the kokoda trail

Background

• after Singapore fall in Feb 1942 - focus of pacific war was on Aus

• Early 1942 - japan advances in pancific were unstoppable

→ Aus lacked ships/planes to prevent Japanese landing on north/west of mainlaud

• reality → Japan had insufficient ships/troops to invade

• Japanese forces bombed Darwin + launched attach over Papua’s Owen Stanley ranges → view to capture Port Moresby

• Desperate but vicious 7-month campaign→ 600 Aus soldiers killed +1600 wounded —> 10,000 Japanese fatalities

→ in Jan 1943 Japanese resistance on Papua ceases

• crucial point in stopping Japanese advance towards pacific

Strategy and focus

• capture of Port Moresby remained a Japanese priority → bcs it would let them bomb vital allied basses in NA

• Japanese navy attempted to capture PM by sea → but fought off combined Aus and American forces

• The Kokoda trail - rough foot trail - only possible route from north to south of island

• 21st July 1942 - jap army landed at Buna and Gona

• 24th July - jap had more than 4,000 men onshore while Aus only had 420 troups

• Aus only had milita

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