Abyssinian fortress of Dessie is captured by South African troops during World War II

Date: 26 Apr 1941
Updated: 25 Apr 2021

The Abyssinian fortress of Dessie, located between Addis Ababa and Amba Alagi, was captured by General Alan Cunningham's South African divisions. This event happened in 1941 two years after the outbreak of the World War II. The War broke out in September 1939 and South Africa joined in support of Britain. The decision to enter the war led to divisions between English speaking South Africans and the Afrikaner. Led by J. C. Smuts, the South African government supported Britain. The Afrikaner, with historical affinities with the Germans going back to the South African War of 1899 to 1902 were opposed to what they perceived as fighting a British war. They would have supported the Germans instead. Although South Africa was a British colony and had been for nearly 40 years, many Afrikaners felt closer to the Germans.

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How we know this

01Boddy-Evans, A. ‘This day in African History: 26 April’, from African History, [online], Available www.africanhistory.about.com[Accessed: 16 March 2012]
02South African History Online, ‘Second World War and its impact, 1939-1948’, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za[Accessed: 16 March 2012]

Last updated · 25 Apr 2021

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, April 18). Abyssinian fortress of Dessie is captured by South African troops during World War II. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081958

South African History Online (2012) 'Abyssinian fortress of Dessie is captured by South African troops during World War II', South African History Online, 18 April. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081958 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, Abyssinian fortress of Dessie is captured by South African troops during World War II [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081958, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"Abyssinian fortress of Dessie is captured by South African troops during World War II." South African History Online, 18 Apr. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081958. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Abyssinian fortress of Dessie is captured by South African troops during World War II." South African History Online. April 18, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0081958.