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World War ll
World War II was a global war that involved a vast majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers - eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million people serving in military units. -
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The battle of the Kokoda Trail
This battle saw the Japanese army reach further south than at any other time during the Second World War, in an attempt to capture Port Moresby, but also marked the point at which Japan’s resources became too stretched to support further offensive operations, and ended as a clear Australian victory. The Australian's clear victory in the battle of the Kokda Trail was what attributed to their overestimated certainty that they would succeed in the Beachhead Battles. -
The Japanese on the Kokoda Track retreated
Australian troops fought hard to halt the Japanese attacking, with the Japanese on the Kokoda Track finally falling into retreat in late September- this meant that Australian troops believed they could easily win the battle of the beachheads as the Japanese army appeared weak. -
The Battle of the Beachheads of Buna, Gona and Sananda began
The battle opened with simultaneous attacks against Buna by the Americans, Gona by the Australians and Sanananda by both Australians and Americans. The troops encountered a string of well-defended Japanese bunkers, expertly camouflaged in the lush tropical vegetation, and enemy troops armed with machine-guns and mortars. American and Australian troops suffered heavy casualties. The Allied attacks faltered on all fronts. They had grossly underestimated the strength of the Japanese troops. -
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The Battle of the Beachheads
The battle of the Beachheads was the last battle of 1942 involving Australians was for the Japanese beach lands at Buna, Gona and Sanananda in northern Papua. The Allies expected the battle would be easily won but underestimated Japanese strength and resolve and grossly overestimated Allied capabilities. The campaign had been won by Australian and American troops by the 22 January 1943. -
16th and 25th brigades relieved of their duties
By the end of November the Australian 21st and 30th Brigades, including many veterans of the Kokoda Track, had been flown in to relieve the exhausted 16th and 25th Brigades. -
Australian soldiers captured Gona
After Austrlian brigades slowly began making headway, they had suffered very high casualties from both battle and also tropical diseases (in particular malaria). They didn't let these setbacks lower their determination or resolve and Gona became the first beachhead to fall. -
The Australian and American troops renewed their attack on Buna
The Australian 18th Infantry Brigade and tanks of 2/6th Armoured Regiment had begun arriving in mid-December. On 18 December, the Australian and American 2/9th Battalion and tanks renewed the attack, making ground but suffering heavily. -
Australian and American soldiers captured Buna
The Australian and American soldiers had suffered heavy losses leading up to the Buna beachhead finally falling, but they continued attacking with tank and artillery support as well as air support and their resilience allowed them to overwhelm the last of the Japanese troops in Buna. -
The Beachhead of Sananda finally fell to the Allies
When Buna fell, Allied commanders agreed to send the Australian and American troops and also tanks from that front over to Sananda. The opening tank attack in mid-January failed, and the battle again bogged down. Finally, the Japanese, exhausted by battle and sickness casualties, retreated from their foward positions and the Allies were able to advance to the coast, gaining the Sananda front. -
The campaign in Papua was won by American and Austrlian soldiers
Japanese resistance had finally ended and the campaign was won. Japanese troops swiftly departed when they realised that the American and Australian troops were unassailable.
