Battle of Madang

Battle of Madang
Part of World War II, Pacific War
Japanese prisoners of war at Madang, May 1944
Date February – April 1944 Location Madang, Territory of New Guinea 5°13′S 145°48′E / 5.217°S 145.800°E / -5.217; 145.800 Result Allied victory
Belligerents
Australia  United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
George Vasey Allan Boase	Hatazō Adachi
Units involved
5th Division 7th Division 11th Division 32nd Infantry Division	18th Army

The Battle of Madang, fought between early February and late April 1944, was the break-out and pursuit phase of the Markham and Ramu Valley – Finisterre Range and Huon Peninsula campaigns, which were part of the wider New Guinea campaign of World War II. After overcoming the Japanese defences around Shaggy Ridge, the Australian forces descended the steep slopes of the Finisterre Range and pursued the withdrawing Japanese towards Bogadjim and then Madang on the north coast of New Guinea. There they linked up with US and Australian forces that had advanced along the coast from the Huon Peninsula, while the remnants of three Japanese divisions withdrew towards Wewak, where further fighting would take place throughout late 1944 and into 1945.