There are misperceptions and prejudice about the Ossewabrandwag (OB); on the one hand there is the view that it was a fascist organisation, schooled on Nazism, and on the other that it was merely a cultural organisation.
The OB was formed in 1939 as a cultural organisation for the Afrikaner with a charismatic, highly intelligent leader (he had a doctorate in law), Hans van Rensburg.
Albert Blake pointed out complicated reasons for the formation of the OB, such as scars from the Anglo-Boer War, the poor white question and the politics of the time. The Afrikaners had always hoped that they could be free of British dominance.
Later, a militant group, the so-called Stormjaers was formed within the OB. It was a small minority and there were attempts to blow up government institutions, such as post offices. There were small explosives factories in Pretoria and they could have caused great damage. However, Hans van Rensburg held the reins tightly. The two Stormjaers who blew up the post office in Benoni were sentenced to death. The sentence was never carried out. Internment camps also helped contain the militants.
One of the questions asked was where the sources with the names of members are kept. The best source is the archive at the NWU.
Some of the participants shared their memories of that time with the audience.
Albert Blake, 08 October 2022
The OB was formed in 1939 as a cultural organisation for the Afrikaner with a charismatic, highly intelligent leader (he had a doctorate in law), Hans van Rensburg.