While US divisions advanced towards Japan in 1944 and 1945, Australian units were left behind to carry out “mopping-up” action in Papua-New Guinea and the islands to the north of Australia. Many saw this as demeaning and insulting. Others saw it as a waste of time and lives while others again saw it as a necessary part of defeating Japan and playing our role in the pursuit of the Japanese and gaining final, total victory. This course looks at these campaigns from all perspectives.

This course will be delivered both face-to-face at WEA Sydney and online via the online platform Zoom simultaneously. Enrolling students need to ensure they have an email, a reliable internet connection, microphone/speakers and access to a tablet, smartphone or computer if they are attending via Zoom or have read the current COVID-19 Safety Guidance that WEA Sydney has put in place before enrolling into the face-to-face class.

COURSE OUTLINE

• The course of the Pacific War of 1941 to 1945
• The role Australia played in 1942 and 1943 in Papua-New Guinea
• The politics within the alliance of forces fighting the Japanese as well as the personalities involved, especially Generals Douglas MacArthur and Thomas Blamey
• The strategy mapped out by MacArthur to advance on Japan and why we were not involved in this campaign, instead being placed on aggressive garrison duty in places like Bougainville and Borneo where we carried out "mopping up" actions.
• The Australian approach to these actions and what the successes and costs were
• Assessment of the success and value of these campaigns
  
  

PLANNED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Understand the nature and direction of the Pacific War.
2. Understand the military/political aspects at play.
3. See where Australian troops were sent and what they did in the last two years or less of the war.
4. Make an evaluation of the worth of these actions.