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Union of South Africa
Tag
(06)
1939
September
06
South Africa declares war on Germany
On 6 September 1939 South Africa declared war on Germany. Two days earlier parliament had rejected Hertzog's neutrality and Smuts had taken over the government.
1941
February
25
The British take Mogadishu
On 25 February 1941 General Cunningham’s African troops entered Mogadishu unopposed, two weeks after advancing from Kenya into Italian Somaliland.
November
22
The Battle of Sidi Rezegh
On 22 and 23 November 1941 the Afrika Korps retook Sidi Rezegh airfield, shattered British armoured brigades and destroyed the 5th South African Brigade.
1942
April
28
The fleet sails for Madagascar
On 28 April 1942 a fast convoy of British assault troops left Durban for Vichy-held Madagascar. The slower ships had sailed three days earlier.
June
14
The retreat from the Gazala Line
On 14 June 1942 the Eighth Army began to abandon the Gazala Line. Churchill presumed Tobruk would not be given up; Auchinleck said he had no such intention.
21
Key event
The fall of Tobruk
On 21 June 1942 General Klopper surrendered Tobruk to Rommel after a day’s assault. Some 33,000 soldiers were captured and Rommel was made a field marshal.