Operation Auror

Operation Auror
Part of Pacific War
Date August 30-September 2, 1945 Location New Guinea Result Allied victory
Belligerents
United States Australia New Zealand	Japan
Commanders and leaders
General Thomas Blamey	Sugeo Hatakeyama
Strength
500,000 troops	100,000 troops
Casualties and losses
2 killed	600 killed

Operation Auror was an operation launched by the Allies in the Southwest Pacific to round up the last Japanese troops who continued resistance. Sugeo Hatakeyama, a Major in the Imperial Japanese Army, surrendered on behalf of the Japanese troops in New Guinea, the Japanese 60th Army, although 600 Japanese troops were killed when they offered resistance.

Background

On August 15, Emperor Hirohito agreed to surrender to the Allied Powers. However, his commanders who continued resistance either did not hear of the surrender, or continued opposition either way. General Shikazuke Haruyama was killed in action on August 27 in the jungle of New Guinea, so Major Sugeo Hatakeyama took impromptu command of the army, as the other ranking officers had surrended. General Thomas Blamey, an Australian commander, was sent to mop up the Japanese soldiers who continued resistance.

Operation

150,000 Australians and Americans landed at Buna and Gona, while another 150,000 landed at Port Moresby; the other 200,000 were troops on the island. Their goal was to force the surrender of the Japanese troops on the island. Hatakeyama intended to surrender, and did so at Wabag, along with 50,000 troops. The other 50,000, led by Captain Haruyori Hitoshi, surrendered at Lae, but 1,000 fought on and 600 were killed in the Second Battle of Lae, which took place on September 1. A day later, the final Japanese surrender took place, and all resistance crumbled in the last battle of World War II.