Humanities - WW2 conclusion

when did Britain declare war on Germany

3 September 1939

why did it take so long for the 20000 unit requirement to be filled

the AIF wages were lower than the royal Australian air force wages and the RAIF seemed more interesting and fun.

how long did it take Australia to fulfill the 20000 soldier requirement in comparison to WW1?

it took three weeks to fill the positions in comparison to 3 months.

when did France fall to Germany

10 may - 25 june 1940

who was australia’s wartime prime minister

John curtain

what made the australia believe they were going to be invaded by japan

. the fall of singapore in feburary 1942

. propaganda

how did WWII start?

germany’s invasion of poland

when did italy join germany’s side

june 1940

why did italy join germany’s side

benito mussolini sought to expand italian influence

how did the rats of tubruk get their name

the german’s called them “Rats” in propaganda and the australians embraced the name

they hid in shelling holes and emerged when the gunfire stopped (like rats)

what was operation barbossa?

operation barbossa was a suprise attack on the soviet union by the germans. it broke the german-soviet pact and failed because it was a stalemate from the harsh russian weather.

when was pearl harbour attacked?

7 december 1941

what was the impact of the attack on pearl harbour?

The attack severely damaged or destroyed 19 US Navy ships, including eight battleships, and over 180 aircraft. it also resulted in the introduction of america into the war.

what is the significance of the australia looks to america speech

The speech by Prime Minister John Curtin in December 1941 marked a fundamental shift in Australia's foreign policy and defense strategy. It signaled Australia's move away from its traditional reliance on Britain and towards a new strategic alignment with the United States for protection against the growing Japanese threat in the Pacific.

the battle of the coral sea

even though it was a loss for the australians, it was a strategic win overall because it halted the japanese assault on port Moresby. The battle was the first battle where the opposing ships never saw each other.

may 1942

the battle of midway

the battle of midway was a significant turning point in the war - 4 japanese aircraft carriers defeated and over 200 aircraft were destroyed. - named after the midway islands that were being captured - US code breakers found out japan’s plan to trap US aircraft carriers and counter attacked.

June 1942

the kokoda campaign

A brutal WWII campaign (July-November 1942) in Papua New Guinea where Australian forces halted the Japanese advance on Port Moresby along the Kokoda Track, marking a significant Allied victory.

the battle of el-alamein

in october 1942 british empire forces defeated german forces at el-alamein in egypt. by november the germans were retreating to north africa.

took place in the european theater

when did ww2 end?

2 september 1945

why was dropping a nuclear bomb on hiroshima and nagasaki justified?

a means to quickly end World War II and prevent a costly invasion of Japan, potentially saving many lives on both sides. it also helped justify the cost of the manhattan project.

why was dropping a nuclear bomb on hiroshima and nagasaki unjustified?

Moral implications:

The bombings resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians, raising serious ethical questions about the use of such devastating weapons. 

Alternative options:

Some historians argue that Japan was already on the verge of surrender and that alternative strategies, such as a continued naval blockade and conventional bombing, could have achieved the same result without resorting to nuclear weapons.

when were the atomic bombs dropped?

6 august 1945

why is the battle of Stalingrad a turning point

The Battle of Stalingrad was a major turning point in World War II because it marked the end of Germany's eastward expansion and the beginning of the Soviet Union's counteroffensive. The brutal and costly battle resulted in the near-total destruction of two German armies, severely weakening the German military and shifting the momentum of the war in Europe. 

what is lufftwafe

german air force

why did germany and japan want to invade and cleanse the world?

the both supported facism and were facists.

how did america trick germany into believing they would land in pas-de-Calais

they deployed fake, inflatable tanks along the coastline opposite the pas de calais, they left for the invasion in bad weather, and double agent spies told Hitler that the fake assault would be in normandy, so at first he was not concerned with the ships approaching normandy.

sandakan death marches key points

almost 3000 POW’s to begin with, ended with 6

what did sir edward dunlop do?

he stayed back to care for the wounded soldiers and helped coordinate the evacuation of liberated POW’s

what were the widened powers australia recieved?

declaring goods essential to the war effort, direct factories for labour, control banks, shipping and taxation, censor media and restrict public events, and extend conscription to overseas service

what were the ages that men would be conscripted in 1942

all men aged 18 to 35, single men aged 35 to 45 without children.

what was the difference for women roles in WW2 in comparison the WW1

in ww1, women were told to not help other than provide medical support. in WW2, women would participate in many war-related industries like loading ammunition and working on farms.

AWAS

australians women army service

WAAAF

womens auxiliary australian air force

WRANS

Womens royal australian navy service

when did japan take hong kong

25 december 1941

when did hitler die

april 30 1945