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Transcript

MAORI DURING WW2

Maori efforts in New Zealand

Introduction

Creation of the 28th Maori Battalion

Maori soldiers in New Zealand:

Territorial units (from May 1941)

Home Guard

January 1942: threat of a Japanese invasion

Fund raising and factory work:

Huge fund raising undertook during the 1940s.

Munitions factories in the cities (Maori urban migration)

315 tribal committees

Women:

Some decided to work in the factories, others to do voluntary work (fund raising, cooking, knitting).

Main steps of the colonisation of New Zealand:

1840: Treaty of Waitangi

New Zealand becomes a colony ruled by governors appointed by the government of the United Kingdom.

1852: New Zealand Constitution Act

New Zealand becomes self-governing

Māori Members of Parliament (e.g. Āpirana Ngata) and Māori organizations throughout the country put pressure on the Labour government to have a full Māori unit to be raised for service overseas.

Āpirana Ngata : We are of one house, and if our Pakeha brothers fall, we fall with them. How can we ever hold up our heads, when the struggle is over, to the question, ‘Where were you when New Zealand was at war?’

October 1949: creation of a battalion composed entirely of Maori volunteers; the 28th Battalion

The battalion was divided in 5 companies (4 rifle companies and a headquarters company) organised upon tribal lines.

The battalion was a frontline infantry unit, which belonged to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF)

Close to 16.000 Maori participated to WW2 (home and abroad), 20% in the 28th Battalion.

Poster: New Zealand's National Savings movement

This poster encouraged Maori to save and raise funds for World War II

Maori's participation to the First World War

Maori Battalion at war

End of war and disbandment

Imperial policy: prohibits the Maori to make war among Europeans

Creation of a Native Contingent

50 Maori died in this campaign.

Maori troops were incorporated into the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion (Maori Pioneer Battalion).

1st of September,the battalion became a fully Maori unit

March 1919 and was disbanded.

By the end of the war, 2227 Māori had served in the Maori Pioneer Battalion. 336 died on active service and 734 were wounded.

January 1946:Return to New Zealand

Divisional Cavalry Regiment in Japan

Maori battalion’s records:

-649 killed

-1,712 wounded

-267 taken prisoner or missing

50% more casualties than the New Zealand army average

The Native Contingent composed of volunteer soldiers left for Gallipoli (now Turkey) February 1915

The Native Contingent was evacuated along with the rest of the New Zealand Force in December 1915.

Crete

Italy

Greece

Libya and Syria

In May 1941,the 28th battalion was sent to Crete.

German army attacked the Allied force by the air.

The Maori battalion's efficiency on the ground with bayonets.

31 May 1941:Run away to Egypt

71 Māori prisoners of war 74 dead

Māori battalion's reputation:

feared opponents in close-quarters combat

October 1943: Arrival in Italy (occupied by Germany)

Adaptation was hard (from desert to snow and mud)

A lot of important and deadly battles for the 28th battalion.

2 May 1945: German troops eventually surrendered.

For the Māori Battalion, the Italian campaign had cost the lives of 230 men, with 887 wounded.

March 1941:arrival in Greece

The German army invaded Greece

28th Battalion sent to defend the country

The Olympus pass

15-16 April: first confrontation with the German army

Soldiers received the order to fall back on Thermopylae Line

21 April 1941: the British command decided to abandon Greece.

They left behind 10 dead and 81 prisoners of war.

November 1941: arrival in Libya

Attack of the enemies' siege of Tobruk Strategic victory of the Allies.

February 1942: arrival in Syria

Sent there to counter a possible German invasion. Nothing happened.

In 1942, the battalion took part to a lot of victorious battle with the Allies (Minqar Qaim, Tripoli,Medenine,...)

13 May 1943: German troops were defeated

270 men dead and 815 wounded.

Reputation: one of the 8th Army's finest infantry units.

Maori soldiers since WW2

Recognition and tributes

Sources

After the war

Urban migration: 20% of Maori population lived in town before the war against 80% in the 80's.

National identity and racial equality promotion: only the beginning of the process.

World War 2 Hall of Memories:

Museum in Auckland

Memorial for the Auckland province's fallen soldiers.

A marble wall with their name engraved on it.

Victoria Cross controversy:

April 1943: Sergeant Haane Te Rauawa Manahi was recommended for a Victoria Cross for his bravery.

For unknown reasons he was awarded the lesser decoration of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

1986: death of Manahi

2005: reopening of the case by his tribe, Te Arawa, and the Returned and Services Association (RSA).

2007: Manahi was eventually honoured of the Victoria Cross.

1946/1947: Demobilisation and demilitarisation in Japan

1950/1953: Kayforce,the New Zealand ground force in the Korean War, about one in seven New Zealand soldiers were Maori (at a time when they were about 6% of New Zealand’s total population).

1965/1972: Massive enlistment from the Maori for the Vietnam war (35% of the NZ soldiers were Maori)

1978: Major General Brian Matauru Poananga, a veteran of the Korean War, Malaya and Borneo, was the first Maori to be appointed chief of general staff.

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/maori-in-first-world-war

http://www.28maoribattalion.org.nz/story-of-the-28th

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/nga-pakanga-ki-tawahi-maori-and-overseas-wars

https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/WhatsOn/exhibitions/SliceofHeaven/Exhibition/InternationalRelations/Pages/ww2object.aspx?irn=2539

http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/visit/our-galleries/top-floor/world-war-2-hall-of-memories

Goodbye my Feleni:

This play is a tribute to the soldiers of the 28th Battalion

Tells the story of the soldiers just before their departure to WW2

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