Difference between revisions 121771873 and 121771875 on dewiki

[[Image:Work fight or perish (RC02370).jpg|thumb|An Australian Government leaflet bearing the likeness and signature of Prime Minister [[John Curtin]], telling Australians that they must make sacrifices for the war effort.]]
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====Ataipe-Wewak====
[[Image:Infantry Danmap River (078054).jpg|thumb|Infantrymen resting on a river bank before attacking Japanese positions near Matapau in New Guinea in January 1945]]

{{main|Aitape-Wewak campaign}}
{{sectstub}}The goal of the [[Aitape-Wewak campaign]] was to complete the destruction of the [[Japanese Eighteenth Army]], which was the last large Japanese force remaining on Australian territory in New Guinea. This task was assigned to the 6th Division which was reinforced by militia and armoured units and began arriving at [[Ataipe]] in October 1944. The 6th Division was also supported by several RAAF squadrons and RAN warships.<ref>Coates (2006). Pages 278-279.</ref>

After relieving the US forces at Aitape the 6th Division launched a two-pronged offensive to the east towards [[Wewak]]. The 17th Brigade advanced through the inland [[Torricelli Mountains]] while the remainder of the division moved along the coast. Although the Eighteenth Army had suffered heavy casualties from previous fighting and disease, it mounted a strong resistance and inflicted significant casualties upon the Australian force. The 6th Division's advance was also hampered by the difficulty of resupplying the troops and bad weather.<ref>Coates (2006). Pages 278-280.</ref>

The 6th Division secured the coastal area by early May, with Wewak being captured on 10 May after a small Australian force was landed to the east of the town. By the end of the war the Eighteenth Army had been forced into what it had designated its 'last stand' area which was under attack from the 6th Division. The Aitape-Wewak campaign cost Australia 442 lives while about 9000 Japanese died during the campaign and another 269 were taken prisoner.<ref>Coates (2006). Page 280.</ref>

===Borneo Campaign===
[[Image:Borneo Campaign CMH.jpg|thumb|A map showing the progress of the Borneo campaign]]
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{{main|Borneo Campaign (1945)}}
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* [http://www.raaf.gov.au/history/airforce_history/WW2.htm RAAF in World War II - RAAF website]
* {{cite web |url=http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/index.html |title=Australia's War 1939—1945 |accessdate= |author= |date= |work= |publisher=[[Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|Department of Veterans' Affairs]] }}

{{Australian Military History}}
{{WWIIHistory}}

[[Category:Military history of Australia during World War II| ]]