The New Guinea Campaign
The aim of the Japanese Imperial Headquarters was to capture Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, and then use it as a base to attack Australia. The Japanese first attempted to seize Port Moresby by a sea and air attack but were defeated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May 1942 and the Battle of Midway in early June. However, they didn't give up their goal and decided instead to launch a land attack with the ambitious plan to take 10 days to invade Port Moresby via the Kokoda Track.
Australia was ill-equipped to defend Papua New Guinea. Its trained soldiers had either been fighting for over two years in African or the Middle East or were prisoners of war following the fall of Singapore. The military leaders instead had to form a new military force by gathering a group of conscripts and volunteers from within Australia. These young men were poorly equipped and poorly trained. There were no preparations for tropical warfare, and even their khaki uniforms were completely unsuited to tropical conditions, not providing any camouflage in the tropical rainforests.
The Kokoda Track:
Kokoda was a small village about half-way across New Guinea and was the main village on the track. Kokoda was of strategic importance for two reasons:
- It was an area of relatively flat land, where an airstrip could be built
- Being near the northern edge of the mountain range it was thought that this could be defended, If the Australians were forced back, the Japanese would have to attack them from below
However, this part of Papua New Guinea provided some of the toughest terrain in the world in which to fight. The trail consisted of peaks and valleys that had to be crossed, it ran through dense rainforest and it was hot and humid with freezing nights.
Australia was ill-equipped to defend Papua New Guinea. Its trained soldiers had either been fighting for over two years in African or the Middle East or were prisoners of war following the fall of Singapore. The military leaders instead had to form a new military force by gathering a group of conscripts and volunteers from within Australia. These young men were poorly equipped and poorly trained. There were no preparations for tropical warfare, and even their khaki uniforms were completely unsuited to tropical conditions, not providing any camouflage in the tropical rainforests.
The Kokoda Track:
Kokoda was a small village about half-way across New Guinea and was the main village on the track. Kokoda was of strategic importance for two reasons:
- It was an area of relatively flat land, where an airstrip could be built
- Being near the northern edge of the mountain range it was thought that this could be defended, If the Australians were forced back, the Japanese would have to attack them from below
However, this part of Papua New Guinea provided some of the toughest terrain in the world in which to fight. The trail consisted of peaks and valleys that had to be crossed, it ran through dense rainforest and it was hot and humid with freezing nights.
Battling the Kokoda Trail: July - November 1942
Initially, the Japanese successfully forced the Australians halfway along the track, back to the village of Kokoda itself. The subsequent battled defending the Kokoda Track were some of the most vicious and desperate fought by Australian troops during World War II. The great island was mountainous for the most part, a place of numerous savage tribes into which, few had ventured. The island lay under a blanket of heat and humidity; disease was rampant; terrential rain was constant, turning tracks into rivers of mud. Australian soldiers included inexperienced, conscripted men, who were outnumbered and poorly equipped. They had been issued with khaki-coloured uniforms instead of jungle greens, making them easy for the enemy to spot. These troops faced the advancing Japanese, and for six months fought ferocious battles. Papuans, who became known as 'Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels', helped carry the wounded through the jungle to medical stations.
By mid-September, the fight was now in the lead by the Australians due to fresh troops. The retreating Japanese refused to surrender and fought to the death. By 11 November the battle was over at a cost of 1680 Australian lives. The final stages of the New Guinea campaign involved Australian and American troops capturing the last two cities of the Kokoda tack.
The dangers of jungle warfare were not restricted to those caused by the enemy. In New Guinea both the Australians and the Japanese lost more men to sickness than to battle. The two main problems were malaria and dysentery but soldiers also suffered from dengue fever and scrub typhus.
Initially, the Japanese successfully forced the Australians halfway along the track, back to the village of Kokoda itself. The subsequent battled defending the Kokoda Track were some of the most vicious and desperate fought by Australian troops during World War II. The great island was mountainous for the most part, a place of numerous savage tribes into which, few had ventured. The island lay under a blanket of heat and humidity; disease was rampant; terrential rain was constant, turning tracks into rivers of mud. Australian soldiers included inexperienced, conscripted men, who were outnumbered and poorly equipped. They had been issued with khaki-coloured uniforms instead of jungle greens, making them easy for the enemy to spot. These troops faced the advancing Japanese, and for six months fought ferocious battles. Papuans, who became known as 'Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels', helped carry the wounded through the jungle to medical stations.
By mid-September, the fight was now in the lead by the Australians due to fresh troops. The retreating Japanese refused to surrender and fought to the death. By 11 November the battle was over at a cost of 1680 Australian lives. The final stages of the New Guinea campaign involved Australian and American troops capturing the last two cities of the Kokoda tack.
The dangers of jungle warfare were not restricted to those caused by the enemy. In New Guinea both the Australians and the Japanese lost more men to sickness than to battle. The two main problems were malaria and dysentery but soldiers also suffered from dengue fever and scrub typhus.
Significance of Kokoda:
While the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I was Australia's first military test as a new nation, the fighting during the Kokoda campaign represents the first time in the nation's history that its security was directly threatened. Although it has since become accepted that an invasion of Australia was not possible, or even planned by the Japanese, at the time there was a very real belief within Australia that this was possible and as such the Kokoda campaign has come to be viewed by some as the battle that "saved Australia".
While the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I was Australia's first military test as a new nation, the fighting during the Kokoda campaign represents the first time in the nation's history that its security was directly threatened. Although it has since become accepted that an invasion of Australia was not possible, or even planned by the Japanese, at the time there was a very real belief within Australia that this was possible and as such the Kokoda campaign has come to be viewed by some as the battle that "saved Australia".
Participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
It is estimated that 3000 Indigenous Australians enlisted in World War II, where they fought together with non-Indigenous Australians without the racism they experienced in Australia.
However, it is impossible to know precisely, as the number who enlisted under another nationality was probably much higher than official figures. A small number of Torres Strait Islanders were also recruited into the United States army.
On their return, however, they came back to a segregated society, where they were not permitted to enter a public bar, own property or vote.
However, it is impossible to know precisely, as the number who enlisted under another nationality was probably much higher than official figures. A small number of Torres Strait Islanders were also recruited into the United States army.
On their return, however, they came back to a segregated society, where they were not permitted to enter a public bar, own property or vote.
Activity:
1. Explain why the Japanese wanted to capture Port Moresby?
2. What was the affectionate name given to the local people of Papua New Guinea who helped the Australian soldiers during World War II?
3. Why were they called this?
4. Explain why the New Guinea campaign so important to the protection of Australia?
5. Describe the conditions of the Kokoda Trail. In your answer reference to:
- Terrain
- Getting supplies
- Climate
- Disease
For this response you should refer to the Kokoda excursion at Concord and/or the movie Kokoda.
6. Approximately how many Indigenous Australians served in World War II?
7. Why is it difficult for historians to estimate the number of Indigenous Australians who enlisted in the armed forces during World War II?
1. Explain why the Japanese wanted to capture Port Moresby?
2. What was the affectionate name given to the local people of Papua New Guinea who helped the Australian soldiers during World War II?
3. Why were they called this?
4. Explain why the New Guinea campaign so important to the protection of Australia?
5. Describe the conditions of the Kokoda Trail. In your answer reference to:
- Terrain
- Getting supplies
- Climate
- Disease
For this response you should refer to the Kokoda excursion at Concord and/or the movie Kokoda.
6. Approximately how many Indigenous Australians served in World War II?
7. Why is it difficult for historians to estimate the number of Indigenous Australians who enlisted in the armed forces during World War II?