THE RAILWAYS AND THE WAR EFFORT, 1939-1945

Abstract

South Africa's armed forces were small, and their material resources meagre, when the country entered the Second World War on 6 September 1939. The Permanent Force was nearly 50% under strength; the shortage of trained infantrymen was estimated at over 39000; ammunition for artillery pieces and anti-aircraft guns was sufficient for one day's shooting, and only two obsolete armoured cars were available. Two experimental armoured cars had been built locally. During the first years of the war it was not possible to obtain much equipment from the United Kingdom or the United States. Local ingenuity was heavily taxed as attention concentrated on preparing the South African armed forces for long campaigns. Gradually regiments were mobilized and equipped, and an extensive munitions production drive was launched