korean war

Korean War

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  New Zealand was involved militarily in Korea from 1950 to 1957, first as part of the United Nations 'police action' to repel North Korea's invasion of its southern neighbour, and then in a garrison role after the armistice in July 1953.

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• Page 2 – Background

  That two Korean states existed in 1950 was an outcome of arrangements for the surrender of Japan in August 1945 which had resulted in the entry of both Soviet and American

• Page 3 – The 'first' and 'second' Korean Wars

  New Zealand was one of the first states to answer the Security Council's call with combat assistance (sixteen would eventually do so). On 29 June, the government offered

• Page 4 – Kayforce joins the conflict

  At this point a further New Zealand contingent joined the UN Command - Kayforce. On 26 July 1950, in response to a further plea from the UN Secretary-General, Trygve Lie, the

• Page 5 – The Commonwealth Division

  In October 1951, now deployed on the Imjin River as part of 28th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, the New Zealand gunners took part in Operation Commando, during which

• Page 6 – End of the conflict

  At the end of 1951, a stalemate emerged as both sides improved their defensive positions. The front took on the character of a hilly Western Front. Much bitter fighting took

• Page 7 – Impact of the War

  In all, about 4700 men served with Kayforce and a further 1300 in the frigates during the seven years of New Zealand's involvement in Korea. Forty-five men lost their

• Page 8 – Korean War Roll of Honour

  Roll of Honour for all New Zealanders killed during the Korean War, 1953-57

• Page 9 – The Bob Jagger photographs

  Collection of previously unpublished images of the Korean War by Kiwi Gunner Bob Jagger

• Page 10 – Kiwi stories

  Listen to some of the stories of New Zealanders involved in the Korean War, 1950-1957.

• Page 11 – Further information

  Recommended links and books relating to New Zealand and the Korean War

The Cold War

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  Although the origins of the so-called Cold War can be traced back to the Bolshevik revolution of 1917, this intense ideological struggle between the Western powers and the Soviet Union really began after the Second World War.

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• Page 3 – Choosing sides

  New Zealand backed Britain and the United States against the Soviet Union as the Cold War began in the late 1940s. Like the other Western Allies, New Zealand’s relationship

New Zealand and the United Nations

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  New Zealand has a tradition of commitment to the concept of collective security. It was a member of the League of Nations between the world wars and was active in the establishment of the United Nations in June 1945.

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• Page 3 - Participation in the United NationsThe United Nations Charter established six principal organs to achieve its aims. New Zealand has played a part in all of these

Links - military history

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  Links to military resources  including personnel records, medal winners and war graves.

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• Page 5 - Post Second World WarLinks to further information about New Zealand's military participation since the Second World

Military mascots

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  New Zealanders have one of the highest pet-ownership rates in the world. Wartime was no different. Take a tour through this menagerie of military mascots: dogs, cats, donkeys, monkeys, pigs, goats and birds. There's the famous bull terrier Major Major, along with the less well-known, but very cute, slow loris adopted by 1 RNZIR in Borneo.

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• Page 4 - Other military mascotsMascots we would like more information about, mainly from post-Second World War

The Royal New Zealand Navy

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  Seventy years old in October 2011, the Royal New Zealand Navy is today an integral part of the New Zealand Defence Force. But its 1941 establishment was the result of a long process of naval development.

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• Page 6 - Post-war operationsLike all the services the RNZN faced difficulties of readjustment to peacetime conditions, not only in drastically reducing numbers but also in determining the shape of the