Ntwa Ya Hitler - Not Again

Although Batswana had no say in the matter, within days of the declaration most of the Gazetted Chiefs in the territory had forwarded letters pledging their loyalty and readiness to support the war effort.  The stance of the local Dikgosi stood in immediate contrast with the political divisions being played out across the border amongst the dominant white Afrikaners in the then minority ruled Union of South Africa.

Motivated in part by the fact that South Africa’s participation in the First World War--a quarter century earlier--had led to a civil war within his own community, the Union Prime Minister, J.M.B. Herzog, favoured a policy of neutrality.