What happened in world war two in Papua New Guinea?

Answer 1

In May 1942, a Japanese invasion fleet departed Rabaul for Port Moresby, and the Battle of the Coral Sea began. It was a very real threat which was only turned back by the US aircraft leaving from carriers.

After being turned back by the US, the Japanese then turned their attention to an attack over the Owen Stanley Range via the Kokoda Trail, which linked the northern and southern coasts of Papua New Guinea. Thanks to the Papua New Guinean natives assisting the Australians and the US troops, the Japanese were turned back, having to retreat to bases at Buna, Gona and Sanananda, where they were eventually defeated.

Answer 2

War started in Papua New Guinea because the Japanese sought to control a huge part of the Pacific, from Burma in the east, extending as far south as New Guinea, and north up to east of Japan. When Singapore and the Malay peninsula fell to Japanese control in December 1941-January 1942, it left Australia's defences wide open.

At this point, the Australian Prime Minister called on the United States for help to defend the Pacific in an unprecedented move that acknowledged that Britain would be unlikely to come to Australia's aid, being occupied with the German forces in Europe. Once the US became involved, Japan sought to cut off Australia from US assistance by taking control of Fiji, the New Hebrides, Samoa and the Solomons - and by completing their conquest of Papua New Guinea.

Japanese troops first landed on Rabaul, on an island off PNG's northern coast, and from there sent an invasion fleet to Port Moresby, hoping to capture that vital port. This was a catalyst to the Battle of the Coral sea. When US forces won the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese tried another tactic - taking control of towns and bases on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea, and moving south through the rugged Owen Stanley range, through the Kokoda Trail, to Port Moresby. This was when Papua New Guinea saw the worst of the fighting.

Answer 3

The Australian and US troops fought against the Japanese in Papua New Guinea during World War II. The Allies were assisted by the native Papua New Guineans.

Answer 4

the Germans