The truth is no one.
The fighting on Kokoda Trail was fought between the Japanese and Australians and no one else.
The Americans hadn't yet joined the war when the battle started, the British had withdrawn to abandon Australia, the New Zealanders contributed too few men about 10,000 in the Pacific, and Australia's allies in South-East Asia had already fallen to the Empire.
However, the natives of PNG did help Australian wounded but they never fought in battle.
The Kokoda Track is a road in Papua New Guinea, famous for being the site of a World War II battle. There is much debate over whether it should be called the Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail; however, in 1972, it officially became the Kokoda Trail.
The Kokoda Trail was the sight of the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War II, against Japanese invaders. Over 625 Australians were killed and 1000 wounded. The Kokoda Trail is a narrow track over the rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea.
Kokoda track battle stands as a symbol of Austrailian participation in the Second World War. The direct effect of Kokoda track was that the Allies succeeded in preventing the Japanese from acheiving their goal of securing strategic points.
See the links 'Kokoda Trail - Our Most Famous Battle of WW2' and 'Battle For Australia Council' for information on Australia's involvement. An Australian battalion met a Japanese invasion force and delayed it to Kokoda village, where reinforcements took over. These reinforcements fought a delaying battle back down the Kokoda Track to Imita Ridge, where the Japanese force ran out of food and ammunition and had to beat a fighting retreat against the now heavily outnumbering Australian forces. Note the above use of 'Kododa Track' which is what Australians called it. Trail is an American word pushed in American press releases at the time, which too many Australians have accepted instead of keeping the iconic name Track which is what our soldiers called it, and they should know and be respected.
The Kokoda Track campaign was a series of battles over a period of six months between the Japanese and the Australians. It showed the dogged determination of the Aussies. The Japanese were attempting to capture bases close to Australia in order to launch more effective air attacks on the Australian mainland . Port Moresby on the southern coast of New Guinea was in a good position to launch such attacks . The Japanese had attempted to send a fleet around the eastern end of New Guinea but were intercepted and stopped ( the Battle of the Coral Sea ) . An alternative method was to march overland from the North of New Guinea down the Kokoda track . But Australian troops were sent to stop that move . The Japanese pushed the Australians back down the track until they were actually in sight of Port Moresby . The determined resistance of the Australians the rugged terrain and ambush tactics wore down the Japanese to the point were they were almost a spent force . Also at that point in time the Americans counter offensive in the Pacific had commenced particularly at the island of Guadalcanal . The Japanese could no longer hope to continue their attack to the South and began to withdraw back along the Kokoda Track . The main significance of the fighting on the track was the delaying tactics used by the Australians had allowed time for Port moresby to be heavily reinforced and also had weakened the Japanese to the point that even if they had reached Port Moresby it is unlikely that they would have been able to capture it . From that point on the Japanese were forced to retreat in the Pacific .
Australia in 1942
The Kokoda Track is a road in Papua New Guinea, famous for being the site of a World War II battle. There is much debate over whether it should be called the Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail; however, in 1972, it officially became the Kokoda Trail.
1027.
No.
One major significant even in World War II was the experiences of the soldiers in the kokoda track. Japan entered New Guinea because it sought to gain control port mosbey which would give Japan a stronger position in the Coral Sea and allow for a possible attack on Australia. So for the first time Australia was fighting to defend its own country. Success on the kokoda track in 1942 saved Australia from possible invasion and helped to push the Japanese back. The kokoda campaign, combined with the naval defeats in the battle of the Coral Sea and the battle of midway marked the moment the war had turned against the Japanese and in favour of the allies.
The Kokoda Trail was the sight of the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War II, against Japanese invaders. Over 625 Australians were killed and 1000 wounded. The Kokoda Trail is a narrow track over the rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea.
Kokoda track battle stands as a symbol of Austrailian participation in the Second World War. The direct effect of Kokoda track was that the Allies succeeded in preventing the Japanese from acheiving their goal of securing strategic points.
During the Kokoda Track campaign in World War II, approximately 625 Australian soldiers lost their lives. The campaign, which took place from July to November 1942, was crucial in the defense of Papua New Guinea against Japanese forces. In addition to the fatalities, many soldiers were wounded or suffered from illness due to the challenging conditions. The Kokoda Track remains a significant site of Australian military history.
Australians fighting in the New Guinea campaigns during WW2.
See the links 'Kokoda Trail - Our Most Famous Battle of WW2' and 'Battle For Australia Council' for information on Australia's involvement. An Australian battalion met a Japanese invasion force and delayed it to Kokoda village, where reinforcements took over. These reinforcements fought a delaying battle back down the Kokoda Track to Imita Ridge, where the Japanese force ran out of food and ammunition and had to beat a fighting retreat against the now heavily outnumbering Australian forces. Note the above use of 'Kododa Track' which is what Australians called it. Trail is an American word pushed in American press releases at the time, which too many Australians have accepted instead of keeping the iconic name Track which is what our soldiers called it, and they should know and be respected.
It was the trail used for soldiers to get from one side of the island to the other the Japanese on one side and the Australians on the other.
The Kokoda Track campaign was a series of battles over a period of six months between the Japanese and the Australians. It showed the dogged determination of the Aussies. The Japanese were attempting to capture bases close to Australia in order to launch more effective air attacks on the Australian mainland . Port Moresby on the southern coast of New Guinea was in a good position to launch such attacks . The Japanese had attempted to send a fleet around the eastern end of New Guinea but were intercepted and stopped ( the Battle of the Coral Sea ) . An alternative method was to march overland from the North of New Guinea down the Kokoda track . But Australian troops were sent to stop that move . The Japanese pushed the Australians back down the track until they were actually in sight of Port Moresby . The determined resistance of the Australians the rugged terrain and ambush tactics wore down the Japanese to the point were they were almost a spent force . Also at that point in time the Americans counter offensive in the Pacific had commenced particularly at the island of Guadalcanal . The Japanese could no longer hope to continue their attack to the South and began to withdraw back along the Kokoda Track . The main significance of the fighting on the track was the delaying tactics used by the Australians had allowed time for Port moresby to be heavily reinforced and also had weakened the Japanese to the point that even if they had reached Port Moresby it is unlikely that they would have been able to capture it . From that point on the Japanese were forced to retreat in the Pacific .