Significance on overall war:
Kokoda was most definitely the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War 2. There are several reasons for this being so, the first being that;
· the Kokoda campaign saved Australia from possible invasion or from isolation - Port Moresby had a strong tactical position, it was highly important to prevent the Japanese from reaching it.
· The battle was fought well against the odds- as the Australian soldiers had fought so greatly, this lead to growth of Australia as a nation.
· Lastly, Kokoda was the battle that lead to WW2 victory and the improvement of Australia’s post war practices and military operations.
The battle of Kokoda had definitely saved Australia form the threat of invasion and most likely from isolation and possibly forced into surrender. Today, most have come to the conclusion that Japan would not have invaded Australia, but back then at that time it everyone had believed that they were going to. Before the Kokoda campaign, Australia had already been threatened including during (through) the bombing of Darwin, Broome and Townsville as well when the Japanese attack of Sydney Harbour. During this time Australian citizens were worried about their safety as even if the Japanese hadn’t invaded then, there still would have been constant danger in Australia.
Port Moresby was an extremely important tactical position as it had an airfield. At the Port it could have been used as the base for the sending of armies across sea to invade land as it was very close to Australia (known as an amphibious operation). Recently, Japan had also launched amphibious operations to other countries that were the same distance from Port Moresby to North Queensland. So it is quite obvious that Australia’s saving of Port Moresby, due to Kokoda was the highest significance in the protection of Australia.
‘In relation to the direct security of the nation, no Australians have fought more important battles than those who struggled through the Papua’s Owen Stanley Rand during and August and September 1942’ (Warrior of Kokoda).
The Australians fought greatly throughout the Kokoda campaign in harsh and horrible decisions without the help of Britain. This most definitely increased their moral and national identity, this being very important. Australians’ were shocked when the British Navy who were based in Singapore were defeated by the Japanese which resulted in Australia not being able to rely on Britain anymore. They had to fight for themselves. Once the Japanese had landed at Gona, they sent the Australian Militia (AIF were busy fighting in the European war) to New Guinea straight away. This ended up to be successful. The Militia were much unprepared for the tropical wilderness of New Guinea (The Kokoda Track: Ghost to coast) and they were also greatly outnumbered by the Japanese. Australians were always outnumbered by at least 5 to 1 until the Japanese reached Ioribaiwa. The Japanese soldiers were described as ‘the most formidable and best equipped jungle troops in the workd’ and on top of that a great mass of weapons and equipment were given to the AIF not the Militia. On the top of this 70% of the group got tropical disease during the campaign. The unexperienced soldiers also put the Japanese on hold until the AIF reached Port Moresby from the Middle East. So in conclusion through the Kokoda campaign there was great nationalism was shown by the determination of the soldiers. Our pride was greatened and we realised that we, Australia could stand by ourselves. The courage shown was a great significance to the making of the Australian nation.
Kokoda not only was the most important battle won and fought by Australians but it also shaped Australia’s post-war training practises and military. This victory ‘marked the first major turning of the Japanese ground forced during the Pacific war (Taylor et al p. 176-7,181,182). Kokoda was the battle that ended Japan’s dominance and allowed the Allies to go on the offence to defend themselves.
‘The territory seized (in the last battles of Kokoda) became the springboard for Mac Arthur to continue the offensive he had planned over six monthers earlier’ (Horner)
Australia had learned a great amount from their Kokoda experience and had made them improve their strategic thinking. They also learned to not rely just on naval defences and realised that they cannot just let other countries do the fighting. Their solutions to problems with working together with a large ally. All these improvements and the realisation that we had to fight for ourselves, later led to the commitment of forces during the Malayan Emergency, Vietnam and to Borneo during Confrontation.
If there was not the victory of Kokoda, Australia would be much worse off than it is today.
Kokoda was most definitely the most significant battle fought by Australians in World War 2. There are several reasons for this being so, the first being that;
· the Kokoda campaign saved Australia from possible invasion or from isolation - Port Moresby had a strong tactical position, it was highly important to prevent the Japanese from reaching it.
· The battle was fought well against the odds- as the Australian soldiers had fought so greatly, this lead to growth of Australia as a nation.
· Lastly, Kokoda was the battle that lead to WW2 victory and the improvement of Australia’s post war practices and military operations.
The battle of Kokoda had definitely saved Australia form the threat of invasion and most likely from isolation and possibly forced into surrender. Today, most have come to the conclusion that Japan would not have invaded Australia, but back then at that time it everyone had believed that they were going to. Before the Kokoda campaign, Australia had already been threatened including during (through) the bombing of Darwin, Broome and Townsville as well when the Japanese attack of Sydney Harbour. During this time Australian citizens were worried about their safety as even if the Japanese hadn’t invaded then, there still would have been constant danger in Australia.
Port Moresby was an extremely important tactical position as it had an airfield. At the Port it could have been used as the base for the sending of armies across sea to invade land as it was very close to Australia (known as an amphibious operation). Recently, Japan had also launched amphibious operations to other countries that were the same distance from Port Moresby to North Queensland. So it is quite obvious that Australia’s saving of Port Moresby, due to Kokoda was the highest significance in the protection of Australia.
‘In relation to the direct security of the nation, no Australians have fought more important battles than those who struggled through the Papua’s Owen Stanley Rand during and August and September 1942’ (Warrior of Kokoda).
The Australians fought greatly throughout the Kokoda campaign in harsh and horrible decisions without the help of Britain. This most definitely increased their moral and national identity, this being very important. Australians’ were shocked when the British Navy who were based in Singapore were defeated by the Japanese which resulted in Australia not being able to rely on Britain anymore. They had to fight for themselves. Once the Japanese had landed at Gona, they sent the Australian Militia (AIF were busy fighting in the European war) to New Guinea straight away. This ended up to be successful. The Militia were much unprepared for the tropical wilderness of New Guinea (The Kokoda Track: Ghost to coast) and they were also greatly outnumbered by the Japanese. Australians were always outnumbered by at least 5 to 1 until the Japanese reached Ioribaiwa. The Japanese soldiers were described as ‘the most formidable and best equipped jungle troops in the workd’ and on top of that a great mass of weapons and equipment were given to the AIF not the Militia. On the top of this 70% of the group got tropical disease during the campaign. The unexperienced soldiers also put the Japanese on hold until the AIF reached Port Moresby from the Middle East. So in conclusion through the Kokoda campaign there was great nationalism was shown by the determination of the soldiers. Our pride was greatened and we realised that we, Australia could stand by ourselves. The courage shown was a great significance to the making of the Australian nation.
Kokoda not only was the most important battle won and fought by Australians but it also shaped Australia’s post-war training practises and military. This victory ‘marked the first major turning of the Japanese ground forced during the Pacific war (Taylor et al p. 176-7,181,182). Kokoda was the battle that ended Japan’s dominance and allowed the Allies to go on the offence to defend themselves.
‘The territory seized (in the last battles of Kokoda) became the springboard for Mac Arthur to continue the offensive he had planned over six monthers earlier’ (Horner)
Australia had learned a great amount from their Kokoda experience and had made them improve their strategic thinking. They also learned to not rely just on naval defences and realised that they cannot just let other countries do the fighting. Their solutions to problems with working together with a large ally. All these improvements and the realisation that we had to fight for ourselves, later led to the commitment of forces during the Malayan Emergency, Vietnam and to Borneo during Confrontation.
If there was not the victory of Kokoda, Australia would be much worse off than it is today.
Kokoda was also symbolic:
The Kokoda track is also significant in a symbolic sense. When Australians remember the First World War they think of the landing at Gallipoli. When they think of the Second World War they think of the Kokoda Campaign. Neither of these events was necessarily the greatest of our contributions to the World Wars but both events have most definitely captured the Australian imagination. Each year five thousand Australians take up the mentally and physically challenging along the Kokoda trail/track.