The Significance of Kokoda

‘We’re all Australians now’ draws the reader to see the war from a positive Australia home front perspective. Texts from

On the 21st of July 1942 Australians were compelled to repulse a Japanese attack power

The Kokoda Track was a narrow track over the rugged mountains of Papua New Guinea where 625 Australian troops were killed and over 1000 were wounded...as far as war goes it was one of the worst situations Australian soldiers have ever had to endure.

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.

The Kokoda trail is significant to Australia’s history as the Australians showed great courage and mate ship in what was one of the most important battles that affected Australia’s out come in World War II. Kokoda was more important to Australia as it was fought close to Australia’s shores and we were fighting to attempt to prevent Australia being invaded by the Japanese, compared to other battles fought far away for the British Empire such as Gallipoli. Kokoda was significant due to the different style of fighting to suit the surroundings of dense forest and that Australian defense forces where the first to inflict defeat on the Japanese Army in World War II. The Kokoda trail battle was due to Japan in World War II, they were attempting to

The Japanese landed at Gona on the north coast of Papua New Guinea on the 21st of July 1942. The Australians were forced to fight back against the Japanese over the next four months. The Japanese had intended to invade Port Moresby, the main Australain base. They intended to do so by an overland strike across the Owen Stanley Range. The simplest and quickest way for them to reach their destination wad across rough, uneven mountains was to go through a trail known as the Kokoda Track. Up until the 16th of November 1942 the Australian soldiers fought against the Japanese trying to keep what was rightfully theirs. The Australians fought to keep the Japanese away from Port Moresby anf later to repel them back over the mountain to Buna, Gona and

“Kokoda was one of Australia’s most successful and significant military campaigns and should be commemorated as such.” Discuss.

Not long before 10:00am, on February 19, 1942 the Japanese forces commenced air raids on Darwin. Over 260 enemy planes attacked Australian and US shipping, the harbour of the town, military and civil aerodromes and the local hospital. There were two waves of attacks which were part of Japan's efforts to harm Australia's confidence, hold back the use of Darwin's military base, and at last secure neighbouring Timor. At least 243 people were killed in the attack and up to 400 people were injured. Eight ships in the harbour were sunk and twenty military aircraft were destroyed. Over a space of almost two years the air attacks continued and about half of Darwin's population ended up moving south.

The Kokoda campaign in World war two was very significant for Australia’s history. Firstly it stopped Japan from getting more land off Guinea and getting closer to Australia Port Morseby had an airfield as well as a port so it was very important not to lose this area.. Secondly the battle was fought in very harsh conditions and made Australians back home very proud when the Japanese were finally defeated. The Kokda campaign was fought in Papua New Guinea between July –Nov 1942 . Australian, USA and Guinea troops fought against the Japanese Army. It was an important event in our history . It was a very hard battle to win but it was important as it stopped the Japanese from securing Port Morseby and getting closer to Australia.

The terrain on the Kokoda Track was very mountainous, with frequent mist and heavy rain. The dense jungle of Papua New Guinea was good at concealing big groups of men, which worked in both sides favour, as a result of this the Australian soldiers could not see and communicate with each other properly and they often got lost in the jungle. Fighting in the jungle resembles fighting at night, as they couldn’t aim properly through the foliage. These reasons support the fact that terrain, along with inexperience, were obstacles faced by the Australians on the Kokoda track in

During World War II, of the 7 million people who lived in Australia, 550 000 served overseas in the armed forces. While this was a high proportion of the population and they all fought bravely in battle, it still can not be said that their efforts made a significant contribution to the course and outcome of the war. In campaigns such as Tobruk and El Alamein in North Africa and, primarily, Papua New Guinea, the Australian troops gave a good account of themselves and made significant contributions to the battles in each of these areas. However, in comparison to battles in the European theatre of

Australia entered the war in 1939 and it became at their doorstep on the 19th February 1942, Nazi Germany and Japan were major enemies to Australia during the war. Australia’s foreign policy and changing alliance during 1942 impacted our national identity because Australia developed a new relationship with America, while it weakened the strong connection with Britain, which demonstrates that Australia was starting to become its own independent country. At the beginning of war, Australia had a strong relationship and alliance with Britain, making Britain their leaders when entering the war. Secondly, as the war progressed Australia began to look to America as an opportunity for protection from the Japanese, while Britain was fighting their own

World War One is regarded as a major turning point in history and modern warfare which has impacted Australia monumentally, scarring the nation’s history. Australia played a significant role in World War One and the Gallipoli campaign, which is considered the birthplace of the ANZAC legend. These events have immensely shaped Australia as the nation we know of today. World War One began in 1914 from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ended in 1918 on November the 11th which is now recognised as a day of mourning and a time given recognition to the lives taken on the battlefield. To a prominent extent, the ANZAC legend is significant to the concept of Australian identity and nationalism through the origins of the ANZAC legend, the key events that have helped form Australia as an independent nation, and in addition to how ANZAC day is commemorated today.

Last year, on the 25th of April was the centenary of the Gallipoli landing. Which, according to the Australian Defence force website, was to be for Australians, “one of the most significant commemorations to take place during their lifetime.” With the centenary looming in the backs of the minds of the Australian people, it is unsurprising that great pains have been taken to construct a three year long celebration that would “encompass a number of historical milestones on Australia 's involvement in conflicts”, such as both World Wars, Korea and Vietnam.

The Fall of Singapore is considered one of the greatest defeats in British History. For it to be overtaken and then occupied by the Japanese posed a massive threat and shock to Australia, which then caused Australia to withdraw troops introduce conscription and also the USA came in to help Australia against the threatening Japanese.