The 2nd New Zealand Division, initially the New Zealand Division, was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces (New Zealand's army) during the Second World War. It was commanded for most of its existence by Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg. It fought in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert and Italy. In the Western Desert Campaign, the division played a prominent role in the defeat of German and Italian forces in the Second Battle of El Alamein and Eighth Army's advance to Tunisia.
In late 1943 the division was moved to Italy, taking part in Eighth Army's campaign on Italy's Adriatic coast which ground to a halt at the end of the year. In early 1944 the division formed the nucleus of the New Zealand Corps, fighting two battles attempting unsuccessfully to penetrate the Gustav Line at Monte Cassino. The division saw further action on the Gothic Line in Italy in 1944 and took part in the Allied 1945 Spring offensive which led to the surrender of German forces in Italy in May. After returning to New Zealand, reorganised elements of the division formed part of the occupational forces in Japan from 1945.
Read more about 2nd New Zealand Division: Outbreak of War, Defence of Greece, Battle of Crete, Italian Campaign, Aftermath
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