Oswald Pirow's Five-Year Plan for the Reorganisation of the Union Defence Force, 1933-1939

dc.creator	Johan Ellis
dc.date	2012-02-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T20:08:42Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T20:08:42Z
dc.identifier	10.5787/30-2-175
dc.identifier	2224-0020
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/a0e8a84cddc04d50a4f99a7a5839a871
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/8413
dc.identifier.uri	https://doaj.org/article/a0e8a84cddc04d50a4f99a7a5839a871
dc.description	<p>The Union Defence Force (UDF) experienced constant changes in its size and organisation during the first few decades of existence since being established on 1 July 1912. During the First World War it's size increased, 2 only to decrease again with demobilisation after the War. Another upward trend was experienced over the period 1922-1926, with the first line of defence increasing in number during 1924 from 10 000 to 25 000.3 The Depression of 1929-1933 stopped this tendency' resulting in the disbandment of no less than 49 Active Citizen Force (ACF) units.</p> <p>During 1933 however, it became clear that the Depression was drawing to an end and economic revival within South Africa became a reality. At the same time, that is during 1933, the top management within the Ministry of Defence as well as the UDF were replaced. Advocate Oswald Pirow was appointed as Minister of Defence and Maj. Gen. A.J.E. Brink as Secretary of Defence. Sir Pierre van Reyneveld was appointed as Chief of the General Staff (CGS).5 The expectation of economic prosperity urged the new top management, to consider the reorganisation and expansion of the UDF. These expectations led to an announcement to Cabinet by Oswald Pirow on 16 October 1933 of his intend to re-evaluate the Union's security situation and to implement the expected reorganisation resulting from the re-evaluation by means of a five-year plan.6 The five-year plan was announced in Parliament on 2 May 1934 and with time, became known as "Oswald Pirow's Five-year Plan". On studying the sources however it is clear that Pierre van Reyneveld and not Oswald Pirow was the true driving force behind the plan. Pierre van Reyneveld as CGS however was responsible for most of the planning and for drawing up the plan. As Minister of Defence Oswald Pirow was the public figure with whom the plan was associated, hence the name: "Oswald Pirow's Five-year Plan".</p>
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Military Science (Military Academy)
dc.relation	http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za/pub/article/view/175
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2224-0020
dc.source	Scientia Militaria : South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 30, Iss 2 (2012)
dc.subject	Oswald Pirow's Five-Year Plan
dc.subject	The Union Defence Force (UDF)
dc.subject	Chief of the General Staff (CGS)
dc.subject	Sir Pierre van Reyneveld
dc.subject	Maj. Gen. A.J.E. Brink
dc.subject	Secretary of Defence
dc.subject	Oswald Pirow
dc.subject	Minister of Defence
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	DOAJ:Military Science
dc.subject	DOAJ:Technology and Engineering
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.subject	Military Science
dc.subject	U
dc.title	Oswald Pirow's Five-Year Plan for the Reorganisation of the Union Defence Force, 1933-1939
dc.type	Article