Nauru History: Japanese Occupation

1942: Japan occupies Nauru. The islanders were very badly treated. They built an airfield on the island.

1943: The airfield was bombed this, affecting the supplies to the island. Japan deports 1200 Naurans to Chuuk Island for labour. Five hundred die from starvation or bombing.

1945: Captain Solda, the commander of all the Japanese troops on Nauru, surrendered the island to the Royal Australian Navy and Army. This surrender was accepted by the brigadier J. R. Stevenson, who represented Lieutenant General Sturdee, the commander of the First Australian Army. The 737 surviving Naurans labours were repatriated back to the Island under the surrender agreement.

1947: Nauru made UN trust territory under Australian administration, with New Zealand, and the United Kingdom as the U.N. trustees of the island.

1966: Nauru became self-governing and first Nauru Legislative Council elected.

1967: Nauruans gain control of phosphate mining by purchasing the assets of the British Phosphate Commissioners.