the aitape–wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the pacific theatre of world war ii. between november 1944 and the end of the war in august 1945, the australian 6th division, with air and naval support, fought the imperial japanese 18th army in northern new guinea. considered a "mopping up" operation by the australians, and although ultimately successful for them with the japanese forces cleared from the coastal areas and driven inland, amidst difficult jungle conditions, casualties from combat and disease were high. with japan on the verge of defeat, such casualties later led to the strategic necessity of the campaign being called into question.