Herenigde Nasionale Party
Encyclopedia
The Herenigde Nasionale Party (Reunited National Party) was a political party
in South Africa
during the 1940s. It was the product of the reunion of Daniel François Malan
's Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party (Purified National Party) and J.B.M. Hertzog's breakaway Afrikaner nationalist faction of the United Party
in 1940.
In 1934, J.B.M. Hertzog had fused his National Party
with Jan Smuts
's South African Party
to form the United Party
due to pressure from the electorate during the Great Depression. He split away in 1939, however, because he could not tolerate the idea of entering World War II
on the side of the British.
The Herenigde Nasionale Party gained popularity after the war and unexpectedly won the elections of 1948
with a majority of seats but a significant minority of the popular vote. Internationally it is known for the implementation of apartheid. After 1948, the HNP merged with the Afrikaner Party
, another Afrikaner nationalist party led by one of Hertzog's proteges, and reverted to the short name, the Nasionale Party
(National Party), which it retained until shortly after the fall of apartheid during the 1990s.
The initials of the Herenigde Nasionale Party, HNP, were later used by a breakaway party that was established in 1969, the rightwing Herstigte Nasionale Party
(Reconstituted National Party).
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the 1940s. It was the product of the reunion of Daniel François Malan
Daniel François Malan
Daniel François Malan , more commonly known as D.F. Malan, was the Prime Minister of South Africa from 1948 to 1954. He is seen as a champion of Afrikaner nationalism. His National Party government came to power on the program of apartheid and began its comprehensive implementation.- Biography...
's Gesuiwerde Nasionale Party (Purified National Party) and J.B.M. Hertzog's breakaway Afrikaner nationalist faction of the United Party
United Party
United Party is a term used various political parties:* United Party of Canada* United Party * United States United Party* United Party of National Development, Zambia* United Party * United Party * United Party...
in 1940.
In 1934, J.B.M. Hertzog had fused his National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
with Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
's South African Party
South African Party
The South African Party was a political party that existed in the Union of South Africa from 1911 to 1934.-History:The outline and foundation for the party was realized after the election of a 'South African party' in the 1910 South African general election under the leadership of Louis Botha...
to form the United Party
United Party (South Africa)
The United Party was South Africa's ruling political party between 1934 and 1948. It was formed by a merger of most of Prime Minister Barry Hertzog's National Party with the rival South African Party of Jan Smuts, plus the remnants of the Unionist Party...
due to pressure from the electorate during the Great Depression. He split away in 1939, however, because he could not tolerate the idea of entering World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the side of the British.
The Herenigde Nasionale Party gained popularity after the war and unexpectedly won the elections of 1948
South African general election, 1948
The parliamentary election in South Africa on 26 May 1948 represented a turning point in the country's history. The United Party, which had led the government since its foundation in 1933 and its leader, incumbent Prime Minister Jan Smuts was ousted by the Reunited National Party , led by Daniel...
with a majority of seats but a significant minority of the popular vote. Internationally it is known for the implementation of apartheid. After 1948, the HNP merged with the Afrikaner Party
Afrikaner Party
The Afrikaner Party was a South African political party from 1941 to 1951.-Origins:The roots of the party can be traced back September 1939, when South Africa declared war on Germany at the start of World War II. General J.B.M...
, another Afrikaner nationalist party led by one of Hertzog's proteges, and reverted to the short name, the Nasionale Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
(National Party), which it retained until shortly after the fall of apartheid during the 1990s.
The initials of the Herenigde Nasionale Party, HNP, were later used by a breakaway party that was established in 1969, the rightwing Herstigte Nasionale Party
Herstigte Nasionale Party
The Herstigte Nasionale Party van Suid-Afrika was formed as a right-wing splinter group of the South African National Party.-Formation:...
(Reconstituted National Party).