 | INTERNATIONAL HISTORY |
YEAR: 1947
India granted independence.
The Dead Sea scrolls are discovered.
The International Monetary Fund is established.
YEAR: 1945
May 8 - V.E. (Victory in Europe) day celebrations.
August 6 - The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima then three days later a second bomb was dropped on Nagisaki. Estimates of the death toll range from 200-250,000.
August 15 - V.J. Victory over Japan) day celebrations.
World War II ends.
October 24 - The United Nations is formed.
The Arab league is formed.
YEAR: 1944
The D-Day landings take place.
NZ troops fight in the Battle of Cassino, Italy, and later in the Battle for Florence.
US Bandleader Glenn Miller disappears while flying the Atlantic.
YEAR: 1943
The Siege of Stalingrad is lifted.
Turing and Flowers build the first programmable computer, Colossus.
YEAR: 1942
The Battle of Midway takes place.
YEAR: 1941
The Japanese attack Pearl Harbour.
The production of penicillin, discovered by Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming begins. The antibiotic was shown to have a remarkable ability to combat bacterially infected wounds and was invaluable in the theatres of war.
NZ troops land in Greece on 18 March, and are evacuated to Crete a month later; they fight the Battle of Crete on 20 May, and are evacuated to Egypt from 29 May, leaving behind 962 killed, 6942 wounded, and 3794 captured.
When the HMS Neptune was sunk by mines in the Mediterranean, 150 New Zealanders lost their lives. It was the NZ Navy's worst single loss in WWII.
The National Film Unit is formed and produces a weekly war information newsreel.
YEAR: 1940
Winston Churchill becomes British Prime Minister.
The Battle of Britain begins.
YEAR: 1939
Beginning of Second World War. NZ, together with Australia, France and India, immediately follows Britian in declaring war on Germany, and recruitment begins for the Second New Zealand Division under Major-General Bernard Ferguson.
The Germans fly the first jet-powered aircraft.
YEAR: 1938
Germany invades Austria.
Orson Wells broadcasts War of the Worlds.
VW Beetle created by Ferdinand Porsche.
The ballpoint pen in invented by Lazlo Biro
YEAR: 1937
May 6 - The Hindenberg airship explodes as it was docking at Lakehurst, New Jersey, USA, killing 35.
Nylon is invented in the USA.
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