The 9th Brigade was a formation of the New Zealand Military Forces raised for service in Italy during the Second World War.

[1] The brigade was formed as a real formation for the first time in Italy in early 1945 for service in the last stages of the campaign and placed under the command of Brigadier William Gentry.

[5][Note 1] During the final offensive in Italy in April 1945, a number of additional units were also temporarily placed under the direct command of 9th Brigade.

[7] The first engagement of the 9th Brigade was during Operation Buckland in which the British 8th Army intended to cross the Senio river and advance into the Po Valley.

The next morning, 9th Brigade sent 27th battalion (in Kangaroos and supported by tanks of 19th Armoured Regiment) to cross the Seino and capture the town of Cotignola, linking the respective bridgeheads held by the New Zealanders and the 8th Indian division on their right flank.

The advance of the brigade was only limited by the rate at which the canals and drains could be bridged so that the accompanying kangaroos and Shermans could cross.

[17] The brigade returned to the front on 27 April, by which time the Allies had crossed the river Po and bridged the Adige.

[19] It reached Mestre by the 28th, crossed the Piave river on the 30th and arrived in Trieste in the afternoon of 2 May, the German surrender in Italy having come into effect at midday.