Difference between revisions 121772663 and 121772665 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.]]
(contracted; show full)ny Australians feared a Japanese invasion. Australia was ill-prepared to counter such an attack as the RAAF lacked modern aircraft, the RAN was too small and unbalanced to counter the Imperial Japanese Navy and the Army, though large, contained many inexperienced units and could not be easily moved around the country.<ref>Grey (1999). Page 171.</ref> In response to this threat most of the AIF was brought back from the Middle East and the Government appealed to the United States for assistance. 
The Japanese [[Proposed Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II|did not intend]] to invade the Australian mainland, however, as such an operation was judged to be beyond the Japanese military's capabilities.<ref>Stanley (2002)</ref>

The air raids on Darwin demonstrated how unprepared the RAAF was for the defence of Australia. Some RAAF squadrons were transferred back to Australia and to address the shortages of fighter and ground attack planes, [[United States|US]]-built [[P-40]] Kittyhawks were acquired and [[CAC Boomerang]], an Australian designed fighter/close support aircraft, was manufactured.British Prime Minister [[Winston Churchill]] attempted to divert the 6th and 7th Divisions to [[Burma]] while they were en-route to Australia, but Curtin refused to authorise this movement and over-ruled Churchill in a heated exchange of [[Telegraphy|cables]]. As a compromise two brigades of the 6th Division disembarked at [[Ceylon]] and formed part of the island's garrison until they returned to Australia in August 1942.<ref>Day (1999). Pages 452-457.</ref>

The perceived threat of invasion led to a major expansion of the Australian military. By mid-1942 the Army had a strength of eleven infantry divisions, three armoured divisions and hundreds of supporting units. While the RAAF was also greatly expanded, the RAN experienced only modest growth. This was a larger force than Australia could sustain, however, and the Army was progressively reduced in size from 1943 until the end of the war.<ref>Palazzo (2001). Page 174.</ref>

IDespite the Australian fears, the Japanese [[Proposed Japanese invasion of Australia during World War II|never  intended]] to invade the Australian mainland. While an invasion was seriously considered by the Japanese high command in early 1942, this was judged to be beyond the Japanese military's capabilities and no planning or other preperations were undertaken.<ref>Stanley (2002)</ref> Instead, in March 1942 the Japanese military adopted a strategy of isolating Australia from the [[United States]] by capturing [[Port Moresby]] in New Guinea, the [[Solomon Islands]], [[Fiji]], [[Samoa]] and [[New Caledonia]].<ref>Horner (1993). Pages 4–5.</ref> This plan was frustrated by the Japanese defeat in the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]] and was postponed indefinitely after the [[Battle of Midway]].<ref>Horner (1993). Page 10.</ref> While these battles ended the threat to Australia, the Australian government continued to warn Australians of the danger of invasion until 1943.

===The defence of New Guinea===
[[Image:Australian troops at Milne Bay.jpg|thumb|Australian troops at Milne Bay]]
Japanese forces first landed on the mainland of New Guinea on 8 March. On this day Japanese forces staged unopposed landings at [[Salamaua]] and [[Lae]]. Australian guerrillas from the [[New Guinea Volunteer Rifles]] established observation posts around the Japanese beachheads and the [[2/5th Cavalry Commando Squadron (Australia)|2/5th Independent Company]] successfully raided Salamaua on 29 June.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajrp.awm.gov.au/ajrp/remember.nsf/pages/NT00002612 |title=New Guinea north coast, 1942 |accessdate=2007-11-07 |last=Moremon |first=John |coauthors= |date=2003 |work=Remembering the War in New Guinea |publisher=Australia-Japan Research Project}}</ref>

After their defeat in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942 the Japanese attempted to capture Port Moresby by landing the South Seas Force on the north coast of [[Territory of Papua|Papua]] and advancing overland using the [[Kokoda Track]] to cross the very rugged [[Owen Stanley Range]]. This advance began on 22 July and [[Kokoda Track campaign|was met by]] an ill-prepared Australian militia brigade known as [[Maroubra Force]]. This force was successful in delaying the Japanese advance but was unable to stop the much larger South Seas Force. Two AIF battalions from (contracted; show full)eparated campaigns in the north, centre and southern portions of the island. The main focus was against the Japanese base at Buin in the south of the island, however, and offensive operations in the north and centre of the island were largely suspended from May 1945. While Australian offensive operations on Bougainville continued until the end of the war, large Japanese forces remained at Buin and in the north of the island.<ref>Coates (2006). Pages 273-275.</ref>

====Aitape-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 1945HMAS Swan guns (079323).jpg|thumb|[[HMAS Swan (U 74)|HMAS ''Swan'']] firing on Japanese positions between Aitape and Wewak]]
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 the Australian portion of New Guinea. This task was assigned to the 6th Division which was reinforced by militia and armoured units and began arriving at [[Aitape]] in October 1944. The 6th Division was also supported by several RAAF squadrons and RAN warships.<ref>Coates (2006). Pages 278-279.</ref>

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* {{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| ]]