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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 | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Sir George Patty | Wilhelm Wostrack | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
HMAS Melbourne | Colonial Administrators and Local Police | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None | Administrators Captured |
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.