Why Did Kokoda Lose Australia

The Kokoda campaign ceased after the many battles fought by the young men of Australia and its Allied forces. The battle of Kokoda lasted for a short four months, but over that time over 15,000 lives were lost from the Japanese troops and the Allied forces. The Australian troops were heavily outnumbered compared to the Japanese, but with courage, aid from the fuzzy wuzzy angels and the Americans, the Australians won Kokoda back and subsequently saved Australia from an invasion from the Japanese. Seventy years have passed since the battle and the deceased and veterans are still being commemorated for their actions in the significant campaign. The importance of their actions has been remembered for many generations as the battle that saved Australia. …show more content…
The Australian government concluded that the Japanese would capture Port Moresby and utilise it as a base to invade North Australia. It was believed that Japan required Australia for its long coastlines, excellent harbours that were facing the Pacific, Indian oceans and South China Sea. If an invasion did occur, vital supply routes from Europe and South Africa to the Pacific would be cut off. Australia was also an important base for repairing U.S aircraft and ships and a medical centre for troops who had contracted diseases or were wounded. Essentially Japan was isolating Australia from any major power such as Europe and the U.S.

Motivations of the Australians + Their response

The third of September 1939 denoted the day Australia joined the second world war. Announced on national radio by Prime Minister John Curtin, proclaimed Australia’s involvement in the war. One million men and women joined the war effort, numerous troops were sent to fight in Germany, Italy, the Mediterranean and North Africa (Joseph, 2014).

Conditions of the …show more content…
Their diet consisted of dried biscuits and bully beef which was more simple compared to the Japanese diet which was mainly rice, fish and dehydrated vegetables. Towards the ending months of the campaign the Japanese were quickly running out of supplies, many were suffering from malnutrition and some had to resort to cannibalism.
A Japanese man by the name of Kokichi Nishimura, also known as the Bone man of Kokoda was dubbed this name for losing over fifty kilograms during the campaign.

The conditions in which the Australians fought in were dreadful but also add to the significance of the campaign, even though the track was dangerous and often plagued with diseases such as malaria and dysentery, the troops of the 39th battalion fought the Japanese until victory.

Significance of the campaign from various perspectives

“I will never forget my first day in action against the Japanese in New Guinea. My knees were knocking, my heart was pounding, and I was FRIGHTENED all day, and to make things worse it was raining like hell. I had been in the Middle East for 18 months at that time we could see where we were going, but New Guinea was just like a mud hole”. Fred

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