After bitter debate, South Africa, a dominion of the British Empire at the time, declared war on Germany five days after the invasion of Poland in September 1939. Thrust by the British into the campaign against Erwin Rommel's German Afrika Korps in North Africa, the South Africans fought a see-saw war of defeats followed by successes, culminating in the Battle of El Alamein, where South African soldiers made a significant contribution to halting the Desert Fox's advance into Egypt. This is the story of an army committed somewhat reluctantly to a war it didn't fully support, ill-prepared for the battles it was tasked with fighting, and sent into action on the orders of its senior alliance partner. At its heart, however, this is the story of men at war.

About the Author
David Brock Katz is a lecturer at the South African National Defence Force Army and Defence Colleges and is an active member of the Andrew Mlangeni Regiment (formerly the South African Irish Regiment). He completed his Masters degree (cum laude) and PhD in Military History at Stellenbosch University. He has published extensively on South African military history and doctrine.


Book Information
ISBN 9780811717816
Author David Katz
Format Hardback
Page Count 160
Imprint Stackpole Books
Publisher Stackpole Books