{"id":12343,"date":"2026-04-01T11:41:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T09:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ditsong.org.za\/en\/?page_id=12343"},"modified":"2026-04-01T11:47:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T09:47:08","slug":"ditsong-national-museum-of-military-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ditsong.org.za\/en\/our-museums\/ditsong-national-museum-of-military-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Ditsong: National Museum of Military History"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column]

\n\t
\n \n The DITSONG:<\/span>\n <\/span>\n \t\t\t\t\t

\n <\/span>National Museum of Military History<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_raw_html css=””]JTNDaW1nJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZkaXRzb25nLm9yZy56YSUyRmVuJTJGd3AtY29udGVudCUyRnVwbG9hZHMlMkYyMDE5JTJGMDklMkZUaGUtUmFuZC1SZWdpbWVudHMtTWVtb3JpYWwuanBnJTIyJTIwc3R5bGUlM0QlMjJ3aWR0aCUzQSUyMDEwMCUyNSUzQiUyMGhlaWdodCUzQSUyMGF1dG8lMjIlMkYlM0U=[\/vc_raw_html][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Opening Hours<\/h3>\n

Admission daily: 07:30 – 16:00 (Except Christmas Day & Good Friday) <\/p>\n

Reach Us<\/h3>\n

22 Erlswold Way, Johannesburg, 2132<\/p>\n

School Bookings:<\/strong> 087 086 7019<\/p>\n

Email:<\/strong> info@ditsong.org.za<\/p>\n

Facilities bookings: <\/strong>nokuthula@ditsong.org.za<\/a><\/p>\n

Admission bookings:<\/strong> phineas@ditsong.org.za<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_separator color=”black” css=””][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”About the Museum” css=”” el_class=”heading-4″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

During the First World War (1914 \u2013 1918) no formal showcase was made of South Africa\u2019s involvement in that war. In 1940, Capt. J. Agar-Hamilton was appointed official historian of the Union Defence Forces. The formation of an Historical Research Committee that same year was to ensure the preservation of documents and military memorabilia and lay the foundation for the establishment of a museum..<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space]

\n\t
\n\t\t\"\"\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/circle>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/polygon>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>[vc_empty_space][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

The South African National War Museum officially opened on 29 August 1947 by former Prime Minister of South Africa, Field Marshal J.C. Smuts PC, CM, OM, DTD, KC.  At the opening ceremony, Smuts stated the following: \u201c\u2026 We are gathered here today to open what may not unfairly be looked upon as a memorial to the greatest united effort our country has been called upon to produce.  Memorials, of course, have more than one use. They serve to remind us of what is past, of great deeds of heroism and sacrifice; they also serve as a pointer and sometimes as a warning to the future. <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It is in these senses that the South African War Museum may be regarded as a memorial. It will remind us, I hope, not only of the part we played in the recent great struggle to save civilisation, but also of the horrors, the loss of life and the devastation, and serve as a warning to us to create a world in which we shall never have to use again the weapons of mass destruction we see here today, or those dreadful weapons to follow them \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion][vc_tta_section title=”Marshall Smuts’s statement explained” tab_id=”1774993151976-faf991f8-1af0″][vc_column_text css=””]He was referring to South Africa\u2019s participation in the Second World War and had pinpointed the raison d\u2019etre<\/i> of the Museum\u2019s existence. In 1975, the Museum\u2019s name changed to the South African National Museum of Military History. Its scope was expanded to include the history of all military conflicts in which South Africans have played a part. The Museum also serves as a popular and unusual venue for conferences and other functions.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The Merger” tab_id=”1774993151984-647c5a63-8398″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\n
\n

In 1999, following the restructuring process of national museums, the Museum was amalgamated with the Transvaal Museum of Natural History and the National Cultural History Museum into the Northern Flagship Institution. In 2009 it was renamed DITSONG: Museums of South Africa, and the Museum is now called the DITSONG: National Museum of Military History.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Its Significance” tab_id=”1774993323010-537d1b47-9efa”][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\n
\n

The Museum is also known as the spiritual and symbolic home for all soldiers and veterans in South Africa. As a result, several veterans\u2019 organisations use the Museum as their headquarters. The South African Military History Society, the South African Arms and Ammunition Collectors Association, the South African Arms and Armour Society, the Gold Reef Scale Modelers and the Warsaw Flights Commemoration Committee, use the Museum for monthly and annual meetings and are considered part of the 20 organisations that are stakeholders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Our Mission” tab_id=”1774993360023-6184eb2e-abf5″][vc_column_text css=””]To be a memorial for all South Africans who have died in or as a result of military actions and to preserve our nation\u2019s military history for future generations.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”A visit to the Museum may include:” tab_id=”1774993390082-4702edb7-4630″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n