The South African National War Museum in Johannesburg was officially opened by Prime Minister Jan Smuts on 29 August 1947 to preserve the history of South Africa's involvement in the Second World War. In 1975, the museum was renamed the South African National Museum of Military History and its function changed to include all conflicts that South Africa has been involved in. In 1999 it was amalgamated with the Pretoria-based Transvaal Museum and National Cultural History Museum to form the NFI. In April 2010 Ditsong was officially renamed Ditsong Museums of South Africa and the SANMMH was renamed the Ditsong National Museum of Military History.
In the grounds of the museum is a large memorial designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
On 30 November 1910 Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn laid a commemorative stone at the memorial.
Originally called the Rand Regiments Memorial and dedicated to British soldiers that lost their lives during the Second Boer War, it was rededicated on 10 October 1999 to all people who died during the Second Boer War and renamed the Boer War Memorial.
The museum is divided into a number of areas
The Main Courtyard
A memorial erected in honour of fallen members of the airborne forces of 44 Parachute Regiment, 44 Parachute Brigade and the South African Special Forces
A memorial honouring members of 61 Mechanised Battalion Group
Various field guns such as the 8.8 cm Flak 37 gun, QF 1-pounder pom-pom guns, Pak 38 Anti-Tank guns, etc.
The GP Capt. "Sailor" Malan Hall with
Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Me 262
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The GE Brink Hall with
Hawker Hurricane
Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5
Supermarine Spitfire
Messerschmitt Bf 109
de Havilland Mosquito
Hawker Hartebeest
A Battle of Britain exhibit
Artifacts from the Royal Air Force
Artifacts from South Africa's involvement in various world conflicts, such as the Korean War and the two World Wars
A large medal collection from various veterans of the armed forces, such as General Jan Smuts and General George Brink
Anglo Boer War exhibits
An exhibit honouring members of the Native Military Corps (1940–50), Indian Service Corps (1940–42) and the Cape Corps (1940–50)
An exhibit detailing major events in South African History between the Boer Wars and the 1994 South African general elections. Events covered include the political divisions in the country during the first and second world wars, the Rand Rebellion (1921-1922), the sabotage campaign of the Ossewabrandwag during the Second World War and South Africa's involvement in the Angolan Civil War.
Dan Pienaar Gun Park
Various guns from around the world such as the British Ordnance QF 18-pounder and the BL 6-inch Gun Mk XIX and the German 7.7 cm FK 96 field gun.
The FB Adler Hall with
Sexton self Propelled gun
M4 Sherman tank
M3 Stuart tank
A large amount of Artillery pieces such as the Ordnance QF 20 pounder and the BL 5.5-inch Medium Gun
Exhibits detailing South Africa's involvement in World War Two, including artefacts from various countries such as uniforms, firearms, helmets, flags, etc.
Anglo-Zulu War exhibits
South African Border War exhibit
A small South African Navy exhibit
A large collection of uniforms, ceremonial swords, infantry swords, cavalry swords, bayonets and daggers
A large variety of small arms from around the world, such as the Bren light machine gun, the M1 Garand, Mauser rifles, Lee–Enfield rifles, the Maxim gun, the MG 42, the Thompson submachine gun, the Winchester Model 1876, the AK-47, the Vektor R4 Rifle R1 Rifle, and various other muskets, rifles and machine guns.
Outdoor exhibits
A small 32 Battalion indoor exhibit
Molch one man submarine
QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun turret from a South African Navy Loch-class frigate
Aircraft such as the Blackburn Buccaneer S Mk 50, the Douglas C-47 ‘Dakota’, the Dassault Mirage III and the Impala MkII
South African/British armoured vehicles such as the Comet tank, the Centurion tank, the Crusader tank and the Churchill tank
Captured Angolan/Cuban/Soviet vehicles such as the T-34/85 tank, the T-54/55 tank and the PT-76 amphibious tank
Captured Italian/German vehicles such as the Carro Veloce CV-35 tank and the Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track
A large collection of heavy Artillery featuring the G5 howitzer and the G6 howitzer
Lt Gen AML Masondo Library building with
A Library with literature concerning South Africa's Military History
Armoured Vehicles such as the Alvis Saracen, Ford Lynx, Ratel-20, Daimler Ferret, M9A1 Half-track, Universal Carrier, several different models of the Marmon-Herrington and Eland Mk7 armoured cars, etc.
More artefacts of World War I and World War II
