Comparing The Kokoda And The Gallipoli Campaign

I believe that the first thing that made Kokoda an important battle in Australia and WWI, was that there were many, many untrained men fighting as soldiers on Australia’s side alone. A whole battalion of untrained men nicknamed ‘the chocos’ (39th battalion) fought and pushed the Japanese for a long time before the properly trained soldiers were able to take over and even then not all of them left the battlefront. In Defence 2020 The Spirit of the Maroubra Force by Tessa Johnston she says the men fighting in Kokoda had the traits and/or image of the ANZAC soldiers that fought in Gallipoli; an amalgam of courage, determination, mateship, teamwork, trust, initiative, endurance and compassion. It was also said that this mixture of traits is what helped both the ANZACs and the men that fought for Australia/The Allies in Kokoda win.

World War II (WWII) made a significant impact in shaping modern Australia. This war contributed to social, political and technological developments throughout Australia and the world.

As the Kokoda fighting began in July 1942 , the scheme of both sides was in transition. The Japanese felt it was time to defend their gains, and halt the fighting and advancing. But the Allies were thinking differently. Having massive amount troops, ships, aircraft and supplies in New Zealand and Australia, they made the decision to launch a counterattack to defend and retake some of the islands that were occupied by the Japanese. Papua had no particular resource that they desired, but it was a useful link in the chain of defences of the newly conquered area of Japan. So because Japan was quickly gaining new lands closer to Australia, posing a threat to Australia’s safety, the battle of Kokoda was the most important Australian-fought victory, in terms of winning the war. The campaign helped to shape Australia’s post-war training practices and military operations. Although it was not they first victory against Japan, it allowed the allies to make thrust forward through ‘island hopping’ and ultimately win the war. Kokoda was the battle that ended Japan’s dominance and permitted the Allies to go on the offence. Australia greatly learned from their Kokoda experience, and subsequently improved their strategic thinking. They learned to not purely rely on naval defences, and realised that they cannot just let other countries dot the fighting. “…the modern Australian professional army was

Although the Australians eventually pushed back the Japanese in the Battle of Kokoda. They were not always certain to win the war. Owing to a combination of factors such as, the Incompetence of Australian Command, the Discipline and Attitude of Japanese soldiers, difficult terrain and weather, Early Errors and an outbreak of diseases, the Australians would have been defeated. There was a real threat of defeat.

Being that Australia was apart of the British monarchy Australia sent many thousands of troops to fight for Britain during the First World War between 1914 and 1918. Thousands lost their lives at Gallipoli, on the Turkish coast and many more in France. Both Australian victories and losses on World War I battlefields contribute significantly to Australia's national

The battle in PNG was an unexpected achievement for the inexperienced militia who were sent with a lack of essential skills needed to fight the confident and skilful Japanese soldiers. It is mentioned in source 2 that the Kokoda track is the most significant event for Australians in WW2. Paul Keating said in source 4, “surely no war has ever demanded more of a man.” The fact that the Japanese were eventually succeeded by the

The battle of Kokoda is certainly the most significant battle fought during WWII. Also the course of WWII changed dramatically due to the impact that Kokoda had on Australia and the war. This can be proved with many reasons. Firstly, the Kokoda campaign saved Australia from invasion from the Japanese (Oxford Word Press). Port Moresby held a strong tactical position so it was important that the Japanese could not reach it. Secondly, the battle in Kokoda was fought well by the allied forces (Australia and U.S) against the odds, because this battle was won, Australia as a nation had grown immensely. Lastly, Kokoda was the battle that lead to victory in WWII and also to the improvement of Australia’s military operations

The Australian soldiers were forced to rebel against the Japanese soldiers advancing deep into the jungle of Kokoda who landed at Gona on the north coast of New Guinea the Australians were forced to fight in horrendous conditions over the next four months. The main objective for the Japanese was to capture Port Moresby who at the time it was Australians main base in New Guinea. The easiest path of attack for the Japanese was through the rugged mountains and on to a path called the Kokoda trail. For another four months Australians and New Guinea soldiers fought the Japanese to keep them back from Port Moresby. The plan was to push the

Almost a century has passed but Australia still identifies strongly with the Anzac ‘legend' that emerged during the First World War. Entering the war as a small outpost of the British Empire, no one would have anticipated the courage and tenacity displayed by the Australian troops or the extent to which their war efforts would become the foundation of our national identity.

- On Sunday 3 SEPTEMBER 1939, Australia’s first men and women went to war to fight for our country, more than 993,000 Men and Women went to in Europe, East Asia fighting for our country.

On the Kokoda track during World War 2 (1939-1945) Australia faced many great perils least of all the Japanese, however the Australians faced no greater threat than the Kokoda track itself. Due to the harsh humidity on the Kokoda track small cuts and scrapes were almost guaranteed to become massive and painful tropical ulcers especially with the various parasites (eg. Hookworms), with the added complication of severe infection. Constant maintenance was also needed in order to keep the soldiers’ weapons functional within the harsh environment.

The Japanese and Australians fought for approximately four months, in this time, Japan progressed up the Kokoda track, at one stage being less than 30 kilometres from Port Moresby in September. Port Moresby was the campaign target hence the Japanese thought they had won the campaign when they reached close proximity. This was the turning point in the campaign, to the extent that Japanese forces were pushed back from Port Moresby and Australian forces finally staged a counter-offensive, pushing the Japanese back.The Australian forces had been overcome by the Japanese offensives and were pushed back to Imita Ridge where they staged their counter-offensive. This was the first time that the Australian forces had moved forward to a large

The Kokoda Campaign was a four month struggle that involved battled relationships between the Japanese Forces and Allied Forces. The Japanese Forces landed in Papua New Guinea in the early months of 1942 and had conceived a plan to take over Port Moresby through the Kokoda Track, which was a 96km long trail, and from there they could carry out an advance towards Australia. As you can see in the source above, Papua New Guinea is relatively close to Australian country with roughly 6 km between the two at the nearest point. If the Japanese forces held Port Moresby under their influence and then use the airfield there and create a base, they can launch an attack on Australia, so Port Moresby has its strategic importance.

To what extent was the lack of experience the major obstacle faced by Australian soldiers during the Kokoda campaign of 1942?

Japanese forces landed on the northern coast of Papua, in 1942. Their goal was to capture Port Moresby, which was located at the southern coast, in order to do that, they had to make their way overland along the Kokoda track. Their objective was to do something that would allow them to have the control of Papua, and a base from which to attack Australian mainland (because Papua is close to northern part of Australia), and shipping in the Pacific. The Kokoda action is remembered as one of the most difficult operations by Australian troops in World War II. The action lasted until November 1942.