On June 11, 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested by South African police while on his way back to Johannesburg from a secret trip. This arrest was a significant event in Mandela's life and in the history of South Africa's struggle against apartheid.

Nelson Mandela was a key figure in the African National Congress (ANC), a political organization fighting against the apartheid regime in South Africa. By 1961, the ANC had adopted more militant tactics in response to the increasing repression and brutality of the apartheid government. Mandela played a crucial role in forming the ANC's armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe ("Spear of the Nation"), which aimed to sabotage government installations and symbols of apartheid without causing loss of life. Mandela's arrest on June 11, 1962, came after he had been underground for 17 months. During this period, he traveled extensively, both within South Africa and abroad, to garner support for the anti-apartheid struggle and to receive military training. His international travels included visits to other African countries, as well as to Europe.