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Ossewabrandwag
Pro-German organization in South Africa during WW2 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Ossewabrandwag (OB) (Afrikaans pronunciation: [ˈɔsəˌvɑːˌbrantvaχ], from Afrikaans: ossewa, lit. 'ox-wagon' and Afrikaans: brandwag, lit. 'guard, picket, sentinel, sentry' - Ox-wagon Sentinel) was an Afrikaner nationalist organization[1] with strong ties to national socialism, founded in South Africa in Bloemfontein on 4 February 1939. The organization was strongly opposed to South African participation in World War II, and vocally supportive of Nazi Germany. OB carried out a campaign of sabotage against state infrastructure, resulting in a government crackdown. The unpopularity of that crackdown has been proposed as a contributing factor to the victory of the National Party in the 1948 South African general election and the rise of apartheid.
![]() Seal of the Ossewabrandwag | |
Formation | 4 February 1939; 85 years ago (1939-02-04) |
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Dissolved | 1952 |
Purpose | Afrikaner nationalism Opposition to participation in World War II Pro-German sentiment Pro-Nazi sentiment |
Headquarters | Bloemfontein, Union of South Africa |
Membership | 350,000 (1941) |
Leader | Johannes Van Rensburg |