{"product_id":"ww2-28th-maori-battalion-private","title":"WW2 28th (Māori) Battalion Private","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 28th (Maori) Battalion, was an infantry battalion of the New Zealand Army that served during the Second World War. It formed following pressure on the Labor government from some Maori Members of Parliament and Maori organizations throughout the country which wanted to see a full Maori unit raised for service overseas. The Maori  Battalion followed in the footsteps of the Maori Pioneer Battalion that had served (1915-1919) during the First World War. Maori wanted the formation of a distinct military unit in order to raise their profile, and to serve alongside their Pakeha? compatriots as part of the British Empire. It also offered Maori the opportunity to prove themselves and potentially secure autonomy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRaised in 1940 as part of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF), the 28th (Maori) Battalion was attached to the 2nd New Zealand Division as an extra battalion that moved between the division's three infantry brigades. The battalion fought during the Greek, North African and Italian campaigns, earning a formidable reputation as a fighting force which both Allied and German commanders have acknowledged. It became the most-decorated New Zealand battalion during the war. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion contributed a contingent of personnel to serve in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force before being disbanded in January 1946.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BrickInfantry","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":62412597461363,"sku":"135","price":21.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0970\/1208\/9203\/files\/original_b5888e4a-10d2-4929-9347-4a9cb1f37745.png?v=1767319961","url":"https:\/\/brickinfantry.com\/products\/ww2-28th-maori-battalion-private","provider":"BrickInfantry","version":"1.0","type":"link"}