History of South West Africa, 1939-1990.

   World War II had limited impact on South West Africa. In 1946 the Union of South Africa applied for the mandated territory to be incorporated; the United Nations denied the request.  South Africa was not interested in extending the franchise to the non-white population - as the United Nations was pressing for in the mandated territories - and neither interested in releasing the country into independence. South African apartheid policy was also adapted in South West Africa, HOMELANDS were created. When South Africa found itself internationally isolated because of it's Apartheid policy, the same also applied for South West Africa. In 1964 the United Nations decided to end the UN mandate and in 1968 to adopt the name 'NAMIBIA'. South Africa, meanwhile, chose to ignore UN decisions on South West Africa.In the 1970es, the SWAPO liberation movement undertook guerilla actions, operating from bases in southern Angola. South Africa retaliated by raiding Southern Angola from South West Africa, and by supporting the UNITA in Angola's civil war. I  n the 1980es it became evident that apartheid could not be upheld and the economic sanctions on South Africa had it's impact. South West Africa was renamed into NAMIBIA, universal adult suffrage and multiparty democracy were introduced, elections held in 1989 (won by SWAPO) and in 1990 Namibia was released into independence.

South West Africa ceased to exist in 1989 when it became Namibia after a long and bloody war.