Nauru Independence Day – January 31, 2025

History of Nauru Independence Day

The Germans governed Nauru until the last years of the 19th century. They had discovered Nauru’s plentiful phosphorus reserves and realized that the island’s natural resources could be a source of great riches. Nauru was controlled jointly by Australia, New Zealand, and England following the end of World War I! This changed during World War II when Japan arrived on the island of Nauru and used it as an airstrip. When the war ended, Australia, New Zealand, and England regained control of Nauru. The administration, on the other hand, was solely the responsibility of Australia.

Nauru became a sovereign republic on January 31, 1968, when it declared independence from England. When the Japanese troops landed in Nauru in 1945, they deported 1,200 native islanders to the Chuuk Lagoon (or Truk) as laborers. After the Japanese lost, the Nauruans returned home on this day in 1946. To commemorate this landmark event, January 31 was honored as the Independence Day of Nauru.

The national flag of Nauru is the greatest representation of the country. The flag depicts the geographical position of Nauru, a degree below the equator – the Equator is shown by a golden horizontal line and Nauru as a 12-point white star. The white color signifies phosphate, the source of the nation’s prosperity, and each point represents one of the island’s 12 indigenous tribes. The Pacific Ocean is represented by the blue background of the flag. ‘Nauru Bwiema’ is the national anthem. Margaret Hendrie wrote it in 1862, and Laurence Henry Hicks composed the music.