Aitape–Wewak campaign
Campaign on the Pacific Theatre of WWII / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Aitape–Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Between November 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945, the Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army in northern New Guinea. Considered a "mopping up" operation by the Australians, and although ultimately successful for them with the Japanese forces cleared from the coastal areas and driven inland, amidst difficult jungle conditions, casualties from combat and disease were high. With Japan on the verge of defeat, such casualties later led to the strategic necessity of the campaign being called into question.
Aitape–Wewak campaign | |||||||
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Part of World War II, Pacific War | |||||||
Australian infantrymen resting on a river bank before attacking Japanese positions near Matapau in January 1945 | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Jack Stevens | Hatazō Adachi | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
~13,000 men[Note 1] | ~30,000–35,000[1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||