''Die Transvaler'' was a South African

newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...

founded in 1937 with the aim of promoting

Afrikaner nationalism Afrikaner nationalism () is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnic nationalistic political ideology created by Afrikaners residing in Southern Africa during the Victorian era. The ideology was developed in response to the significant events in Afrikaner ...

and supporting the

Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name ''Transvaal''. * South African Republic (1856–1902; ...

branch of the National Party.

Hendrik Verwoerd Hendrik Frensch Verwoerd (; 8 September 1901 – 6 September 1966), also known as H. F. Verwoerd, was a Dutch-born South African politician, scholar in applied psychology, philosophy, and sociology, and newspaper editor who was Prime Mini ...

was its first editor.

History

On 1 October 1937, ''Nasionale Pers'' set up the company ''Voortrekkerpers'' in the Transvaal to support the National Party in Transvaal by publishing ''Die Transvaler''. Initially the Cape National Party tried to control the extremism of the National Party in the Transvaal by appointing

as the papers first editor but he would side with Transvaal branch and ''Nationale Pers'' gave up editorial control in 1939.

Editors

Source: * H.F. Verwoerd (1937-1948) * J.J. Kruger (1948-1960) * G.D. Sholtz (1960-1968) * C.F. Nöffke (1969-1973) * Willem Johannes de Klerk (1973-1987) During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Die Transvaler had triumphantly headlined every Nazi victory and constantly attacked "British Jewish liberalism." In 1943, Verwoerd sued the English-language newspaper ''The Star'' for libel after it accused him of being a Nazi propagandist. In his judgment dismissing the case, Justice Mallin stated that Verwoerd "did support Nazi propaganda; he did make his newspaper a tool of the Nazis in South Africa, and he knew it."

References

Antisemitism in South Africa Anti-British sentiment 1937 establishments in South Africa Afrikaans-language newspapers Afrikaner culture in Johannesburg Afrikaner nationalism Nazi propaganda Propaganda in South Africa {{SouthAfrica-newspaper-stub