New Zealand declares war on Germany
- When
- 1939–1945
- Reach
- Nationwide
‘Where she goes, we go’ — 140,000 served overseas and nearly 12,000 died, from a population of 1.6 million.
Savage’s declaration was made independently this time, though the sentiment was unchanged. New Zealanders fought in Greece, Crete, North Africa, Italy and the Pacific, and in Bomber Command over Europe. The war ended the Depression, pulled women into industry, brought 100,000 American servicemen through the country, and — when Britain proved unable to defend the Pacific in 1942 — began the slow reorientation towards the United States and Australia.
Regions affected
Sources
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Related
New Zealand enters the First World War
About 100,000 served overseas from a population of just over a million. Around 18,000 died and 41,000 were wounded — proportionally among the heaviest losses of any country.
Britain joins the EEC
New Zealand’s guaranteed British market for lamb, butter and cheese began closing after ninety years. The economy has never worked the same way since.
First refrigerated cargo sails for London
The Dunedin left Port Chalmers with 4,900 frozen carcasses and arrived in London 98 days later with the cargo sound. It changed the country’s economy permanently.
Port ChalmersVogel’s public works and immigration scheme
Julius Vogel borrowed £10 million in London to build railways, roads and telegraph lines, and to bring 100,000 assisted migrants.