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New Zealand
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(08)
1943
February
25
The Featherston camp massacre
On 25 February 1943 guards at the Featherston POW camp in New Zealand opened fire on striking Japanese prisoners. 48 prisoners and one soldier died.
March
26
Breaking the Mareth Line
On 26 March 1943 the New Zealanders and 1st Armoured Division, backed by aircraft, broke through at the Tebaga Gap. Messe’s army had to quit the Mareth Line.
April
03
The Battle of Manners Street
On 3 April 1943 US Marines clashed with New Zealanders, Māori among them, outside a servicemen’s club in Wellington. No one was killed.
July
12
The Battle of Kolombangara
On the night of 12–13 July 1943 the Allies sank the cruiser Jintsū, but Japanese torpedoes damaged three Allied cruisers and sank the destroyer Gwin.
August
15
The landing on Vella Lavella
On 15 August 1943 the Americans bypassed strongly held Kolombangara and landed on weakly held Vella Lavella – the first deliberate “leapfrog” in the Solomons.
September
21
The end of the fighting on New Georgia
On the night of 20–21 September 1943 the Japanese abandoned Arundel Island. The fighting for the New Georgia group was ending, but not the Solomons campaign.
1944
February
15
Key event
The destruction of the Abbey of Monte Cassino
On 15 February 1944 Allied bombers destroyed the Benedictine abbey on Monte Cassino. Civilians died, the Germans took over the ruins, and the attack failed.
March
15
The third battle of Monte Cassino
On 15 March 1944 bombers flattened the town of Cassino and the New Zealand Corps attacked. Until 23 March German paratroopers held the ruins and the abbey.