The Kokoda Campaign

The Kokoda campaign was a significant part of Australia’s involvement in World War II. The campaign consisted of a many battles that were fought between Japanese and Allied forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua.
World war two was a global war that lasted 6 years from 1939 to 1945. This war was considered the war to end all wars. Although related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the world 's nations, including all of the great powers. Australia’s involvement in world war two helped bring victories to the allies and bring it to an end. A million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War – 500,000 overseas. They fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean

Although an invasion of Australia was considered impossible, or a plan to attack Australia was even thought of by the Japanese, Australia believed it was very much so possible and as such the Kokoda campaign has been viewed as the battle that saved Australia. As a result, within the Australian spirit, the campaign and particularly the 39th Battalion, has become a key part the Anzac legend. Nevertheless, the Allied campaign was let down by the poor intelligence available, which included the outdated maps, the soldiers not used to the terrain, and limited aerial photography. Senior military commanders including MacArthur and Blamey were not aware of the rough terrain and the conditions in which the battles would be fought. The orders given to the commanders were sometimes unworkable due to the conditions on the ground. In the end though, the strategy used against the Japanese worked. Even though the campaign had been heavily criticised at the time. The allies’ eventual got victory. The campaign also served as a sign of the strengths and weaknesses of the individual soldiers and commanders. After the campaign the Australian and American army’s would work on improving training, medical and the infrastructure would be significantly improved, with the army’s also

Amongst these about 6,000 soldiers were nonstop involved in the battle upfront along the Track. The Allies sent about 30,000 troops into port moseby but amongst them only a few went to fight along the front. All up 39 officers 600 soldiers were killed and a further 64 officers and 1000 men were wounded between 22 July and 16 November 1942. The exact number of Japanese deaths is not known. It is believed that of the 6,000 troops that went too fight, around about 75% died by either being killed, wounded or becoming ill. Of the 13,500 that began the campaign only about 5,000 reached Buna in late November 1942. After the war had ended it was found that many of the Japanese soldiers had died of lack of malnutrition and were forced to eating wood, grass, roots and other inedible material. Dead and wounded Australian and Japanese soldiers who had been left behind in the Australian retreat from Templeton 's Crossing were basically left for