Battle of Driniumor River

Battle of Driniumor River
Part of the New Guinea Campaign
A US soldier points his pistol at a hole in a log while ordering a Japanese sniper concealed inside to surrender.
Date 10 July – 25 August 1944 Location Near Aitape, Territory of New Guinea Result U.S. victory
Belligerents
United States	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Walter Krueger Julian W. Cunningham	Hatazō Adachi
Casualties and losses
440 killed 2,560 wounded	8,000–10,000 killed in action or died from disease

The Battle of Driniumor River, also known as The Battle of Aitape, 10 July – 25 August 1944, was part of the Western New Guinea campaign of World War II. Japanese forces attacked United States forces on the Driniumor River, near Aitape in New Guinea. The battle should not be confused with Operation Persecution, which included amphibious landings near Aitape in April 1944, or the Aitape-Wewak campaign, which began in November. The Japanese referred to the Driniumor as the Hanto.

The river is approximately 20 mi (32 km) east of Aitape. The landings at several key points around Hollandia on 22 April had cut off the Japanese 18th Army, which was retreating westwards toward the Japanese Second Area Army in Dutch New Guinea. When U.S. troops landed and seized Aitape on 22 April, a covering force comprising the 32nd Infantry Division and 112th Cavalry Regiment was sent approximately 20 mi east to guard Aitape's eastern flank on the line of Driniumor River. The 18th Army—which had not been reinforced after severe losses in the Lae, Huon Peninsula and Finisterre Range campaigns—was commanded by Lieutenant-General Hatazō Adachi. Its main fighting units were the 20th and the 41st Divisions.

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