The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History
Description:... "War has played a defining role in shaping New Zealand. From the destructive Musket Wars, the bloody culmination of centuries of Maori tribal warfare, to the New Zealand Wars, military activities were a feature of nineteenth-century New Zealnad, and their impact is still felt today. During the twentieth century Pakeha and Maori stood shoulder to shoulder in New Zealand's greatest national efforts: the shocking Great War, and the all-encompassing 1939-45 conflict, which both profoundly affected society and the world we live in. New Zealanders have also fought in smaller and sometimes controversial wars in South Africa and Asia, while more recently peacekeeping operations in a myriad of localities from Sarajevo to Bouganinville have provided a new focus ... This book places the various operations in context and describes the response of ordinary New Zealanders to the horror, boredom, disruption, and challenge of wartime ... All the main campaigns and wars since 1800 are covered, along with the men and women who made their mark in military affairs, such as Te Rauparaha, Gustavus von Tempsky, Charles Upham, Ettie Rout, Bernard Freyberg, and John Stark. The weapons and equipment that have been used in New Zealand military operations all receive attention, and the development of the armed services is traced. There are substantial essays on the impact of war on religion, science and technology, and idustry, as well as on the pervasive effects of military activities on New Zealand culture; its language, literature, art and films ..." -- Inside front cover.
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