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{{Short description|Boer guerilla faction (1900–1902)}} |
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{{Wiktionary|bitter end}} |
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{{redirect|Bitter ender|other uses|Bitter end (disambiguation){{!}}Bitter end|the South African hip-hop band|Bittereinder (band)}} |
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{{Use South African English|date=August 2017}} |
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{{Refimprove|date=November 2009}} |
{{Refimprove|date=November 2009}} |
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[[File:Plakket Potch.jpg|thumb|Plaque on the Potchefstroom Concentration Camp Memorial]] |
[[File:Plakket Potch.jpg|thumb|Plaque on the [[Potchefstroom]] Concentration Camp Memorial. Translated text: ''Memorial stone / In honor of the / 967 children 117 women and 57 men / who died in the camps here / during the war of 1899-1902. / "Their memory will live on" / Revealed by / Mrs. the widow. Gen [[Koos de la Rey|J. H de la Rey]]. / On 16 Dec. 1918. / C.F. Kirkbride'']] |
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'''''Bittereinders''''' were a faction of [[Boer]] [[guerrilla]] fighters, resisting the forces of the [[British Empire]] in the later stages of the [[Second Boer War]] ( |
The '''''Bittereinders''''' ({{IPA-af|ˌbətərˈɛindərs|lang}}) or '''irreconcilables''' were a faction of [[Boer]] [[guerrilla]] fighters, resisting the forces of the [[British Empire]] in the later stages of the [[Second Boer War]] (1899–1902). |
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By September 1900, the conventional forces of the [[South African Republic]] and the [[Orange Free State]] had been largely defeated by the British army. The remnants of Boer government resolved to fight on in a [[guerrilla war]], to try to force the British to retreat from the territory. As it became clear that military victory was unlikely, opinion among the guerrillas divided between those who wanted to secure a negotiated peace and those who preferred to fight on to |
By September 1900, the conventional forces of the [[South African Republic]] and the [[Orange Free State]] had been largely defeated by the British army. The remnants of Boer government resolved to fight on in a [[guerrilla war]], to try to force the British to retreat from the territory. As it became clear that military victory was unlikely, opinion among the guerrillas divided between those who wanted to secure a negotiated peace and those who preferred to fight on to "the [[wikt:bitter end#English|bitter end]]" ({{lang-af|bitter eind}}).<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of African history|volume=1|first= Kevin |last=Shillington|publisher =CRC Press|year=2005 |ISBN =1-57958-453-5 |pages=1426}}</ref> The decision to continue the fight was given particular motivation by the [[Second Boer War concentration camps|British use of concentration camps]] to intern captured Boers. |
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The word is derived from the [[Dutch language]] upon which the [[Afrikaans]] language of the Boers (later known as [[Afrikaners]]) is based. The words ''bitter einder'' (singular, the final "s" denotes plural) literally mean "bitter-ender" denoting someone who is "willing to fight to the [[wikt:bitter end|bitter end]]". |
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==See also== |
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*[[Deneys Reitz]] — chose exile (in [[Madagascar]]) at the war's end rather than sign an undertaking that he would abide by the peace terms. |
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*[[Ferdinandus Jacobus Potgieter]] - continued to fight and was shot in the [[Battle of Rooiwal]], 11 April 1902. |
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*[[Maritz rebellion]] (1914) — took place at the start of [[World War I]] by some Boers who were not prepared to see South Africa side with the British against the [[Imperial Germany|Germans]] (who had aided the Boer Republics during the Boer War). |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Political history of South Africa}} |
{{Political history of South Africa}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Afrikaans words and phrases]] |
[[Category:Afrikaans words and phrases]] |
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[[Category:Second Boer War]] |
[[Category:Second Boer War]] |
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Revision as of 06:25, 22 September 2023
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2009) |
The Bittereinders (Afrikaans: [ˌbətərˈɛindərs]) or irreconcilables were a faction of Boer guerrilla fighters, resisting the forces of the British Empire in the later stages of the Second Boer War (1899–1902).
By September 1900, the conventional forces of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State had been largely defeated by the British army. The remnants of Boer government resolved to fight on in a guerrilla war, to try to force the British to retreat from the territory. As it became clear that military victory was unlikely, opinion among the guerrillas divided between those who wanted to secure a negotiated peace and those who preferred to fight on to "the bitter end" (Afrikaans: bitter eind).[1] The decision to continue the fight was given particular motivation by the British use of concentration camps to intern captured Boers.
Taken more generally, it could be used as another name for a "war party" (a faction within a political or military group favouring the waging of war) or for any group which does not wish to diminish its "fighting spirit" wanting to fight it out to the "bitter end".
See also
- Deneys Reitz — chose exile (in Madagascar) at the war's end rather than sign an undertaking that he would abide by the peace terms.
- Ferdinandus Jacobus Potgieter - continued to fight and was shot in the Battle of Rooiwal, 11 April 1902.
- Maritz rebellion (1914) — took place at the start of World War I by some Boers who were not prepared to see South Africa side with the British against the Germans (who had aided the Boer Republics during the Boer War).
References
- ^ Shillington, Kevin (2005). Encyclopedia of African history. Vol. 1. CRC Press. p. 1426. ISBN 1-57958-453-5.
