Kokoda Battle World War II The Kokoda Battle occurred from the 21st July 1942 to 16th November in 1942, during World War II. It was a campaign which resulted in an aggressive fight between the Japanese and the Allies. I believe that, based on my research, the Kokoda Battle in World War II was a significant battle for Australians to a great extent. I believe this for three reasons: firstly, the battle was culturally significant to Australia: secondly, the battle was strategically significant to Australia: and thirdly, the battle was of military significance to Australia. I will argue that these reasons are three strong reasons. Firstly, the Kokoda Battle was an important event because of its cultural significance to Australia. The Kokoda track stands as an icon for Australian participation in the Second World War, just as Gallipoli serves the same purpose for the First World War. In 1942, the Australian Territories of Papua and New Guinea were in law if not in public sentiment, as much a part of Australia as the Northern Territory. It is then quite true to say that Australian soil was invaded by the Japanese in 1942. The main objective of this battle was for Japan to capture Port Moresby via the Kokoda track and from there they would control the Pacific. This war was also very significant because of the mateship, loyalty and hard work the Australians did to protect our country even when they were “flat out” of energy, as evidenced by this quote I must admit to some degree of amazement as to how active they were, to be able to keep going. We were flat, absolutely flat out! Physically exhausted! And so they must have been! Still, when they encircled us at Efogi in an area like that...You'd have to be a qualified mountain goat t... ... middle of paper ... ...uld find a mass of blood around the bottom of your legs and these would be full of leeches, dropping off and lying on your socks. But in these moss forests, where you couldn't see the sun, the roots of the trees are all covered in moss and the track was only root from root. If you were the last in the evening, and it had been raining for two hours, you were dead unlucky. The mud was a foot deep all the way along. [Don Simonson, 39th Battalion, interviewed on the Australia Remembers Pilgrimage to Papua/New Guinea, June/July 1995, http://www.kokodatreks.com/history/thekokodacampaign.cfm ] In conclusion the Kokoda Battle was a highly significant event to Australia firstly because of its cultural significance then and now: secondly, because of its strategic significance and finally, the military significance to Australia and the condition they faced during the War.
...nce as to how the soldiers were directly impacted by the efforts at The Home Front. As a result, the first sub question; ‘Were the soldiers fighting in the Pacific influences also?’ was removed, leaving the following, more controlled set; ‘How did the challenges faced at The Home Front impact the relationships between the Australian people? Are such correlations still recognised today?’ Unlike the sources that were used to answer focus questions one to three, the information relating to the social effect of the war efforts by the Australian public, is all still valid and relevant to today. This is mainly due to the fact that the facets that were demonstrated during this particular time period, such as mateship and determination, continue to be reflected in modern day society and are the characteristics to which Australians are linked to by outsiders.
Unfortunately, with most if not all large-scale conflicts, a detrimental aftermath was soon sure to follow. Australia was by no means exempt from this, as made evident by the Australian veterans and
ANZAC Day has been significant to Australians and New Zealanders since the first service in 1916 for memory of the soldiers who lost their live at Gallipoli in 1914 . Over time Anzac Day has changed to remember all the service men and women of Australia and New Zealand . As this year makes 100 years since the landings on the beach of Gallipoli, Australia has had a larger focus on Anzac Day compared to other years due to the importance .
...kins , T. (2012). History Alive 10 for the Australian Curriculum. Milton, Qld, Australia. Retrieved March 28, 2014
When the Great War began, Australia went to war as a nation which not only held its own but was invaluable to many ...
Australia relied on Britain holding Singapore as it was the gate way to Australia, it was feared that if it fell a Japanese attack was imminent. The Australian Prime Minister at the time, John Curtain, suggested the Fall of Singapore to be “Australia’s Dunkirk” and said it would be followed by the “battle of Australia” (National Archives of Australia). This corroborates with Curtain’s statement after Singapore fell, he said, “the fall of Singapore opens the Battle for Australia.”( http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww2/bfa/overview.html, Richard Reid). The government was preparing the Australian public for a Japanese attack, they wanted the public to be ready for an attack that was, what they thought, certain to come. After the Japanese air raid on Darwin on Feb 19 1942, Curtain told Australians there was “no more looking away now. Fate has willed our position in this war.” It is obvious that the government was predicting an invasion, an invasion that probably wouldn’t have happened if Britain held ...
The Australian participation in WW2 was similar to that of WW1 in many ways. After the British declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939, an Australian declaration of war was automatic. Aussie troops were soon sent to different parts of the world to help the British and other allied countries. It was not until late 1941 that they were recalled in order to defend the homefront. Darwin had been suddenly attacked by Japanese planes and small enemy submarines had snuck into Sydney Harbour. Darwin was repeatedly bombed by Japanese planes until July 1941, when along with American troops, the Aussies managed to drive them out of the Solomon Islands and northeastern New Guinea and eliminate a strong Japanese base at Rabaul. Without General MacArthur's troops, the enemy may very well have invaded Australia. This illustrates the importance of alliances.
Both the Americans and the Japanese had specific reasons to become involved in this battle, with goals of victory. The Japanese wanted to fight so that they could cut off sea routes between Australia and America. If the Japanese could keep control of the island, they would be able to begin building an airfield, made for both fighters and bombers. This meant that the U.S. Marines and Navy had an important job to secure the region in a method known as Island Hopping. Americans wanted to fight so that they could protect the allies from the Japanese. If Americans ended up controlling the island, they would be better able to protect Australia from the Japanese Invasion. They could also protect allied build-up in Australia that would act as a “springboard” for major assault on the Japanese. Both sides were completely against each other’s goals. USA wanted to protect Australia, and Japan wanted to prevent the help from the U.S.
The ?modern? Anzac day does not only celebrate the Anzac?s (Australia New Zealand Army Corps) but all the wars that Australia has participated in. But why is the focus of Anzac Day on Australia?s defeat at Gallipoli while fighting someone else?s war, and not perhaps the victory at Milne Bay against the Japanese. What is it about the battle at Gallipoli that brings Australia together to commemorate? Or do they celebrate?
Without a doubt the Battle of Midway is the most important battle of WWII. The battle marked the end of Japan’s dominant reign over the pacific and began the start of the U.S.’s campaign to Tokyo (Prados). Midway was the end of Japan’s strategic initiative, enabling the America to take the offensive two months later at Guadalcanal. Without a U.S. victory in June 1942, The U.S. warships still would have dropped anchor in Tokyo Bay, but at a greater cost (Tillman). The Battle of Midway saved American and allied troops not only in the Pacific but also on the European front. For the reasons of giving The United States control in the Pacific and saving the life’s of Americans and our allies, Midway was the most important naval battle of WWII.
Kokoda track campaign was one of the most important battles in WWII. There are several reasons why this battle was so significant. Firstly, Kokoda track campaign stopped the invasion of Australia. Secondly, the Kokoda track campaign lead to the victory of WWII with the defeat of Japan. Lastly, the conditions that all the troops at the Kokoda campaign had to go through was atrocious and against the ally troop’s odds. This battle leads to the development of the nation. It was an important aspect in WW2 because it leads to Japan’s defeat. This is why Kokoda was the most important battle fought by the Australian’s in WWII.
...Battle of Coral Sea was seen by the Japanese as a win by sheer numbers for the loss of the U.S.S. Lexington, but the Americans would see it as a victory for stopping the Japanese from attacking and controlling Port Moresby and the failure of the Japanese in cutting off the Australians and controlling the south pacific.
Parks, G. (2005). The Importance of the Battle of Long Tan. Retrieved May 28th, 2014, from City of Parramatta RSL Sub-branch: http://www.parramattarsl.com.au/rsl9/BLTI.htm
The ground conditions were very bad, with slippery mud waiting for hamper the Canadians as they began their assault. Heavily laden, the men began to cross the shattered No-Man's Land, skirting as best they could the shell-holes and craters, until they came to the muddy, slippery slopes of the Ridge itself.
The Gallipoli campaign was a military disaster but it is still one of the most important conflicts in which Australia was involved. On 25th April 1915 between 4:30 and 6:30 am the Gallipoli Peninsula was invaded by British, Australian and New Zealand forces. This was to start the long, hard weeks in which the troops were fighting for ground that the enemy controlled in Turkey. They were attempting to gain a supply route to Russia to aid them in repelling the German and Turkish soldiers from their country. I will be discussing the willingness of Australians to volunteer for the war effort and the love and respect they had for their Mother Country, England. I will also discuss how the young, naive soldiers arrived at war not knowing what warfare entailed. They were shocked by the conditions and casualties. I will also discuss the bravery that was shown by the ANZACS in the most dangerous conditions. I will conclude with my reasons of why the Gallipoli campaign holds such value and importance in Australian history and ideology.