The 35th Division was moved forward from Halmahera to Sorong in small ships during May 1944. The 219th regiment was also successfully transferred to New Guinea, though a battalion was left behind to garrison the St. Andrew Strait. Majority of 221st regiment was assigned to garrison Manokwari. Elements of the 35th Division subsequently fought in the Battle of Biak on 27 May 1944 (resulting in annihilation of Japanese garrison) and the Battle of Sansapor on 30 July 1944 on the Bird's Head Peninsula. As a result, the Japanese defenses at Manokwari were isolated as of September 1944. The Japanese forces retreated to a final defensive perimeter around Sorong in May 1945, where they thrived until the surrender of Japan on 15 August 1945, thanks to abundant local supplies of Sago-derived foodstuffs.