Second World War Homefront

German tanks rolled into Poland on 1 September 1939. Two days later, Britain – flanked by its faithful dominions, including New Zealand – declared war on Germany, beginning World War II.

The South Pacific campaign

In December 1941, Japan attacked American forces at Pearl Harbor in Hawai‘i. Japanese forces swept into the South Pacific, and the war was suddenly on New Zealand’s doorstep. But the country’s soldiers were already heavily engaged in North Africa, and Britain had its hands full in Europe. So American troops were dispatched to New Zealand, from where they could confront the Japanese advance. Their arrival brought jazz and pizzazz to wartime New Zealand. The country had a new ‘buddy in arms’.

New Zealand’s war effort

World War II brought about New Zealand’s greatest national effort and the largest mobilisation of people in its history. Most New Zealand households contributed in some way. Men and women worked in essential industries or served in the armed forces, while older men were active in the Home Guard. Between 1942 and 1944, half New Zealand’s national income went to fund the war.

Few escaped the government’s call to contribute either financially or physically.