Today in History: New Zealand at war with Japan

 

From 11am today in 1941 New Zealand was officially in a state of war with Japan. This followed the bombing of Pearl Harbour, and coincided with coordinated assaults from Japan on Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaya, the Philippines, Guam, and Wake Island, as well as the shelling of Ocean Island where a radio station was manned by New Zealand civilians.

 

War (and the fear of an invasion of New Zealand from Japan) would continue until VJ Day (Victory over Japan Day) in August 1945, three months after VE Day (Victory in Europe Day) and the end of WWII in Europe.