Australia During WWII
Not long after the Invasion on Poland Australia entered WWII. During WWII U.S and Britain had a relationship change. Britain was Australia's "Mother Country" in the beginning until Britain didnt help them out in battel when they needed it. Great Britain and France ganged up on Poland by using Adolf Hitler an ultimatum of either getting German forces out of Poland or declaring war on Germany. The plan didnt work so in 1939 Great Britain, France, New Zealand, and Australia declared was against Germany because they were swtill going against Poland. New Zealand and Australia served together in North America, Greece, and Italy.
Shortly after that pow-wow and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor Australia declared was against Japan.
Between wars (1919-1938) Australia was in a depression. In 1919 many suffered from the Spanish Flu. Almost 12,000 died because of this illness. Billy Hughes was the prime minister during this time. He set up conservative board and a nationalist party. A communist party of 1920 was formed in Australia too. The Bolshevik Revolution was a success and many Australians saw it as a threat. The country party formed in 1920 made the status of sheep ranches better, and small farmers, and secure subsidies for them were also a part of this. All of these were used to help Australia during the interwar years. in 1923 Stanley Bruce was the new prime minister because members of the nationalist party voted Billy out.
Above Billy.
Below Stanley.
Robert Menzies Prime Minister during this time made a radio broadcast announcing Australia had gone to war. Menzie did what he could to help the war, recruited soldiers, created voluntary military forces, tried to better Australias fighting ability. Menzie called for an "all out war." An all out war was a war that increased federal powers.
Menzie made it worse or didnt make it better because in calling for an all out war that got the government involved. Menzie could help the war, secure the war cabinet for support, or have a workable majority he resigned as the prime minister.
The Strategies Australia had were:
They wanted to create an art of arrangements of troops. This means that wanted to organize their troops to be more successful. Also invasion was their strong point. They wanted to basically take over the area and they begin the battle more heavily. John Curtin Prime minister now during this time called for other European countries to defend the nation.
WWII impacted Australia alot because they fought in 2 battles before this one. First being a part on British Commonwealths against Germany and Italy. The second being again Japan who was in alliance with US and Britain. After the war australia had 27073 men and women killed and 23477 who were wounded.
I think Australia could have fought better if they would have had a better Prime minister to start with. Many Soldiers that fought for them basically all of them were volunteer soldiers too which means they didnt have as much experience. The war ended tragically for them too lots of people lost lives. I just feel like the war was horrible and that Australia was kind of out ran mostly because they didnt have a good leader in the beginning.
1. How did the Treaty of Versailles impact them?
2. What type(s) of government did this country have in the interwar years(1919-1938)?
3. How did their leader, that led them throughout WWII, come to power?
4. How did this leader change their country(for the better and worse) prior to WWII?
5. What were the goals of the leader?
6. What was the military strategy of this country in the inter-war years(1919-1938)?
7. What role did they play in WWII?
8. Who were their allies in WWII?
9. How did WWII impact/effect the country?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Australia#Inter-war_years
http://www.worldwariihistory.info/in/Australia.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_strategy#Australian_strategy
http://www.anzacday.org.au/history/ww2/homefront/overview.html
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