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3rd Infantry Division (South Africa)

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3rd South African Infantry Division
South African infantry on parade prior to the Union of South Africa's entry into World War II
Active23 October 1940 – 17 May 1943
Disbanded4 April 1942 (re-designated as 3rd Arm Div)
Country South Africa
AllegianceAllied forces of World War II
Branch South African Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Garrison/HQPretoria and later Ermelo
Commanders
Until re-designation as 3rd Arm DivMajor General Hermanus Botha
Insignia
Identification
symbol

The South African 3rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the South African Army during World War II.

History

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This division was formed in South Africa on 23 October 1940[1]: 68  with its headquarters in Pretoria.

The 3rd Infantry Division as a whole did not go into combat, but its 7th Motorized brigade group participated in the 1942 Invasion of Madagascar. The division organised and trained the South African home defence forces, performed garrison duties and trained and supplied replacements for the 1st and 2nd Divisions deployed to East Africa and later to the Western Desert.[1]: 100 

The division was based in Pretoria until 1942, whereafter the division then moved to Ermelo in the Eastern Transvaal, although its constituent units were deployed as far as the then South West Africa.

On 4 April 1942 the division was redesignated the South African 3rd Armoured Division. This division was disbanded on 17 May 1943, without ever having been deployed. However, one of the division's constituent units, the 7th Motorised Brigade, did take part in the invasion of Madagascar.

Major General Hermanus Botha was the commander of the division from 23 August 1940 until its redesignation.

Order of battle

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On formation in October 1940, the Division was structured as follows:[2]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Martin, H.J.; Orpen, Neil D (1979). South Africa at War: Military and Industrial Organisation and Operations in connection with the conduct of the War, 1939-1945. Cape Town: Purnell. ISBN 0-86843-025-0.
  2. ^ "South African Army: 3 September 1939 - July 1940" (PDF). Command and General Staff College (CGSC). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-24. Retrieved 10 October 2014.