Day-by-Day Timeline of Events
Sunday, September 3rd, 1939
The government of Australia declares war on Germany.
Tuesday, June 11th, 1940
Australia declares war on Italy.
Saturday, September 21st, 1940
Incumbent Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies wins reelection.
Wednesday, January 15th, 1941
The Australian Army begins actions against the Italians in Libya.
Tuesday, March 11th, 1941
President Roosevelt signs the Lend-Lease Act into law allowing the United States government to militarily support - with delayed payments - any and all allies when U.S. interests are threatened.
Thursday, April 10th - April 16th, 1941
Three divisions of British, Australian and New Zealand troops at the Aliakmon Line in the Vermion Mountains are defeated.
Saturday, April 12th, 1941
Vermion Line Allied troops are now redeployed to defensive positions around Mount Olympus.
Saturday, April 26th, 1941
Allied codebreakers intercept word of the impending German invasion of Crete.
Sunday, April 27th - April 30th, 1941
Operation Demon is activated, covering the evacuation of some 51,000 Allied troops from southern Greece via the Royal Navy.
Wednesday, April 30th, 1941
Allied forces based on Crete receive a new leader in the form of Major-General Bernard Freyberg.
Monday, May 19th, 1941
In advance of the Crete invasion, RAF fighters are relocated to Egypt for safe-keeping.
Monday, May 19th, 1941
Allied codebreakers intercept word that Operation Mercury will commence the very next day. The Allies begin preparations.
Tuesday, May 20th, 1941
Allied flak teams destroy as many as 50% of the invading German transport planes in the first few hours of the operation.
Tuesday, May 20th, 1941
In-air losses for the second wave of German paratroopers is nearly equal to the first thanks to the stellar Allied flak defenses on Crete.
Wednesday, May 21st, 1941
A German offensive against Heraklion is pushed away by at least 8,000 dug-in Allied soldiers.
Wednesday, May 21st, 1941
German Army troops making their way to Crete via the sea are intercepted and pummeled by elements of the Royal Navy. Just 60 of these German soldiers live to see another day.
Tuesday, May 27th, 1941
Allied forces retreat to defensive positions at Galatas.
Wednesday, May 28th, 1941
Heraklion in the north and Sphakia in the south of Crete will serve as major evacuation junctions for the Allies.
Wednesday, May 28th, 1941
The evacuation order is given by Major-General Freyberg for the gradual withdrawel of Allied troops from the island of Crete.
Friday, May 30th, 1941
The brave defense of Rethymnon by Australian soldiers finally falters under intense pressure from the German Army.
Sunday, November 15th, 1942
Australian forces continue their march from the west against Japanese-held areas.
Wednesday, December 9th, 1942
The Australian Army liberates the village of Gona from the hold of the Japanese Amry.
Monday, December 14th, 1942
Allied Australian and US forces continued their maches against the Japanese, taking territory through fierce firefights.
Sunday, March 8th, 1942
Japanese forces, numbering two battalions strong, land at Lae and Salamaua in New Guinea.
Tuesday, July 21st, 1942
Japanese Major General Horii and his 18th Army land near Buna.
Wednesday, July 22nd, 1942
Major General Horii and his 18th Army march towards Port Moresby.
Wednesday, July 22nd, 1942
The Japanese Army gain ground on the US, Australian and Papuan Infantry Regiment defenders.
Friday, August 14th, 1942
The Japanese Army gains vital territory leading up and into the Owen Stanley Range.
Friday, August 14th, 1942
The Japanese Army takes control of the village of Kokoda.
Friday, August 14th, 1942
The Japanese Army reaches Isurava just outside of Port Moresby.
Tuesday, August 25th, 1942
The Japanese Navy completes an amphibious landing at Milne Bay to establish a beachhead and open a second front on New Guinea.
Wednesday, August 26th, 1942
The 18th Australian Brigade, utilizing valuable intelligence reports, meet the arriving Japanese amphibious forces head-on and hold the Japanese beachhead at Milne Bay.
Saturday, August 29th, 1942
A further 600 Japanese Army soldiers are landed at Milne Bay to help strengthen the beachhead.
Sunday, August 30th, 1942
American General Douglas MacArthur employs his superiors for additional firepower and troop strength to help hold Papua.
Friday, September 4th, 1942
With the Allied resistance holding off further advance, the Japanese Army begins a formal withdrawal of the island.
Saturday, September 26th, 1942
Australian Army forces hold fast to territory near Toribaiwa.
Thursday, February 19th, 1942
The Japanese 1st Air Fleet conducts a surprise attack on Allied ships at Broome and Darwin. Twelve ships are sunk in the assault.
Sunday, March 8th, 1942
Japan invades New Guinea.
Sunday, January 31st, 1943
Sananada is officially in Allied hands.
Sunday, January 31st, 1943
The Kokoda Trail is firmly in Allied hands by this date.
Tuesday, July 3rd - 11th, 1945
About 6,000 men, left over from the decimated Japanese 33rd Army, assail Allied positions at Waw. The fighting lasts until July 11th when the attackers are finally driven off by combined Allied air and ground assaults.
