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New Zealand WW2 Events Timeline
Lending a helping hand to the Allied cause.
Total Events: 32
1940
Friday
December 6th - December 8th |
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The Western Desert Force in Egypt, under the command of Major-General Richard O'Connor, set up pre-assault positions. The force includes 36,000 total men from the 7th Armored Division, 4th Indian Division and the New Zealand Division. They set up their initial position southeast of the Italian fort at Nibeiwa. |
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Operation Compass is officially launched. |
1941
Thursday
April 10th - April 16th |
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Three divisions of British, Australian and New Zealand troops at the Aliakmon Line in the Vermion Mountains are defeated. |
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Vermion Line Allied troops are now redeployed to defensive positions around Mount Olympus. |
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Allied codebreakers intercept word of the impending German invasion of Crete. |
1941
Sunday
April 27th - April 30th |
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Operation Demon is activated, covering the evacuation of some 51,000 Allied troops from southern Greece via the Royal Navy. |
1941
Wednesday
April 30th |
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Allied forces based on Crete receive a new leader in the form of Major-General Bernard Freyberg. |
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Allied codebreakers intercept word that Operation Mercury will commence the very next day. The Allies begin preparations. |
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In advance of the Crete invasion, RAF fighters are relocated to Egypt for safe-keeping. |
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In-air losses for the second wave of German paratroopers is nearly equal to the first thanks to the stellar Allied flak defenses on Crete. |
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Allied flak teams destroy as many as 50% of the invading German transport planes in the first few hours of the operation. |
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German Army troops making their way to Crete via the sea are intercepted and pummeled by elements of the Royal Navy. Just 60 of these German soldiers live to see another day. |
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A German offensive against Heraklion is pushed away by at least 8,000 dug-in Allied soldiers. |
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New Zealand troops are repelled from an attempt to retake the airfield at Maleme from the Germans. |
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Allied forces retreat to defensive positions at Galatas. |
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Heraklion in the north and Sphakia in the south of Crete will serve as major evacuation junctions for the Allies. |
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The evacuation order is given by Major-General Freyberg for the gradual withdrawel of Allied troops from the island of Crete. |
1944
Tuesday
January 11th |
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The first major Allied offensive to take Cassino is launched. |
1944
Friday
February 11th |
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A blanket retreat is enacted by the Allies in an attempt to regroup and plan a new strategy to take Cassino. |
1944
Tuesday
February 15th |
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Following the Allied aerial bombardment, the second major Allied offensive to take Cassino is launched. |
1944
Tuesday
February 15th - February 18th |
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The 4th Indian Division assault is repelled and driven away, suffering high casualties. |
1944
Tuesday
February 15th - February 18th |
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The 2nd New Zealand Division assault is twarted and driven back, suffering high casualties. |
1944
Tuesday
February 15th - February 18th |
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The 2nd New Zealand Division is charged with taking the railway station at Cassino. |
1944
Saturday
February 19th - March 13th |
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The Italian winter makes its arrival and postpones any further Allied offensives for the next month. |
1944
Wednesday
March 15th - March 21st |
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The 2nd New Zealand Division captures German-held position with the help of Allied armor support. |
1944
Wednesday
March 15th |
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Artillery guns open up on Cassino while 600-plus Allied bombers attempt to shake the German defenders. |
1944
Wednesday
March 15th |
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A third major Allied offensive is put into action. |
1944
Wednesday
March 15th - March 21st |
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Positions on Monte Cassino are officially in Allied hands. |
1944
Wednesday
March 22nd |
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With mounting losses in both manpower and tanks, further Allied thrusts are called off. |
1944
Thursday
March 23rd - May 10th |
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A lengthy six-week period allows the Allies to rebuild their forces - though this period allows the Germans to increase their defensive foothold. |
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The fourth offensive to take Cassino is put into action. |
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Monte Cassino falls to the Allies, costing some 50,000 casualties along both sides of the battlefield. |
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| All Events By Day of the Week |
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