bigpigeon.us webpage WWII-Japan > Japan Lashes Out > New Guinea & the Solomons, updated by RAC 4 Jan 2023.
In early 1942, Japanese forces advanced into the northern coast of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands. Only at Rabaul on the island of New Britain did they meet any substantial resistance.
In early 1942, Japanese forces advanced into the northern coast of New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the Solomon Islands. Only at Rabaul on the island of New Britain did they meet any substantial resistance.
Webpage contents:
- a geopolitical overview of the South and Southwest Pacific area prior to WWII.
- a summary of the Japanese invasion of portions of this area early in 1942.
Before WWII, the Island of New Guinea was divided into three jurisdictions:
|
Also shown above are:
|
The following more-detailed map shows a portion of this area. Cape York, on the bottom left, is part of Australia itself. The three New Guinea capitals are Hollandia, the capital of the Dutch area, in the left center, Rabaul, on the island of New Britain in the center, and the Papuan capital Port Moresby in the bottom left.
|
1942 Japanese advances:
|
Sources for the New Guinea & the Solomon Islands webpage:
- The Northern Melanesia 1920-1940 map was found at https://omniatlas.com/maps/australasia/19281018/.
- The New Guinea (eastern part) ... map is taken from The War At Sea 1939 - 1945, Volume 3, the Offensive by Captain S. W. Roskill.
- The Japanese Advances in Melanesia - Early 1942 map is courtesy of emersonkent.com and was found at http://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive/micronesia_melanesia_new_guinea_1942.htm.
- Most of the entries in the 1942 Japanese Advances timeline come from http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/pacificwar/timeline.htm.