A HISTORY OF

THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA 1942-43 ©
by James Bowen

"For there can be no doubt that 1942 was for Australia - as a nation and as a people - the most important single year of all those two hundred. It was the turning point in the making of modern Australia. In the fire of that tremendous crisis were forged all the elements which have shaped our national life and destiny, to this day."

The Hon. R.L.J. Hawke, AC, Prime Minister of Australia, on the occasion of Australia's Bicentenary, 1988

Text and web-site by James Bowen. Last updated on 11 June 2009

THE BATTLE ON THE KOKODA TRACK

THE 39TH BATTALION AFTER THE BATTLE OF ISURAVA

Returning from the Battle of Isurava, soldiers of the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion trudge through deep mud on the hellish Kokoda Track. In heavy fighting under appalling conditions, these heroes have played a vital role at Kokoda, Deniki, and Isurava in blunting the momentum of the Japanese advance towards Australia. From right to left: Warrant Officer 2 R. Marsh, Privates G. Palmer, J. Manol, J. Tonkins, A. Forrester, and Gallipoli veteran Staff Sergeant J. Long.....AWM 013288.

INDEX TO THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA 1941- 1943

Text and Web-site by James Bowen. Last updated 23/6/2008

Note: For the convienence of visitors to this web-site who may wish to pursue further historical research on the World-wide Web, the powerful "Google" search engine has been placed below this INDEX.

ABOUT THIS WEB-SITE

WHAT WAS THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA 1942-43?

ORIGIN OF THE PROPOSAL TO COMMEMORATE THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA

ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS WEB-SITE

INTRODUCTION

PACIFIC WAR MAP (recommended screen resolution about 800 by 600 pixels)

• The Battle of Midway

PART 1 - THE GATHERING PACIFIC STORM 1941 - 1942

Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941

Japan attacks Malaya, British Borneo, & the Dutch East Indies (Text being revised)

Japan's attack on the Philippines

PART 2 - THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA BEGINS (23 JANUARY 1942)

Australia under threat from Japan

Japanese aggression exposes the inadequacy of Australia's defences

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill betrays Australia at the Arcadia Conference

Japan's navy and army leaders debate Australia's fate

Japan invades the Australian Territory of New Guinea

MacArthur-a flawed general takes command of Australia's defence

Japanese attacks on the Australian mainland

PART 2A - CONFRONTING A DENIAL OF THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA BY THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

Challenging a false history of 1942 promoted by the Australian War Memorial

What was the Battle for Australia 1942-43?

Proving that the Australian War Memorial is promoting a false history of 1942

Defending the character and leadership of Prime Minister John Curtin from unjustifies slurs

Is the Australian War Memorial now insulting the Gallipoli Anzacs?

Does Major General Steve Gower deserve censure?

PART 3 - AMERICA FIGHTS BACK

Bold American carrier raids derail Japan's invasion timetables and strategic priorities

PART 4 - THE AMERICAN AND JAPANESE NAVAL AIR SERVICES

The American and Japanese naval air services compared

PART 5 - THE BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA - MAY 1942

The Battle of the Coral Sea - Japan's first attempt to isolate Australia from the United States

PART 6 - THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY - JUNE 1942

The Battle of Midway - Turning point of the Pacific War

PART 7 - THE KOKODA CAMPAIGN - JULY 1942 to JANUARY 1943

The Kokoda Campaign -Japan's second attempt to isolate Australia from the United States

PART 8 - THE BATTLE FOR GUADALCANAL - 7 AUGUST 1942 TO 7 FEBRUARY 1943 -

Guadalcanal - Japan's third attempt to isolate Australia from the United States

PART 9 - JAPANESE WAR CRIMES 1937-1945 -

Atrocities of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy and the long history of denial

PART 10 - THEY ALSO SERVED IN THE BATTLE FOR AUSTRALIA

The Dutch contribution

The Coastwatchers

Australian Army Nurses

PART 11 - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO THE PACIFIC WAR 1941-1945

Imperial Japan's Path to World War II:

• Index

Nazi Germany's Path to World War II:

• Index

PART 12 - HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS OF JAPAN'S MILITARY AGGRESSION

How deeply ingrained militarism, aggressive nationalism, and a denial of genuine democracy laid the foundations for Japan's military aggression

PART 13 - PACIFIC WAR ISSUES -

Was the atomic bombing of Japan justifiable?

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This web-site includes references to historical source material. That source material includes other web-sites, printed publications, films and video material related to aspects of the Pacific War between 1941 and 1943. Reference to those sources does not necessarily imply endorsement by the Pacific War Historical Society of the material contained in those sources or views expressed in those sources.