NZ soldiers and Yugoslav partisans

A New Zealand tank crew chats with Yugoslav partisans in the Italian city of Trieste, circa May 1945. The 2nd New Zealand Division had linked up with units from Marshal Josip Tito’s National Liberation Army in the city on 1 May 1945, the day before German forces in Italy surrendered. A tense stand-off quickly developed as the Yugoslavs sought to occupy Trieste. New Zealand troops stood firm and the communist-led partisans withdrew from the city the following month.