Occupation of German Samoa

Part of the Asian and Pacific theatre of the First World War

The Union Flag being raised at Government Building, Apia on 30 August 1914

Date	29–30 August 1914
Location	German Samoa
Result	Allied victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

France

German Empire

German Samoa

Commanders and leaders

Robert Logan

Erich Schultz-Ewerth

Strength

1,413 (landing party)

c.100 (militia and Fita-Fita)

United Kingdom

German Empire

The Occupation of Samoa – the takeover and subsequent administration of the Pacific colony of German Samoa – started in late August 1914 with landings by an expeditionary force from New Zealand called the "Samoa Expeditionary Force". 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 but its commander, Colonel Robert Logan, continued to administer Samoa on behalf of the New Zealand Government until 1919. The occupation of Samoa represented New Zealand's first military action in the First World War.

Upon the outbreak of the First World War on 5 August 1914, the New Zealand Government authorised the raising of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) for service in the war. Mobilisation for the war had already begun, with preparations discreetly beginning a few days prior. The day after the declaration of war, the British Government requested New Zealand seize the wireless station at German Samoa, a protectorate of Imperial Germany, deeming it "a great and urgent Imperial service."

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