THE NAZI YELLOW JEWISH STAR
This particular emblem was worn by Edith Abramsohn, a German Jew who survived the war and later immigrated to South Africa.
THE KLOPFEITSCHE / MARTINET
On 10 February 1967, the then South African National Museum of Military History received a donation from a Mr/Mrs Gundelfinger of a seven tailed whip reportedly used at the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald.
The Push Dagger
A push dagger is a small dagger designed for thrusting while held in a clenched fist. The handle is usually perpendicular to the blade and held inside a fist with the small blade protruding between the fingers.
Ko-Wakizashi Japanese Short Sword
A wakizashi is a traditional Japanese short sword with a single edged slightly curved blade. It was designed to be used as a secondary weapon to the katana. Since the wakizashi was less likely to be used in combat it
COMMEMORATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF VE DAY
On 8 May 1945 the British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill, delivered a speech on the radio declaring that the Allies had received the unconditional surrender of Germany bringing the fighting in Europe finally to an end.
THE FALL OF FRANCE AND THE ENTRY OF JAPAN INTO THE SECOND WORLD WAR (1939 – 1945)
he fall of France in June 1940 and Japan’s entry into the Second World War (1939 – 1945) in December 1941 were to have a significant bearing on the Union of South Africa and her standing as a role player
ELEPHANT IVORY TUSKS Of the Rhodesian Light Infantry
The DITSONG: National Museum of Military History has two sets of elephant tusks. One set is large and the other medium size.
MODEL OF “U-96” DONATED TO THE DITSONG NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY
The model is a true representation of the original submarine used in the Second World War (1939 – 1945) and was constructed by the donor, Mr Brian Echstein.
CHINESE PAIRED SWORDS
In the Curator’s Choice display of edged weaponry at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History, are Chinese double or paired swords from the early 19th Century.
THE GLADIUS
The gladius is a short sword which narrows near the base of the blade. This shape makes the sword effective at cutting as well as thrusting. The gladius is best known as a primary weapon of the Roman legions.