On Dutch New Guinea, the body of a dead Japanese soldier lies among wrecked enemy equipment, seen as American troops move along the beach during the attack on Japanese held Hollandia.

   During the Pacific War, on April 27, 1944, while advancing along the coast during an attack on Hollandia, which was occupied by Japanese forces in Dutch New Guinea, the bodies of dead Japanese soldiers lay among the wreckage of destroyed Japanese military equipment.

   The New Guinea Campaign of the Pacific War lasted from January 23, 1942, to August 15, 1945, when the war ended. In the first phase, which began in early 1942, the Empire of Japan invaded New Guinea on January 23, Papua on July 21, and by March 29 had occupied the western part of New Guinea, which had been a Dutch colony.The second phase lasted from late 1942 until the Japanese surrender, with Allied forces—primarily Australian troops—first clearing Papua, then New Guinea, and finally the Dutch colonial territories of Japanese forces. The Japanese suffered a decisive defeat, incurring heavy casualties and losses. Disease and starvation claimed more Japanese lives than Allied attacks.Most Japanese troops had little contact with Allied forces and were subjected to a naval blockade by the Allied navy. Japanese garrison troops were surrounded and denied supplies of food and medicine. Ninety-seven percent of Japanese deaths were non-combat related. 

     Hollandia was an important port and strategic base located on the north-central coast of New Guinea, facing Humboldt Bay. The Allied Southwest Pacific Command decided to occupy Hollandia. The Allies began their invasion of western New Guinea in early 1944, capturing the Admiralty Islands in March 1944 and securing air bases. The U.S. First Army launched the Western Campaign on April 22, 1944. The landing operation at Hollandia was the first objective in the Dutch-held part of New Guinea.The Japanese military was ill-prepared and unable to hold the area. They retreated to the western defensive line and abandoned all their positions. Isolated Japanese units continued to resist even after being cut off. No units surrendered, and fighting in western New Guinea continued until the end of the war. The isolated Japanese troops were in extremely brutal conditions, with many on the brink of starvation.