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May 15, 1526
The Exploration of Papua New Guinea
The first known Europeans to find this island were the Portugese. A Portugese Explorer by the name of Jorge de Menezes came across this island, and named it "Papua". Then, in 1545, Yñigo Ortiz de Retez, a spaniard, came and named it "New Guinea", thus making the name "Papua New Guinea". They explored the lands further. -
The Colony of Queensland tries to take over
The Colony of Queensland tried capturing the island in order to add it to the British Empire, but the British refused. Later, when it was found out that Germany was taking over the northern parts, the Colony of Queensland took over the southern coast, naming it British New Guinea. -
Germany Takes Over the North
There was a German part of Papua New Guinea before, but in 1899, the German Imperial Government officially declared it German New Guinea. The main reason for this was to get more cocoa and copra for themselves. -
Australia Takes Over German New Guinea
In 1941, when World War I broke out, the Australians seized the German New Guinea. Afterwards, the Australians had control over the land, but it was not official. They treated the people well, and the Australians were making the nation prosperous. -
Australia Gains Ownership
In 1921, Australia was given a trusteeship over New Guinea. It gave them lots of prosperity due to the high amounts of gold mines and cocoa. It was a very resourceful place, and the Australians weren't too rough with the people. -
The Japanese Take Over New Guinea
World War II had started. The New Guinea Campaign had started as a plan to fight the Japanese. The Japanese had taken over a large portion of New Guinea. The Australians protected New Guinea, fighting off the Japanese force at the capital. The native Papuans helped Australian soldiers get back to the Kokoda Trail, a bit of land controlled by the Australians. This drove back the Japanese a lot. -
Japanese Attacked An Air Force Base
This day, the Japanese attacked the Royal Australian Air Force base at Milne Bay on New Guinea. The Australian Army beat them back. This is the first true "loss" of Japanese land forces during WWII. -
The Battle of Buna-Gona
After the Japanese were droven back, the U.S. chimed in and fought the Japanese with the Australians. This ran the Japanese out of New Guinea, pushing them away from the Australians. Without the Japanese there, the Australians didn't have to worry about getting invaded. This war lasted from November 16, 1942 until January 22, 1943. -
More Japanese Fighting
The Japanese and the Australians kept fighting in New Guinea. The Australians, though weak, still won against the Japanese. This forced Japanese soldiers out of New Guinea for good, and the Japanese surrendered on September 2, 1945. -
The Independence of Papua New Guinea
The Papua and New Guinea Act of 1949 called for the independancy of the nation, which was finally established in the 1970's, but was still not controlled by any other nation in the mean time. This called for the nation to be called, "The Territory of Papua and New Guinea", but was later shortened to "Papua New Guinea." After facing many difficulties, the nation was finally independant.
