Events In History
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19 August 1944Kiwi pilot's sacrifice saves French villageAs his damaged Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber rapidly lost height, Pilot Officer James Stellin struggled to avoid crashing into Saint-Maclou-la-Brière, a village of 370 people. He succeeded, but at the cost of his own life. The villagers gave him a hero’s funeral and have honoured his memory ever since. Read more...
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24 May 1943Turning point in Battle of the AtlanticIn the Battle of the Atlantic, one of the most important campaigns of the Second World War, 24 May 1943 was a crucial date. Thousands of New Zealanders took part in this long and bitter struggle. Read more...
Articles
D-Day
It was one of the largest amphibious landings in history. On 6 June 1944 a huge Allied military machine embarked on the invasion of German-occupied France. Thousands of New Zealand sailors and airmen were on active duty that day.
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Page 2 – The grand plan
The plans for the Allied invasion of France were conducted in great secrecy and over several months.
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Page 3 – Supporting acts
Massive supporting actions, including a complex plan designed to fool the Germans, assisted the landings at Normandy.
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Page 4 – The build-up to D-Day
In the weeks before D-Day, the Royal Air Force prepared occupied territory in Europe for the invasion of ground forces and attacked strategic targets such as railway lines,
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Page 5 – The Normandy landings
The Allied landings on Normandy beaches began early in the morning of 6 June 1944. The operation had been postponed due to bad weather, so, by the time they sailed,
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Page 6 – New Zealanders at sea
By 1944 more than 4700 New Zealanders were based in the United Kingdom and were serving in Royal Navy ships.
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Page 7 – New Zealanders in the air
By 1944 more than 6000 New Zealanders were based in the United Kingdom, serving in the RAF.
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Page 8 – The battle for Europe
The landings on 6 June 1944 were just the first part in a sustained campaign to break the war in Europe. For months after D-Day, planes flew over European cities, and the
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Page 9 – The French Resistance
Members of the French Resistance risked their lives in helping New Zealanders to safety.
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Page 10 – Further information
This web feature was written by Alison Parr and produced by the NZHistory.net.nz team.LinksAerial photographs of the beaches and other sites of battle are provided.The BBC's
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Main image: James Stellin Memorial Park
The James Stellin Memorial Park in the suburb of Northland, Wellington.
