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

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.