“This is not an occasion for many words; it is a dark day in the history of the world … It is with deep regret and sadness that I make this announcement on behalf of the government [of New Zealand], and the people will receive it with similar feelings. That will not, however, affect the determination of both government and people to play their part.”
– Peter Fraser (then the acting prime minister of New Zealand), on 3 September 1939 – the sitting prime minister (Michael Joseph Savage) was then recovering from colon cancer, and was thus unable to declare war for the country for himself
The role of New Zealanders in World War II has long been neglected elsewhere …
World War II may well have been the subject of more documentaries than any other single topic in history. For example, there is the landmark British miniseries “The World at War,” and the “BBC History of World War II.” The American perspective has been depicted by Ken Burns’ “The War,” and the Canadian perspective has been depicted by “Canada at War.” And the Australian-made documentary “ANZAC” covers the Australian perspective. But that documentary has very little mention (indeed, almost no mention) of the contributions of New Zealanders – the other “ANZAC” nation. (More about that acronym here.) Moreover, I’ve been unable to find any documentary that focuses on the New Zealand perspective of World War II. If you are aware of such a documentary, please feel free to leave a comment below, telling me and my readers something about it. This popular omission is a shame, because the “Kiwis” (as New Zealanders are sometimes called) suffered much in World War II. Among the British Commonwealth nations, they suffered more than any other nation except the United Kingdom itself. That is, more than 1 in 130 New Zealanders died in World War II. This is higher than the death rates of South Africa, the United States, Canada, and even India and Australia. In New Zealand – and, to a lesser extent, Australia – Kiwi sacrifices are remembered every “Anzac Day,” on the anniversary of the 1915 beginning of the Gallipoli invasion. But the contributions of New Zealanders tend to be mostly forgotten, in almost every other part of the world. In fairness, this may be because New Zealand is a somewhat smaller nation, whose very existence is usually forgotten in some more distant parts of the world. But the unique Kiwi contributions are still worth remembering today, and have some unique drama of their own.
Wellingtons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force – England, 1939
Role of New Zealand in the war against Nazi Germany, particularly in the Mediterranean
New Zealand had long been opposed to fascism when it entered the war. When Great Britain declared war on Germany, this had legal consequences for its sometime colony in New Zealand. As Wikipedia puts it, “The state of war with Germany was officially held to have existed since 9:30 pm on 3 September 1939 (local time), simultaneous with that of Britain, but in fact New Zealand's declaration of war was not made until confirmation had been received from Britain that their ultimatum to Germany had expired. When Neville Chamberlain broadcast Britain's declaration of war, a group of New Zealand politicians (led by Peter Fraser because Prime Minister Michael Savage was terminally ill) listened to it on the shortwave radio in Carl Berendsen's room in the Parliament Buildings. Because of static on the radio, they were not certain what Chamberlain had said until a coded telegraph message was received later from London. This message did not arrive until just before midnight because the messenger boy with the telegram in London took shelter due to a (false) air raid warning. The Cabinet acted after hearing the Admiralty's notification to the fleet that war had broken out. The next day the Cabinet approved nearly 30 war regulations as laid down in the War Book, and after completing the formalities with the Executive Council the Governor-General, Lord Galway, issued the Proclamation of War, backdated to 9.30 pm on 3 September.” (Source: Their page on the “Military history of New Zealand during World War II”) Thus did New Zealand enter the Second World War. In the early parts of the war (before Pearl Harbor), New Zealand was heavily involved in various Mediterranean campaigns. These included Greece and Crete, where Kiwis served with particular distinction at Maleme Airfield and in the Galatas region (more about those here). New Zealand was also heavily involved in the famous campaigns in North Africa and Italy. And the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy also operated in the Mediterranean Sea. Like other Commonwealth nations, they received some Lend-Lease aid from the United States – a result of Churchill’s diplomatic agreements with FDR in America. Thus did New Zealand contribute much to the war with Germany.
New Zealander soldiers recapture a tank and take its crew prisoner – North Africa, 1941
The role of New Zealanders in the Pacific, which soon became their biggest area of focus
But New Zealand was eventually sucked into the Pacific War, when the Japanese attacked the British in Singapore and Malaya in 1941. This was simultaneous with the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in distant American Hawaii. Only on the following day was the Japanese declaration of war published in Japanese newspapers. Specifically, that document declared that “We hereby declare war on the United States of America and the British Empire. The men and officers of our Army and Navy shall do their utmost in prosecuting the war.” (Source: Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire) From that moment on, the Pacific War would become the primary focus of New Zealand’s war efforts. New Zealand was soon focusing on the South West Pacific, and also contributed troops to the American island-hopping campaign. (More about that campaign here.) The New Zealand division of the Royal Navy (renamed the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1941) was also a major part of Kiwi operations in the Pacific. German and Japanese ships, including submarines, operated in New Zealand waters at various parts of the war. The Japanese even planned to invade New Zealand, and sent reconnaissance planes into Kiwi airspace to prepare for their planned invasion. But, luckily for the Allies, this never actually happened – allowing New Zealand to remain in the war. As a smaller nation, New Zealand never had any aircraft carriers, or any of the carrier-based planes that would have taken off from them. But New Zealanders did have a number of ground-based planes. Specifically, some New Zealanders served in the Royal Air Force, while others served in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (or RNZAF). Some of them had been involved in earlier European operations, such as the Battle of Britain. But, as with other Kiwi units, they became particularly important when the Pacific War began in 1941. They provided air support for various ground operations (including amphibious operations) on a number of Pacific islands. Again, this included participation in the American island-hopping campaign.
New Zealand troops land on Vella Lavella in the Solomons – Pacific, 1943
HMNZS Leander fires on the Japanese cruiser Jintsu – Pacific, 1943
Conclusion: New Zealanders played a truly important part in World War II
Thus, New Zealand’s contribution to the Allied war effort was considerable. They may have been relatively small in absolute numbers – but, as a percentage of the population, they sacrificed more than any other Commonwealth nation besides the United Kingdom itself. Thus, I can easily understand why Australians and New Zealanders remain so proud of their ANZAC heritage today. I tip my hat to them, and remain glad that American forces were able to serve alongside them in World War II.
“It is with gratitude in the past, and with confidence in the future, that we range ourselves without fear beside Britain, where she goes, we go! Where she stands, we stand!”
– Michael Joseph Savage (then the sitting prime minister of New Zealand), on 5 September 1939 – two days after the acting prime minister (Peter Fraser) had declared war on his behalf, when Mr. Savage was recovering from colon cancer – and was thus unable to do it for the country for himself
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