It's the war that claimed more New Zealand lives than any other. It's also the event that's often claimed as the "foundational moment" where we "became a nation". But is that really true? In this episode we take a dive into the First World War. Why we fought, what it cost us, and its long-term effects on Kiwi identity.
The First World War changed New Zealand, but did we really become a nation on the beaches of Gallipoli? In this episode we look at World War I, how it began, why we got involved and its lasting impact. Plus, the influenza epidemic that followed.
Watch the video version of the episode here
Topics covered:
- The basics of WWI, how it started, who were the major belligerents
- Trench warfare and the establishment of the "Western Front"
- The logic behind the Dardanelles campaign and how it went wrong
- Why Pākehā signed up to fight
- Why some Māori wanted to fight
- Opposition to the conflict, including from figures like Rua Kenana and Te Puea Hērangi
- The role of women in the war, including in the armed services, as civilian workers, and as volunteers at home and overseas.
- Analysis of the emphasis that has been put on the importance of WWI for NZ "nationhood"
- NZ's capture of German Samoa
- The 1918 influenza outbreak, including its effects on Samoa
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