1948 - A tumultuous year for South Africa and the world.
The year 1947 closed, around the country people saw in the new year of 1948. It was to be a momentous year for South Africa. I was only a few weeks old and probably slept through the festivities.
Image - Pixabay
India - Pakistan conflict 1948
The world was changing, India and Pakistan achieved independence ending 200 years of British rule and the end of the British Raj. It was not to be a peaceful time, a war which had broken out between India and the new Muslim state of Pakistan claimed many casualties on both sides and many were killed in the vast population movements that took place before and after the partition. The year began badly for India with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi on the 26th January. It proved a difficult year for both countries and the war lasted till the end of the year when a cease fire was signed.
India - Arab - Israeli War 1948
As a consequence of Israel’s independence, a war broke out with her Arab neighbours, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. We sit with the consequences today. This was the time of the Berlin airlift, America instituted the Marshall plan which soured relations with the Soviet Union and led to the blockade of Berlin.
Palestinian refugees
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In spite of all these problems, we saw the introduction of the long playing record, the first use of random access memory, the commercial release of the Kodak land camera, Velcro and the first transistor radio. Czechoslovakia, once a bastion of democracy became a communist state and in Britain the empire was dissolving but on a brighter note the NHS came into being.
South Africa
In South Africa we entered a new era of apartheid. The Nationalist government won on a ticket of racial segregation. On the 26th of May D.F. Malan became Prime Minister and thereafter in short order a number of policies were put into effect which would cloud the horizon for the next fifty years. What do I feel about it? I was only a baby at this time but the segregation of the races was an accepted fact. It did not suddenly arise with the nationalists; it had been practised long before by the Dutch and the British in turn, what was different was that it became policy. With perfect 20/20 hindsight one wonders how this was supposed to work. The world had just come out of the worst war in history and the policies of racial purity left a bad taste in the mouth of the world and here we were proposing to implement something on the same racial lines. Is it any wonder that the world looked at us with alarm and consternation?
By Dewet - Derived from Aprt.jpg on en.wiki, corrected perspective and lighting somewhat. Permission from photographer, Public Domain,
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D.F. Malan - First Nationalist Prime Minister 1948
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What I find unsettling is how many problems we face today were born in the chaos that followed the Second World War. Fighting in Korea and Israel, the birth of terrorism, carried out by many countries which in our time developed into the sophisticated groups that operate today.
The western powers continued to support South Africa, we were important to the west for both economic and strategic reasons. Even though the policies of Apartheid were repugnant to many countries, South Africa stood as a valuable ally in the fight against communist domination. These ideas are my own understanding of what occurred in the world at this time and to quote Dan Carlin, “I am only a fan of history” and my views are obviously coloured by my experiences in life. If you disagree with my views, that is OK by me. I am always open to new ideas, nothing is set in stone.
Part 1. The year 1947
https://steemit.com/year1947/@petruska13/from-the-summer-of-love-to-the-winter-of-our-discontent
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Very interesting article, thanks!