The new zealand expeditionary force nzef was the title of the military forces sent from new zealand to fight alongside other british empire and dominion troops during world war i 1914 1918 and world war ii 1939 1945. The military history of new zealand during world war ii began when new zealand entered the second world war by declaring war on nazi germany with great britain the state of war with germany was officially held to have existed since 930 pm on 3 september 1939 local time simultaneous with that of britain but in fact the declaration of war . New in 1939 more than 140 000 new zealanders enlisted to fight overseas during world war ii of these 104 000 served in the second new zealand expeditionary force initially thrown into the doomed campaign to halt the german blitzkrieg on greece and crete 1941 the division was rebuilt under the lead. Meanwhile a smaller nz force supported us forces against the japanese in the solomons and new guinea 1942 44 fully illustrated with specially commissioned colour plates this is the story of the second new zealand expeditionary forces vital contribution to allied victory in world war ii. In 1939 new zealand was far less well prepared for war than it had been in 1914 nevertheless more than 140000 new zealanders nearly 9 per cent of the dominions total population enlisted to fight overseas for king and country during world war ii