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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume II

338 — General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

338
General Freyberg to the Minister of Defence

23 December 1944

In case the German broadcast in English reached New Zealand I feel I should let you know that our casualties in the two battles we have fought in December have not been heavy. In the operation by the 5th Brigade to capture Faenza we had 220 casualties. The enemy had considerable losses in killed and wounded and we took 375 German prisoners. In the operation by the 6th Brigade to clear the Bologna road north of Faenza we had 120 casualties. The enemy was again hit heavily by our artillery and 180 prisoners were taken. While local operations continue there is a steady 20 casualties per day.

Casualties from 28 November to 22 December are 81 killed, 467 wounded, and 10 missing.

For your information, our losses have been small compared with those of other formations.