How Did New Zealand's Involvement In The Second World War
New Zealand's Involvement in the Second World War
After seeing action in World War I, New Zealand would once again rush to the aid of Britain, their Mother Country, at the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Britain’s strategy of appeasement failed to stop Nazi Germany’s military ambitions, and when the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, the British did not hesitate to declare war against Germany. As a British dominion, New Zealand stood behind the Mother Country and contributed to its war efforts in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East while it also bolstered its defences against highly militaristic Japan.
Other than strong sentimental attachment to the Mother Country, economic and defensive considerations also factored in the Kiwis’ …show more content…
The Kiwis took part in many battles with other soldiers from the British dominions and Allied Powers.
Kiwi airmen serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons got involved in defending France from German attacks in May 1940, but the campaign resulted in German victory. In the Pacific theatre of World War II, New Zealand assisted the French possessions by sending a cruiser to Tahiti in September 1940.
Under British command, the 2NZEF troops fought in mainland Greece and Crete in the early stages of the European theatre. In Greece, the Allied Powers were overwhelmed by the German forces attacking from Yugoslavia. 291 Kiwis were killed, 387 wounded, and 1,826 were taken prisoners by the victors. Another Allied defeat followed in the island of Crete due to mistakes committed by the Kiwi airmen. 691 Kiwi were killed and 2,180 were captured by the Germans.
The 2NZEF troops were involved in the North African Campaign, where they helped the Allied Powers drive the Axis Powers (Italian and German forces) out of North Africa. But the Allied victory is not without heavy Kiwi casualties: 700 Kiwis were captured by the Axis during the Operation Crusader and overall, 2,989 Kiwis died in combat, over 7,000 wounded, and over 4,000 were taken
After seeing action in World War I, New Zealand would once again rush to the aid of Britain, their Mother Country, at the outbreak of World War II in Europe. Britain’s strategy of appeasement failed to stop Nazi Germany’s military ambitions, and when the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, the British did not hesitate to declare war against Germany. As a British dominion, New Zealand stood behind the Mother Country and contributed to its war efforts in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East while it also bolstered its defences against highly militaristic Japan.
Other than strong sentimental attachment to the Mother Country, economic and defensive considerations also factored in the Kiwis’ …show more content…
The Kiwis took part in many battles with other soldiers from the British dominions and Allied Powers.
Kiwi airmen serving with the Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons got involved in defending France from German attacks in May 1940, but the campaign resulted in German victory. In the Pacific theatre of World War II, New Zealand assisted the French possessions by sending a cruiser to Tahiti in September 1940.
Under British command, the 2NZEF troops fought in mainland Greece and Crete in the early stages of the European theatre. In Greece, the Allied Powers were overwhelmed by the German forces attacking from Yugoslavia. 291 Kiwis were killed, 387 wounded, and 1,826 were taken prisoners by the victors. Another Allied defeat followed in the island of Crete due to mistakes committed by the Kiwi airmen. 691 Kiwi were killed and 2,180 were captured by the Germans.
The 2NZEF troops were involved in the North African Campaign, where they helped the Allied Powers drive the Axis Powers (Italian and German forces) out of North Africa. But the Allied victory is not without heavy Kiwi casualties: 700 Kiwis were captured by the Axis during the Operation Crusader and overall, 2,989 Kiwis died in combat, over 7,000 wounded, and over 4,000 were taken