What role did NZ play in ww2?

What role did NZ play in ww2?

New Zealand troops fought in Italy and took part in the main air and sea campaigns contributing to Germany’s defeat in May 1945. More than 8,000 New Zealand prisoners of war were freed when the war ended in Europe. Japan surrendered in August 1945 after atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

How do I find a soldier in ww2?

You can find a listing of dead and missing Army and Air Force personnel by county at The National Archives and Records Administration website. If the individual came home then his discharge papers will provide a lot of valuable information.

How do I find ww2 service records?

You can request your military records in any of these ways:

  1. Mail or fax a Request Pertaining to Military Records (Standard Form SF 180) to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
  2. Write a letter to the NPRC.
  3. Visit the NPRC in person.
  4. Contact your state or county Veterans agency.
  5. Hire an independent researcher.

Was NZ involved in World war 2?

Second World War – overview New Zealand was involved for all but three of the 2179 days of the war — a commitment on a par only with Britain and Australia.

Why did American soldiers come to New Zealand in big numbers from 1942?

Between 1942 and 1944 about 100,000 American troops were stationed in New Zealand to support the counter-offensive in the Pacific. They were based mainly in Auckland and Wellington, and at any one time swelled the small local population by 50,000. A much smaller number of American servicemen settled in the country.

Did New Zealand get bombed in ww2?

The raiders had some success: in the second half of 1940 they sank four ships in the seas around New Zealand, with the loss of more than 50 lives. The Germans had other targets in the Pacific. Then, on 27 December 1940, the German raider Komet bombarded Nauru Island itself, destroying the phosphate plant.

Did the Japanese invade New Zealand?

In December 1941, Japan attacked and rapidly conquered much of the area to the north of New Zealand. The Imperial Japanese Navy demonstrated the vulnerability of New Zealand when submarine-launched Japanese float-planes overflew Wellington and Auckland in 1942.

Who spent the most in ww2?

The U.S.A. spent the most on the war, just over 340 billion dollars. All together, this table, which includes more than 15 countries and its allies, totals 1,301.316 billion dollars.

Has New Zealand ever had a war?

They were conflicts that were part of the ‘Cold War’. Between the late 1940s and early 1970s, New Zealanders fought in Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam.