Story: South Pacific economic relations

War damage on Nauru, 1940

War damage on Nauru, 1940

Equipment for loading phosphate onto ships from the island of Nauru was badly damaged by German raider vessels during the Second World War. The German cruisers sank Allied merchant ships, disrupted supplies of phosphate and required Allied naval ships to protect the islands and South Pacific shipping.

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Australian War Memorial
Reference: 305230

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How to cite this page:

Geoff Bertram, 'South Pacific economic relations - Sugar and phosphate', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/24247/war-damage-on-nauru-1940 (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Geoff Bertram, published 11 Mar 2010