Territory of New Guinea

Territory of New Guinea was a colony in New Guinea and Melanesia (Oceania) that lasted from 1914 to 1949 CE, about 35 years. Its people spoke Germanic languages (Gothic, Frankish, English, German, Dutch, Norse).

Australia ruled former German New Guinea under a League of Nations mandate from 1920. Gold prospectors entered the populous highlands in the 1930s, and the territory was a major battlefield in the Second World War.

See Territory of New Guinea on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1914 to 1949 CE

Duration

35 years

Type

Colony

Region

New Guinea and Melanesia, Oceania

Language family

Germanic

Capital

Rabaul, then Lae

Came from

• German New Guinea 1884 to 1914 CE

Became

• Territory of Papua and New Guinea 1949 to 1975 CE

Events in Oceania during its time

• 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor
• 1942 Guadalcanal campaign
• 1946 Nuclear tests at Bikini

Neighbours in Oceania

• Commonwealth of Australia 1901 CE to the present
• New Zealand 1907 CE to the present
• German New Guinea 1884 to 1914 CE
• French Polynesia 1842 CE to the present
• Kingdom of Tonga 1845 CE to the present
• French New Caledonia 1853 CE to the present
• Chilean Rapa Nui 1888 CE to the present
• Dutch New Guinea 1828 to 1962 CE
• Guam (US territory) 1898 CE to the present
• American Samoa 1900 CE to the present

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Europe
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• United States 1776 CE to the present, North America
• United Kingdom 1801 CE to the present, Europe
• Haiti 1804 CE to the present, Mesoamerica and Caribbean
• Russian Empire 1721 to 1917 CE, Europe
• Dutch East Indies 1800 to 1949 CE, Southeast Asia

Questions