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Second Boer War (1899-1902)

Second Boer War (1899-1902) – The Second Boer War started in 1899 and only ended in 1902. At the beginning of the Second Boer war most Uitlanders left the city so that the operations of their mining companies came to a halt. Also they expect help from European countries, there is a pro-Boer spirit and this spirit is getting stronger after the Boers and this spirit is getting stronger after the Boers have won victories but none of these countries have extended their assistance.

At the time Second Boer war started, the German Emperor was visiting the UK visit after the first telegram Kruger that there appears to be symptoms of rapprochement between the two countries. The Boers faced their opponents on their own strength. They surrounded the British army at Mafeking, Kimberley and Ladysmith at Natal. The siege was led by Generals Cronje, Wessels and Joubert, respectively.

General Methuen tries to reclaim Kimberley and the commander-in-chief Lord Redvers Buller himself tries to free General White at Ladysmith. However, they were all defeated by the Boers at the Rivers Modder, Magersfontein and Colenso. For the second time the Boers won.

Then the British cabinet sent Lord Roberts as commander in chief of the armed forces in South Africa, Lord Roberts was a well-known general. During January 1900, Lord Roberts and his 50,000 troops reached the Kimberley and managed to retake the city. The Boers withdrew to the north and regrouped under General Cronje. Roberts sent his cavalry and cut Cronje's ties to Bloemfontein. Finally Cronje and his entire army surrendered to the British in February at Paardeberg.

At Christmas the Afrikanders also had difficulties. Here England expected wins and then made a direct attack on the Transvaal. A new leader among the Boers appeared. General joubert was replaced by General Botha, but he was unable to make satisfactory progress. After experiencing difficulties, he had the opportunity to advance with a marked obstacle and in May made it to Johannesburg, a month later Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal was occupied. After doing a fierce battle against General Botha around Diamond hill. Then Mafeking was captured in May. General Prinsioo of the Orange Free State surrendered to the northeast of Bloemfontein. British troops controlled the entire railroad connecting Pretoria and the Indian Ocean.

After taking Pretoria, Lord Roberts announced the British annexation of Transvaal and the Orange Free State. Then he thought that the war was over. His task now is to secure South Africa and administer the occupied territories. However, the war is not over yet. The Boers continued to fight using guerrilla tactics, which they proved to be very good at. With this guerrilla method the Boers were able to survive for two years. President Steyn of the Orange Free State remained in South Africa assisting his people in the struggle against Britain. In March 1902 General Meuthen was unexpectedly attacked by the troops of Dela Ray, 180 miles from Pretoria and forced to surrender with his entire army.

In the same year (1902) General- j enderal Boer approve peace talks in Pretoria which then generates Vereenigig agreement. The terms of the agreement are:

1. Republican Transvaal and Orange Free State annexed to British Empire

2. The Boers became British citizens. They were promised they would get money to rebuild their village

3. Self-government will be given as soon as possible

4. Dutch and English are given in schools and used in the courts.

Then in 1909 under the Act of Union, the British-controlled areas in South Africa, namely Cape Colony, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal, were given self-government and all regions were incorporated into the South African Union. This is an explanation of the Second Boer War that took place in 1899-1902