Australian occupation of Nauru
Australian occupation of Nauru | |||||||
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Part of the Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I | |||||||
Map of Nauru created by Germany (1897) | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
| Central Powers
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Sir George Patty | Wilhelm Wostrack [cs] | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
HMAS Melbourne | Colonial Administrators and Local Police | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None | Administrators Captured |
- v
- t
- e
- Chefoo
- Tsingtao
- Samoa
- Fanning
- New Guinea
- Nauru
- Bita Paka
- Toma
- Madang
- Pacific Islands
- Papeete
- Madras
- Honolulu
- Penang
- Coronel
- Cocos
- North-West
- New South Wales
- Kelantan
- Singapore
- Más a Tierra
- Korea
- Central Asia
- Beijing
- German Tientsin
- Hankou
- Austro-Hungarian Tientsin
- German and Austro-Hungarian Peking
- Guam
- German Resistance in New Guinea
See also: Hindu–German Conspiracy
In September 1914 Australia occupied Nauru, then part of German New Guinea, following the start of World War I. This was part of a larger plan by Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to intercept Germany's East Asia Squadron before they could return to Germany. The island continued to be occupied by Australia until the end of the war.
Background
Following the Nauruan Civil War, in 1888 Nauru was annexed into the German Colony of Papua New Guinea. Following the outbreak of World War I, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand occupied the German Colonies of Kiautschou Bay Leased Territory, German Samoa, and German New Guinea.
Australian landing
Following the occupation of German Samoa, HMAS Melbourne left Australian-occupied Samoa and set off for Nauru, arriving on 9 September 1914. The Australian occupation led to the destruction of the wireless stations and the capture of the island's colonial governor. The island was then fully occupied by 6 November and continued to be occupied by Australia until the end of the war.[1]
Aftermath
Following the war, Nauru became a mandate of Australia as decided by the League of Nations. The United Kingdom and New Zealand became the island's co-trustees.[2]
References
Sources
- Storr, C. (2020). "From Protectorate to Colony to Mandate, 1920". International Status in the Shadow of Empire: Nauru and the Histories of International Law. Cambridge Studies in International and Comparative Law. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-108-49850-0. Retrieved 2024-04-13.