Re: [WW] Was Problems, Now New Zealanders

[Soothsprayer <hercubadger@yahoo.com>]

>>>>
((Reprinted without permission from
http://british-forces.com/world_war2/otherfiles/nz-ww2.htm
))

Although a small farming country, New Zealand 's
effort in the Second World War was proportionally
greater than any other part of the British Empire. New
Zealand lost more of its population than any other
part of the Empire, and its war expenditure matched
the UK's by 1943.

Alongside its military manpower, but more important,
was the country's production of meat, butter and
cheese to feed the UK and also US forces in the South
Pacific from 1942. However, by January 1944, the
country had reached the limits of its manpower
resources.

New Zealand declared war two days after the UK, the
Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage, confirming his
country's support of the UK with the words 'Where she
goes, we go! Where she stands, we stand.'

Rationing was introduced in 1943 with the rising
demand for meat and butter overseas. Food production
had to compete with the military for manpower and
troops were called in to help with the harvest.
Shipbuilding rose, with the country building 500
vessels during the war. 

New Zealand was never attacked in the war apart from
Axis auxiliary cruisers laying mines off of some of
its ports. The US forces were present in huge numbers
and the well-paid, friendly newcomers were on the
northern island for the Pacific War campaign.

Nine days before war was declared, the New Zealand
government began voluntary enlistment, not resorting
to conscription until June 1940. During the war
306,000 men were called up. An infantry battalion of
Maoris was raised at the request of the Maori leaders,
and New Zealand forces fought in the Balkans, Crete,
North Africa and Italy.

As the war progressed and the danger of a Japanese
attack subsided, men from the military were released
to increase food production and manufacturing from
late 1942.

The New Zealand Division, of the RN, in September 1939
consisted of two cruisers, two escort vessels and a
minesweeping trawler. It became the Royal New Zealand
Navy in September 1941, being augmented by two
corvettes, 16 minesweepers, 12 anti-submarine patrol
boats and more than 100 harbour defence launches and
other minor craft. The RNZN served at the Solomons
Islands where a minesweeper was sunk and both cruisers
badly damaged. The cruisers and a corvette joined the
British Pacific Fleet in operations off Japan in 1945.

The RNZAF numbered two bomber squadrons at the start
of the war and by the end of the war some seven
squadrons were formed in the RAF operating in the UK
and Africa. In the Pacific, one-third of the RNZAF's
strength served, a quarter of the pilots of the BPF's
carriers were New Zealanders. The RNZAF had wartime
strength of 45,000 as well as a Women's Auxiliary Air
Force peaking at 4,000, having been formed in January
1941.
>>>>

Links:
http://www.nzedge.com/heroes/upham.html
http://british-forces.com/cw/nz-links.html
http://pages.cthome.net/dryan/orders/nz.html

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