Balikpapan Burning: The Battle that Ended Australia’s War
Small Japanese Flag, Ceramic Grenade, Wound Badge and the Order of the Rising Sun Medal
The Battle of Balikpapan, fought from 1–21 July 1945 on the east coast of Borneo, stands as the final major amphibious operation conducted by Allied forces during the Second World War. Involving predominantly Australian troops under the broader command of the United States, the operation sought to liberate the strategically significant oil-producing region from Japanese control. Although successful from a military standpoint, the operation has since prompted historical debate regarding its necessity and timing, given the imminent end of the war.
By mid-1945, Allied forces had recaptured significant territories in the Pacific and were rapidly advancing toward the Japanese home islands. Australia, having played a significant role throughout the Pacific theater, assumed the leading ground force role in the Borneo operations under General Douglas MacArthur’s South West Pacific Area command. The seizure of Balikpapan was intended to support future operations against Japan and to re-establish Dutch colonial administration.
On 1 July 1945, following an intense three-week aerial and naval bombardment—the heaviest in the Pacific War—Australian forces of the 7th Division landed on the beaches near Balikpapan. Supported by American air and naval units, the operation saw more than 21,000 troops land against entrenched Japanese defenders.
Despite the preparatory bombardment, Japanese resistance was stiff in several inland areas, particularly near the Milford Highway and the ridges surrounding the city. However, Allied forces advanced steadily, capturing Balikpapan city and securing the surrounding oil facilities within days. The final phase of the operation involved mopping up remaining resistance and securing the hinterlands.
Australian casualties numbered approximately 229 killed and over 600 wounded, while Japanese losses were significantly higher, with over 2,000 enemy troops killed. Civilian casualties, though difficult to verify, were also substantial, due in part to the prolonged bombardment and displacement.
The effectiveness of the operation in military terms was clear: the region was secured, Japanese forces were defeated, and infrastructure was brought under Allied control. However, the strategic necessity of the operation was questioned, particularly after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the following month, which led to Japan's surrender in August 1945.
The Battle of Balikpapan remains a significant, albeit controversial, episode in the history of the Pacific War. It marked the culmination of Australia’s military engagement in World War II and highlighted both the strategic ambitions and human cost of the final Allied operations in the Pacific. As historians continue to reassess the closing months of the war, Balikpapan serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities surrounding military decision-making at the twilight of global conflict.