The origins of the war were complex, with more than a century of conflict between the Boers and the British Empire in the background, but the immediate cause was the question as to which nation would control and benefit most from the very lucrative Witwatersrand gold mines in the Transvaal.
Why did South Africa declare war on Germany?
Declaration of war against the Axis
Immediately, Smuts set about fortifying South Africa against any possible German sea invasion because of South Africa’s global strategic importance controlling the long sea route around the Cape of Good Hope.
Why did the continuation war happen?
The Continuation War began 15 months after the end of the Winter War, also fought between Finland and the USSR. … In Lapland, joint German–Finnish forces failed to capture Murmansk or cut the Kirov (Murmansk) Railway, a transit route for lend-lease equipment to the USSR.
What happened in South Africa during World War 2?
South Africa made significant contributions to the Allied war effort. … Some 135,000 white South Africans fought in the East and North African and Italian campaigns, and 70,000 Blacks and Coloureds served as labourers and transport drivers.
Did the Allies declare war on Finland?
Britain declared war on Finland, Hungary and Romania on 5 December 1941, following the signing of the Tri-partite Pact and Finland’s alliance with Germany. … By March 1944, the Romanian ruler Antonescu made contact with the Western Allies, and Romania declared war on Germany on 24 August that year.
Which side was South Africa on in ww2?
South Africa then joined the war on the Allies’ side, and fought major battles in North Africa, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Italy.
How did World War 1 affect South Africa?
Suffering roughly 19,000 casualties, over 7,000 South Africans were killed, and nearly 12,000 were wounded during the course of the war. Eight South Africans won the Victoria Cross for gallantry, the Empire’s highest and prestigious military medal.
What if Finland won Continuation War?
What if Finland won the Continuation War? … That would most likely imply that Germany wins World War 2 aswell, and the Neuordnung would be realized. That would mean that Finland gets the Greater Finland borders, with Germany occupying rest of Eastern Europe.
Are Finns Nordic or Slavic?
Finns are North Europeans, closely related to Estonians and Swedes-Norwegians, but also to North Russian and Baltic people. Via N male ancestry, which is Finnic. They are neither Slavic nor Scandinavian but because of Finland’s close history to Sweden, they are most likely closer to Scandinavian.
Did Germany invade Finland?
After the Eastern Front and peace negotiations between the Bolsheviks and Germany collapsed, the German troops intervened in Finland and occupied Helsinki. The Red faction was defeated and the survivors were subjected to a reign of terror, in which at least 12,000 people died.
Who did South Africa fight with in ww1?
In 1914, the Union of South Africa was four years old; its military only two. British supremacy in the South African War (1899-1902) provoked different responses from English and Afrikaner white South Africans to World War I.
What happened in 1910 South Africa?
Launch of Union 1910
On the 31 May 1910, exactly eight years after the Boers had made peace with the English through the Treaty of Vereeniging, South Africa became a Union. Despite the mistrust in the Boer camp, the Afrikaners, as they now became known, had negotiated and achieved self-determination.
Who is South Africa at war with?
South African War, also called Boer War, Second Boer War, or Anglo-Boer War; to Afrikaners, also called Second War of Independence, war fought from October 11, 1899, to May 31, 1902, between Great Britain and the two Boer (Afrikaner) republics—the South African Republic (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State—resulting …
Are Finland and Russia allies?
Relations with Russia are cordial and common issues include bureaucracy (particularly at the Vaalimaa border crossing), airspace violations, development aid Finland gives to Russia (especially in environmental problems that affect Finland), and Finland’s energy dependency on Russian gas and electricity.
Was Finland Axis or Allies?
Finland. Never a signatory of the Tripartite Pact, Finland was nonetheless a co-belligerent on the side of the Axis Powers. This was a result of the Soviet invasion of Finland, as sanctioned by the 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
Who did not fight in WWII?
About 70 million total soldiers fought on behalf of the Allied or Axis countries. Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Sweden all declared themselves neutral during WWII. Some scholars argue that the “start” of WWII was in 1937 when Japan invaded China instead of when Germany invaded Poland.