South African 20th Century Online History Documentary : Jan Smuts

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 03:57:15 +0000

Jan Smuts is a foremost political figure in South African 20th Century History, and is recognised today by two of the world's leading historians as being at the very centre of the vision for a new world order that emerges from the League of Nations and the United Nations.. "Few actually understand how key Smuts is in the crafting of the world systems that emerges outside of South Africa."...Keith Breckenridge (Economic History Professor). “He was one of the most enlightened, courageous and noble-minded men of the 20th century...a man who fought for his country but who thought for the whole world” - Winston Churchill.
“No politician in England for many a day has combined his sweep, his detachment and his subtlety” Manchester Guardian.
"This was a great leader, he was a man who knew his story, he was a man who was a brilliant intellectual. "Ken Gillings (Military Historian).
“Even the great thought he was great”.... Alan Paton
"It was a great philosophical vision that he had that the whole is more important than the solitary or the individual."....Allister Sparks (Author and Political Commentator).
"Once more General Smuts has revealed himself as a statesman with an international mind. He is one of the comparatively few great men in international politics.".....South Wales Argus.

Who was this South African Statesman who for more than half a century, played a leading role on
the domestic and international stage as warrior, statesman and counsellor of Kings?
He focused on uniting Boer and Brit after the Anglo-Boer War
Was caught up in a global arena between two world wars
...and served as a Member of the British War Cabinet in both wars.
Was accused of selling out to the British by the Afrikaners
..and neglected the disenfranchised in South Africa
HE WAS A MAN OF PARADOXES
A brilliant academic who believed in Reconciliation ...yet he spent the greater part of his life on the battlefield.
Reconciliation is what he wanted in a less draconian Peace Treaty with the Germans.
Reconciliation is central to the League of Nations, which he founded, and his preamble to the
United Nations Charter, which upholds human rights....
...yet, he failed to reconcile with the disenfranchised in South Africa for fear of losing white votes.
"I cared more that he (Smuts) helped the foundation of the League of Nations, promoting freedom
throughout the world, than that he repressed freedom at home". Nelson Mandela
He was one of the greatest English orators of the 20th Century...
...and was appointed Chancellor of Cambridge and Cape Town universities and rector of St Andrews in Scotland.
He was recognised by Einstein as one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century

Yet, he is virtually persona non grata in his own country.... and largely ignored in school history books.
This one hour drama-documentary, with its dramatised cameo scenes in which his look-alike grandson takes on the role of Jan Smuts, battle re-enactments, historical archival footage, comments from historians, political analysts, and South African political struggle heroes, looks back on his life and the circumstances that shaped it in search of some answers.

JAN SMUTS CHAPTERS
1. Introduction 00:00:22
2. Draft preamble to the United Nations Charter 00:28:46
3. Jan Smuts farm at Doornkloof now Smuts House Museum, Irene 00:01:46
4. Early life on father’s farm 00:04:53
5. Parents Katarina and Jacobus Smuts 00:05:55
6. Graduates from the University of Cape Town 00:08:27
7. Smuts is appointed Chancellor of University of Cape Town 00:08:42
8. Inaugurated as Chancellor of Cambridge University 00:09:04
9. Philosophy of holism 00:09:45
10. Allister Sparks on Smut’s philosophical vision 00:10:58
11. Dr Oshadi Mangena on principal of holism 00:11:51
12. The Jameson Raid 00:12:53
13. Kruger, President Steyn, Smuts and Lord Milner meet 00:13:24
14. Anglo Boer War 00:13:47
15. Lord Kitchener’s scorched earth policy 00:16:33
16. Boer women and children incarcerated in British concentration camps 00:16:54
17. Emily Hobhouse 00:17:08
18. Peace Treaty of Vereeniging signed 00:18:58
19 Steve Biko 00:23:17
20. Union of South Africa formed 00:24:35
21. Keith Breckenridge Economic History Professor 00:25:09
22. African National Congress formed 00:26:38
23. Native Land Act and Natives in Urban Areas Bill 00:26:50
24. Ghandi 00:28:31
25. World War 1 00:32:08
26. German East Africa Campaign 00:33:02
27. Imperial War Conference 00:33:42
28. Concept of dominions 00:34:04
29. League of Nations 00:35:19
30. Smuts becomes Prime Minister 00:36:07
31. Creation of National Party 00:37:00
32. Rand Rebellion 00:37:20
33. Coalition of United Party 00:39:00
34. Hertzog’s Native Bills 00:40:08
35. United Nations 00:42:11
36. World War 2 00:43:20
37. Smuts Prime Minister of South Africa
38. Imperial War Cabinet 00:47:14
39. Museum of Military History 00:48:07
40. Visit of British royal family 00:52:41
41. Malan becomes Prime Minister
42. Voortrekker Monument
43. Death of Smuts