Rabaul

Rabaul is a town and harbor on the Gazelle Peninsula of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It became Japan’s major forward base in the southwest Pacific during World War II.

Japanese occupation of Rabaul: Japan’s seizure and military occupation of Rabaul, which began in January 1942. The occupation transformed the town into a major Japanese base.
Simpson Harbour: A deep-water harbor within the volcanic caldera at Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Its sheltered anchorage supported Japanese naval operations.
Island hopping: A military strategy of capturing selected islands while bypassing and isolating others. The Allies bypassed Rabaul rather than incur the cost of capturing it.
German New Guinea: Germany’s former colonial territories in the western Pacific, including northeastern New Guinea and nearby islands. Rabaul developed as a colonial administrative center under German rule.
East New Britain Province: A province of Papua New Guinea on the eastern part of New Britain island. Rabaul is a historic town within this present-day province.
Battle of Rabaul: The 1942 campaign in which Japanese forces captured Rabaul from Australia. It marks the decisive start of Rabaul’s wartime role.
Bismarck Archipelago: An island group in Papua New Guinea that includes New Britain and New Ireland. Rabaul’s position made it a hub across the archipelago.
Bougainville campaign: The Allied campaign to secure Bougainville from Japanese forces between 1943 and 1945. Operations on Bougainville helped isolate Rabaul from the south.
Australian occupation of German New Guinea: Australia’s occupation of German New Guinea during World War I, beginning in 1914. Australian forces took Rabaul from Germany and established a lasting presence.
Kokopo: A town in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, and its provincial capital. Kokopo became the province’s main center after volcanic eruptions damaged Rabaul.

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