2014 50c Australia At War German New Guinea Uncirculated Coin

In World War I, Australian forces occupied German New Guinea in 1914, seizing control of the territory from German troops. This marked Australia's first major military engagement in the Pacific region.

In World War II, Australian troops fought to recapture and secure the territory from Japanese forces, who had taken over German New Guinea. The campaigns, particularly in places like the Kokoda Track, were crucial in halting Japanese advances and contributed significantly to the Allied war effort in the Pacific.