Editing History of Botswana (section)

=== Early years of World War II ===
Fears of German attack in Bechuanaland grew in the lead up to World War II due to its strategic position between Britain's central and southern colonies in Africa. 11 days before war was declared, the British government warned the protectorate to be on standby, and military forces were organised. Four days after Britain declared war on Germany, Resident Commissioner Arden-Clarke held a meeting with the chiefs where they pledged full support for the war effort.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=32–33}} The next day, the high commission issued a proclamation of [[emergency powers]] that gave it total control over public activity in the protectorate, but the chiefs were informed that they would be responsible for most enforcement and peacekeeping.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=33–34}}

The earliest years of World War II had almost no effect on the people of Bechuanaland, and many only had a vague idea that the war existed.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=34}} The colonial administration shrank as large numbers of white residents enlisted in the British Army. Those who remained were focused on security planning in case southern Africa became another front in the war.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=35}} Against the wishes of the chiefs, the colonial administration encouraged Batswana who wished to serve with the British Army to enlist with the South African [[Native Military Corps]].{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=38}} About 700 Batswana men enlisted with the group.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=50}}

Maintaining the Bechuanaland Protectorate became a low priority for the United Kingdom during the Great Depression and World War II,{{Sfn|Beaulier|Subrick|2006|p=108}} and the protectorate received no funding from the United Kingdom during the war.{{Sfn|Hillbom|Bolt|2018|p=63}} The British Empire had relatively little control over Bechuanaland compared to its other territories, and British efforts to control wartime production in the protectorate were unsuccessful.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=124}} The war drastically altered the protectorate's economy as it went on, introducing shortages, rationing, and higher prices.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=123}} [[Profiteering]] and [[price gouging]] were common, and the colonial administration, unable to enforce [[price control]]s, resorted to [[gentlemen's agreement]]s with traders.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=138}} Taxes were raised and [[Colonial Development Fund]] projects were curtailed at the onset of World War II to establish financial independence from the empire.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=125–126}} The [[Control of Livestock Industry Proclamation No. 1 of 1940]] was passed to tax cattle, the protectorate's main industry, but it met overwhelming resistance from Batswana and the [[European Advisory Council]].{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|p=136}} A war fund operated in Bechuanaland, and although the United Kingdom expected that donations be voluntary, chiefs invoked their authority over their tribes to enforce donations. It was replaced by a levy in 1941, but this was less popular and proved difficult to enforce.{{Sfn|Jackson|1999|pp=128–131}}