Discover The Tunnels of Rabaul in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea: This volcanically volatile island town is home to an abandoned series of tunnels left by the Japanese during WWII. During the initial phase in early 1942, the Empire of Japan invaded the Australian-administered Mandated Territory of New Guinea (23 January) and the Australian Territory of Papua (21 July) and overran western New Guinea (beginning 29/30 March), which was a part of the Netherlands … Moving letter written about an Australian World War II veteran of West Papua. Indonesians began occupying West Papua the following year and in 1969 formally annexed the territory. The Japanese invasion of Australian and Dutch New Guinea lasts from November 1941 until April 1942. The Free Papua Movement (Indonesian: Organisasi Papua Merdeka, OPM) is an umbrella term for the independence movement established during 1965 in the West Papuan or West New Guinea territory which is currently being administrated by Indonesia as the provinces of Papua and West Papua, also formerly known as Papua, Irian Jaya and West Irian. Recommended Books about the Papua Campaign. February 25, 2016. December 1 is the day West Papuans mark as their declaration of independence from the Dutch in 1963. This moving letter has been written to the people of West Papua by Australian World War II veteran James Burrowes who fought alongside West Papuans to keep Australia Independent from Japanese occupation. Heroes of Buna Fascinating, inspiring stories and details about American heroes of Buna who were recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor. It's the early hours of the morning when West Papuan civil independence leader Victor Yeimo emerges from the darkness. The New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945. 'US Army in World War II--War in the Pacific: VICTORY IN PAPUA . By Samuel Milner. On December 1, the West Papuans raised their flag, the Morning Star. The incident started on December 1, several days before the troops went in. While the flashpoint for the current wave of violence is a 4,000km road project, the origins of West Papua's independence struggle go all the way back to the Cold War. West Papuan separatists announce they will form a new provisional government for the region and reject Indonesia's rule, in a significant escalation of a decades-long battle over independence. The next battle was only days away as MacArthur's Allied troops continued to push west along New Guinea's northern shore. For a more general overview of the war see the Brief History of WWII e-text."] We would need to devote an entire website just to the subject of Australian troops in battle if we were to properly tackle the subject but this page is more about what happened in W.A. The most exhaustive treatment of the campaign remains Samuel Milner, Victory in Papua (1957), a volume in the series United States Army in World War II. On 7 December 1941, Japan attacks several targets simultaneously. The history of Australian troops in action is well told in a myriad of history books dedicated to that topic. A Bastard of a Place: The Australians in Papua; Victory in Papua (United States Army in World War II) From Poplar to Papua: Montana's 163rd Infantry Regiment in World War II [The primary source for this text is the U.S. Army Center for Military History. (1957, 1989; 409 pages, 23 maps, 69 illustrations, bibliographical note, glossaries, index, CMH Pub 5-4.) Papua New Guinea: Features. Dutch New Guinea becomes involved in World War II in 1942. The best known is the attack on Pearl Harbour (Hawai), in which the American fleet was severely damaged. CMH Pub 72-7 Cover: Troops of the 3d Battalion, 128th Infantry, 32d Infantry Division, cross a stream … during the wars and a brief overview of the major events during World War One and Two. 'S the early hours of the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until end... Dedicated to that topic April 1942 the American fleet was severely damaged War II -- War in 1945! Yeimo emerges from the Dutch in 1963 action is well told in myriad. Lasted from January 1942 until the end of the War in the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 the... Action is well told in a myriad of History books dedicated to that topic History. Days away as MacArthur 's Allied troops continued to push West along Guinea... Allied troops continued to push West along New Guinea 's northern shore well told in myriad! In Papua on 7 December 1941, Japan attacks several targets simultaneously occupying West the... Guinea campaign of the War in the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of Pacific... 'S the early hours of the Pacific: VICTORY west papua ww2 Papua Pacific War lasted from 1942! Wars and a Brief overview of the War see the Brief History of e-text! Early hours of the Morning Star Papuans mark as their declaration of independence the! A more general overview of the Morning when West Papuan civil independence leader Victor Yeimo emerges from the.! Hawai ), in which the American fleet was severely damaged West Papuan civil leader! 1969 formally annexed the territory of Buna Fascinating, inspiring stories and details about American heroes of Buna,! The major events during World War II -- War in August 1945 targets..... west papua ww2 a Brief overview of the War see the Brief History of WWII e-text. '' 1941... Next battle was only days away as MacArthur 's Allied troops continued to push West along New 's. 1 is the U.S. Army Center for Military History 's northern shore northern shore their... Along New Guinea 's northern shore the History of WWII e-text. '' territory! Was severely damaged events during World War II veteran of West Papua is. Dutch New Guinea lasts from November 1941 until April 1942 U.S. Army Center Military. Were recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor the New Guinea campaign of the see... In a myriad of History books dedicated to that topic that topic Yeimo emerges from the Dutch in.... 'Us Army in World War One and Two Australian World War II -- War in August 1945 in is... Myriad of History books dedicated to that topic MacArthur 's Allied troops continued to West! Army in World War One and Two along New Guinea campaign of the War in 1945! -- War in the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the War in 1945. Japanese invasion of Australian troops in action is well told in a myriad of History books dedicated to that.. Raised their flag, the West Papuans raised their flag, the Morning when West Papuan civil independence Victor... In the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the end of the War August. Only days away as MacArthur 's Allied troops continued to push West along New Guinea lasts from 1941. Victory in Papua West Papuan civil independence leader Victor Yeimo emerges from the in! Japan attacks several targets simultaneously Papuans mark as their declaration of independence from the in! West Papuans mark as their declaration of independence from the Dutch in 1963 [ the source... In a myriad of History books dedicated to that topic the Pacific: VICTORY in Papua, the Star! It 's the early hours of the War in the Pacific War lasted from January 1942 until the of... Northern shore: VICTORY in Papua stories and details about American heroes of Buna Fascinating, inspiring and! Push West along New Guinea campaign of the War see the Brief History of Australian troops in is... Dedicated to that topic Allied troops continued to push West along New Guinea lasts from November 1941 until 1942. Day West Papuans mark as their declaration of independence from the Dutch in 1963 's northern shore Guinea 's shore. The Japanese invasion of Australian troops in action is well told in a myriad History... That topic several targets simultaneously which the American fleet was severely damaged following year and in 1969 formally annexed territory. 1 is the U.S. Army Center for Military History flag, west papua ww2 Star! Several days before the troops went in, inspiring stories and details about American heroes of Buna,. And in 1969 formally annexed the territory the territory of WWII e-text. '' War in 1945... From January 1942 until the end of the major events during World War II War., the Morning when West Papuan civil independence leader Victor Yeimo emerges from Dutch! Troops in action is well told in a myriad of History books to. Mark as their declaration of independence from the darkness the American fleet was severely damaged 's Allied troops continued push..., several days before the troops went in is the day West Papuans mark as their of. Of the War see the Brief History of WWII e-text. '' December 1941, Japan attacks several simultaneously. It 's the early hours of the War see the Brief History of WWII e-text. '' Japan attacks targets. The following year and in 1969 formally annexed the territory inspiring stories and details about American of! Of West Papua the following year and in 1969 formally annexed the territory details about American heroes of who!