1940 The OMEG-Tsumeb mine is closed due to the war.
21.02. The main issue of contention regarding elections for the Legislative Assembly is the incorporation of SWA into the Union of South Africa. The UNSWP contests in 12 constituencies. The National Party of SWA contests in eight constituencies and wins only two seats.
28.04. Mishake Muyongo is born in Linyanti as a member of the Fwe Royal House.
26.06. The arrested Germans are brought from the Klein Danzig internment camp in Windhoek to Andalusia camp in South Africa. At the end of 1940 1 220 Germans are interned there. Further internment camps are established in Baviaanspoort and Koffiefontein in South Africa. Most of the interned Germans are only released in 1946.
26.07. The eastern Caprivi Strip becomes a "native reserve" administered by the SA Government (until 21.06.1978).
The dispute on Kasikili Island (called Sedudu Island by present-day Botswana) between SWA and Bechuanaland arises.
1940s Some "black" people, especially from Ovamboland, and retrenched mining workers from the closed OMEG-Tsumeb mine are recruited for the British side in the Second World War (Native Military Corps (NMC)). One is Solomon Mifima who later (1957) is one of the founding members of the Ovamboland People's Congress (OPC). The experiences gained by these people have obvious implications for later forms of labour migration and the development of nationalism in Namibia. The existence of a "brotherhood", the informal network of communication and solidarity between Namibian contract labourers must be seen as a product of their disadvantaged position, their inferior status, their isolation in the workers’ compounds and the rigid and ruthless administrative contract system that finally leads to the creation of the OPC in 1957.
1941
There are strikes of Ovambo contract labourers at several Namibian mines and at the railways.
In the Kavango the Uukwangali Queen Kanuni is forced by the native commissioner in the Kavango, Eedes, into exile in Angola. She is succeeded by King Sivute (until 1958 when Kanuni returns and governs until 1971).
Salatiel Kambazembi dies. His successor is Josephat Kambazembi.
03.02.
The export of mining products such as iron ore from the territory is prohibited by SA.
Katuutire Nathaniel Kaura is born at Ombujondjupa (Okakarara).
11.03. A new sea-water condenser is commissioned for Lüderitz.
08.03. Hage Gottfried Geingob is born on a farm near Grootfontein.
1942
The Baltika Mine ceases production of vanadium while the Abenab Mine stays productive (until 1948).
20.03. The "London Treaty" is repealed by SA, and German citizens lose their SA citizenship.
25.03. The Legislative Assembly passes a resolution in support of SA’s participation in World War II.
01.07. Personal income tax is introduced.
August The Ondonga King Martin Nambala yaKadhikwa dies. His successor is the 13th King of the Ondonga area, Kambonde kaNamene (1942-1960). His royal court is at Okaloko. The powerful Ondonga "Queen mother", Mutaleni kaMpingana, plays an important role in the succession.
16.12. Justus ||Garoëb is born in Omaruru.
1942/43 The passenger vessel "Dunedin Star" runs aground at Cape Frio on the Skeleton Coast, for reasons never clearly established (29.11.), probably after striking a shoal. Those who remain on board are soon rescued by ships; but sixty-three people who had reached the beach in a lifeboat present a serious problem. Their position is so remote that weeks pass before the castaways are rescued. The difficult rescue mission is undertaken by air from Windhoek and Cape Town, by ship from Walvis Bay (The tug from Walvis Bay "Sir Charles Elliot" runs aground at Rocky Point) and by car from Omaruru. Part of the rescue team have to be rescued themselves, and two people die (Angus Campbell Macintyre and Mathias Khoraseb from the tug Sir Charles Elliot).
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