), newspaper editors and private advertising companies played a role to garner support for the war. 69 The government also adopted an internment policy against foreign suspects, particularly Germans, and some Union nationals suspected of subversive activities. 70 By early 1940 over 1 000 suspects were already interned, of whom 162 were Union nationals.…”

The Smuts Government’s justification of the emergency regulations and the impact thereof on the Ossewa-Brandwag, 1939 to 1945

“…19 On 6 September 1939, South Africa officially declared war on Germany under Proclamation 197 of 1939. 20 This declaration of war had a direct effect on the OB as an Afrikaner movement. 21 According to Hancock, Smuts was aware of the possible internal opposition to war, and even the possibility of a civil war, "[h]e did not close his eyes to that danger but took precautions against it."…”