Occupation of German Samoa | |||||||
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Part of the Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I | |||||||
The Union Flag being raised at the courthouse at Apia on 30 August 1914 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Robert Logan | Erich Schultz-Ewerth | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
1,413 (landing party)[1] 6 cruisers | 100 (militia / Fita-Fita)[2] |
The Occupation of Samoa was the takeover – and subsequent administration – of the Pacific colony of German Samoa by New Zealand during World War I. It started in late August 1914 with landings by the Samoa Expeditionary Force from New Zealand. The landings were unopposed and the New Zealanders took possession of Samoa for the New Zealand Government on behalf of King George V. The Samoa Expeditionary Force remained in the country until 1915, while its commander, Colonel Robert Logan, continued to administer Samoa on behalf of the New Zealand Government until 1919. The takeover of Samoa was New Zealand's first military action in World War I.