Australia's involvement in WWII?

Question

Could anyone please give me some pointers on what Australia did in WWII? Any answers greatly appreciated!!!!!

Answer 1

During 1940-41, the main actions involving Australians were in the Mediterranean, North Africa and Greece against German and Italian forces; in Syria against Vichy French forces; the air and sea war in the Atlantic; and the air war over Europe. Closer to home, the Royal Australian Navy engaged German raiders that threatened merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean.

War with Japan was also anticipated. Forces were sent to Darwin, Malaya and other locations in the so-called 'island barrier'. After Japan attacked on 7/8 December 1941, Australians fought at Rabaul, on the island of New Britain, and in Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies. From mid-1942, the main Australian campaign was in Papua New Guinea, though large forces were also deployed to Darwin, which was bombed repeatedly, and other areas of western and northern Australia where there a perceived threat of invasion. A sizeable force was also sent to southern Dutch New Guinea, which remained in Allied hands, and naval forces participated in the Solomon Islands campaign. Northern New South Wales and Queensland became important areas for military training and support of operations in 'the islands'. In 1945, Australian forces also served in Borneo, with smaller numbers in the Philippines and further north.

In addition, about 50,000 servicemen (mostly Air Force and Navy) continued serving in other theatres with British forces. From 'Russian convoys' in the North Atlantic to anti-submarine patrols off South Africa, from dark 'bomber nights' over Germany to steamy skies over Burma, from the fire-swept invasion beaches in Italy and France to the sparkling blue seas of the Caribbean, Australians served in these areas.

About 10,000 Australian servicemen were prisoners of war in Europe, most having been captured in Greece or North Africa or in air operations over north-west Europe. Another 22,000 were prisoners of war in the Asia-Pacific theatres. Most spent between three and four years in captivity. Those in Europe moved between different prison camps, most ending up in Germany, Austria, Italy or one of the occupied countries of eastern Europe, held in camps or working in factories and farms. In the Far East, Australians were captured in New Britain, Malaya, Singapore, the islands of the Netherlands East Indies, and a few in Burma; prisoners were sent to many other areas including Burma and Thailand (most of these men working on the infamous Burma-Thailand Railway), Borneo, Japan and Korea, but almost 8000 died in captivity under horrendous slave labour conditions.

Thus unlike most conflicts in which Australians have served, there was no 'standard' experience for Australians in World War Two. The nominal roll and other records reflect the wide areas of service and many different types of units (Australian and foreign) in which Australians served.

Australia also served as a much needed rest stop for US forces fighting in the Pacific Theater.

Answer 2

Australia fought mightily in WW2 - first as a member of the British Empire, getting into action in 1939 when the war broke out, then as allies of the US in 1942 when the US entered the war. Australia and New Zealand provided a strong defence for the South Pacific and Tasmanian Sea areas, and repelled Japanese attacks in those waters.
Use the Google or Yahoo engine for details on Australia's participation.

Answer 3

The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought from July 1942 to January 1943 between Japanese and Australian forces in the Owen Stanley Ranges of New Guinea. Japan invaded Papua New Guinea. Also, the U.S. had a base there to figure out how Japanese war technology worked.

Answer 4

Australian Involvement In Ww2

Answer 5

They fought and died along with tens of thousands of Allied Soldiers!

Answer 6

Most likely they ran around looking for spots to hide, yelling "AGGHH! AYYYY!"

Answer 7

we got bombed BIG TIME!

Darwin was subjeced to over 90 air raids!

Answer 8

Second World War 1939 - 1945

Almost a million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War; Australian servicemen fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa; and against Japan in south-east Asia and in other parts of the Pacific. The Australian mainland came under direct attack for the first time as Japanese aircraft bombed towns in north-western Australia and Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney harbour.

The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) participated in operations against Italy after its entry into the war in June 1940. A few Australians flew in the Battle of Britain in August and September of the same year, but the Australian Army was not engaged in combat until 1941, when the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions joined Allied operations in the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Following early successes against Italian forces, the Australians suffered defeat with the Allies at the hands of the Germans in Greece, Crete and North Africa. In June and July 1941 Australians participated in the successful Allied invasion of Syria, a mandate of France and ally of the Vichy government. Up to 14,000 Australians held out against repeated German attacks in the Libyan port of Tobruk, where they were besieged between April and August 1941. After being relieved at Tobruk, the 6th and 7th Divisions departed from the Mediterranean theatre for the war against Japan. The 9th Division remained to play an important role in the Allied victory at El Alamein in October 1942 before it, too, left for the Pacific. By the end of 1942 the only Australians remaining in the Mediterranean theatre were airmen serving either with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 3 Squadron or in the Royal Air Force.

Japan entered the war in December 1941and swiftly achieved a series of victories which resulted in the occupation of most of south-east Asia and large areas of the Pacific by the end of March 1942. Singapore fell in February, with the loss of an entire Australian division. After the bombing of Darwin that same month, all RAN ships in the Mediterranean theatre, as well as the 6th and 7th Divisions, returned to defend Australia. In response to the heightened threat, the Australian government also expanded the army and air force and called for an overhaul of economic, domestic and industrial policies to give the government special powers with which to mount a total war effort at home.

In March 1942, after the defeat of the Netherlands East Indies, Japan's southward advance began to lose strength, easing Australian fears that an invasion was imminent. Further relief came when the first AIF veterans of the Mediterranean campaigns began to come home, and when the United States assumed responsibility for the country's defence and provided reinforcements and equipment. The threat of invasion receded further as the Allies won a series of decisive battles: in the Coral Sea, at Midway, on Imita Ridge and the Kokoda Track, and at Milne Bay and Buna.

Further Allied victories against the Japanese followed in 1943. Australian troops were mainly engaged in land battles in New Guinea, the defeat of the Japanese at Wau and clearing Japanese soldiers from the Huon Peninsula - Australia's largest and most complex offensive of the war, not completed until April 1944. The Australian Army also began a new series of campaigns in 1944 against isolated Japanese garrisons stretching from Borneo to Bougainville; this involved more Australian troops than were used at any other time in the war. The first of these campaigns was fought on Bougainville, New Britain and at Aitape. The value of the second campaign, fought in Borneo in 1945, to the overall war effort remains the subject of continuing debate; Australian troops were still fighting in Borneo when the war ended in August 1945.

While Australia's major effort from 1942 onwards was directed at defeating Japan, thousands of Australians continued to serve with the RAAF in Europe and the Middle East. And even though more Australian airmen fought against the Japanese, losses among those flying against Germany were far higher. Australians were particularly prominent in Bomber Command's offensive against occupied Europe. Some 3,500 Australians were killed in this campaign, making it the costliest of the war.

Over 30,000 Australian servicemen were taken prisoner in the Second World War, and 39,000 gave their lives. Two thirds of those taken prisoner were captured by the Japanese during their advance through south-east Asia within the first few weeks of 1942. While those who became prisoners of the Germans had a strong chance of returning home at the end of the war, 36 per cent of prisoners of the Japanese died in captivity.

Nurses had gone overseas with the AIF in 1940, but during the early years of the war women were generally unable to make a significant contribution to the war effort in any official capacity. Labour shortages forced the government to allow women to take a more active role in war work, and in February 1941 the RAAF received cabinet approval to establish the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. At the same time, the navy also began employing female telegraphists, a breakthrough which eventually led to the establishment of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service in 1942. The Australian Women's Army Service was established in October 1941 with the aim of releasing men from certain military duties in base units in Australia for assignment with fighting units overseas. Outside the armed services, the Women's Land Army was established to encourage women to work in rural industries; other women in urban areas took up employment in industries such as munitions production.