Australia's Kokoda Campaign
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Publicado 2024-04-23
This landing by the Japanese marked the opening of the Kokoda Campaign – a campaign by Australian forces of the New Guinea Force, based around the 7th Division – to defend Port Moresby, delay the IJA advance until additional Allied forces could muster, and ultimately defeat the IJA forces in Papua. Following the IJA landing, the Japanese quickly advanced inland, seeking an overland route across the Owen Stanley Mountain Range to capture Port Moresby. The most direct and traversable route was the Kokoda Trail, a pathway that snaked through the dense, mountainous and nearly impenetrable jungle of Papua New Guinea. The Kokoda Trail was to become the scene of one of the most well-known campaigns of Australian military history.
Over the next four months, Australian soldiers would twice traverse the Kokoda Trail: first withdrawing, then advancing. Major battles would be fought at Oivi, Kokoda Village, Isurava, Eora Creek, Templeton’s Crossing, Efogi, Mission Ridge/Brigade Hill, and Ioribaiwa. Australian victory at Oivi-Gorari over 05-11 November and reaching the Kumusi River on 13 November would signal the end of the Kokoda Campaign. Although further battles would be fought at Buna-Gona and Sanananda to secure Papua New Guinea, the hard-fought campaign across the appalling conditions of the Trail was over. 625 Australian soldiers were killed during the Kokoda Campaign, and over 1,600 wounded. Additionally, in excess of 4,000 soldiers became casualties due to illness. More than 150 Papuans died as members of the Papuan Infantry Battalion or as carriers of critical supplies and wounded along the Kokoda Trail.
The four-month campaign was fought in some of the worst conditions Australian soldiers have fought in. The dense jungle, rugged and mountainous terrain, illness, and lack of supplies was just as deadly to Australian soldiers as the Japanese forces. While we know today that Japanese invasion of the Australian mainland was not planned, the Kokoda Campaign was seen at the time to be the final line of defence between the ever-advancing Japanese war machine and home. These factors, along with the skill, endurance, determination, and courage shown by the Australian soldiers have ensured that the Kokoda Campaign has a special place in Australian Army battle honours, and the Anzac legend.
The Cove proudly brings to you the third in our Australian Army Battle Honours Series, the history of Australia's Kokoda Campaign.
This video has been a collaboration between The Cove, Australian Army History Unit, Interserv, and Effective Animations.
Original post: cove.army.gov.au/article/australias-kokoda-campaig…
More on Australian Army Battle Honours Series: cove.army.gov.au/article/australian-army-battle-ho…
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Todos los comentarios (21)
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NZer here. I have huge respect for the Australian military and especially those who fought in the Kokoda Campaign. Absolutely abysmal conditions - mountains, valleys, jungle and mud - and a vicious and ruthless enemy.
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As a Samoan living in this great country, every year I go to Anzac parades and always honor those who fought for this beautiful freedom country, and its everyone's obligation to continue to keep it safe, build this country, and remember those who gave their lives ... Also thank you for this informative video I love it when maps are included makes it more engaging in my opinion.
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Fark. We are moving forward fullspeed now. Great channel.
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Having walked the trail im astounded how accurate the depictions of the towns are in the animations!
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Thank you for keeping the background music to an absolute minimum.
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Best Aussie war channel getting around keep it up!!
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To give some perspective to the story my ex's uncle was a marksman in New Guinea, when he came home to Balmain NSW his sister my mum in-law did not recognize him. that's how bad it was up there for the troops. God bless you Peter Cameron and thank you, gone but not forgotten.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you. This video was recommended by YT and I eagerly watched, hoping to glean more information about where my father served. He passed away about 2 and 1/2 years ago, having hit the century mark. We were close but he only shared snippets of his experiences. Now, when it's too late, I want to know more. Let this be a cautionary tale. Lap up as much as you can from your elders. My dad was very fond of people who were interested and interesting. I strive for that.
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Thank you for this video, I understand the Kokoda campaign a lot better!!
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Incredible that Australian militia outfought the Japanese troops who were trained at the Rape of Nanking, they were the best troops that Japan had, and they lost.
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Excellent narration. Thank you!
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Nice editing and i bet it takes a lot of time and effort to animate those maps and that, not to mention the research, I'm impressed by your work, liked and subbed
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Brilliant video, well done on the animations!
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Great work mate, well done!
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This is EXCELLENT. I have seen many videos about the Owen Stanley campaign (as it was called at the time). I also have several books about the campaign and I have walked the track, so I know what the terrain and jungle is like. I consider that this is the BEST explanation of the campaign that I have seen. I was surprised at how clear the explanation of the campaign was, so much better than many I have seen previously. Many kudos to "The Cove". I can only think of one criticism in the whole video. The pronunciation of the names, Ioribaiwa and Imita ridges and some other names. However, sorry, that is really nitpicking and the rest of the entire video is absolutely correct and is excellent. Yes, kudos to "The Cove".
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This is a fantastic, clear, and well presented video. Thank you so much for the effort here. Fantastic! Get it in schools!
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Quality stuff! Would love to see more
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Magnificent, thank you.
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How good. Love these videos! I look forward to seeing more about the Australian army! Aussie Aussie aussie
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My uncle Lieutenant Richard Roy Tanner, who served with the 2/2 Battalion, was killed in action during the offensive at Templetons crossing after serving at Tobruk, Crete and Bangladesh.
