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Afrikaner Rebellion
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Afrikaner Rebellion

British-South African history
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Quick Summary

The Afrikaner Rebellion, also known as the Maritz Rebellion, occurred in 1914 at the start of World War I. It was led by former Boer generals who opposed South Africa's automatic entry into the war on Britain's side. Many of these rebels were impoverished rural Afrikaners.12

The rebellion was a significant event in the rise of Afrikaner nationalism, fueled by economic changes, the aftermath of the South African War (1899-1902), and a desire to resist English cultural dominance. The South African government suppressed the rebellion, with over 300 lives lost. Salomon Gerhardus Maritz, a general who fought in the South African War, defected to the German side and led the rebellion before fleeing to Europe. The rebellion highlighted the deep divisions within South Africa and the growing Afrikaner desire for self-determination.12

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Southern Africa - The South African War
  2. South Africa - Afrikaner rebellion and nationalism
  3. Salomon Gerhardus Maritz

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