History - WORLD WAR II

ORIGINS/CAUSES OF WWII

• Treaty of Versailles

• Failure of League of Nations

• Rise of dictators

• The great depression

• Hitlers Expantion

Treaty of Versailles

• Germany Weakened and demilitarised, terrible economy, took full responsibility for WW1.

• Everyone mad at gov for “giving in”. Germany looking for stronger leader

• Made perfect environment for Hitler to rise power

Failure of league of nations

• countries didn’t trust league; they had no power

• had no credibility as they didn’t stop expansionist power, e.g Japan invade China

Rise of Dictators

• Japan - Hideki Tojo

• Germany - Hitler

• Italy - Mussolini

The great depression

• 1930s economic crisis left economy broken

• people searching for leaders

• autocratic leaders easily taking advantage of people

Hitlers Expansion

• 1936: Remilitarised Rhineland

• 1937 - Invaded Austria and the Sudetenland

• 1939 - Invade Poland, start WW2

Where Australians fought during WW2

• Fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, Mediterranean and North Africa

• Fought against Japan in South east Asia and the Pacific

• Fought Japanese forces in Papua New Guinea within the Kokoda campaign

Fall of Singapore (1942)

• Japan captured Singapore from Britain and allies

• Around 130,000 allied troops surrendered Including 15,000 Australians

• Marked Britains worst military defeat

• Ended British control in Southeast Asia

• Australia lost faith in britain’s ability to protect it

• Lead Australia to turn the US for security

Atomic Bombs (1945)

• The US dropped 2 atomic bombs on Japan, forcing its surrender and ending WW2.

• Hiroshima: “little boy”, Uranium bomb destroying 70% of the city. By the end of 1945, around 140,000 had died many from radiation sickness

• Nagasaki: As Japan still refused to surrender, a second bomb, “Fat Man” was dropped by Bockscar. The target shifted to Nagasaki. 

• Japan surrendered along with the Soviet Unions declaration of war.

Kokoda Campaign

• Fought in Papau New Guinea along the Kokoda trail

• Japan aimed to capture Port Moresby by advancing overland

• Harsh environment

• Japanese supply lines were stretched thin by extreme pace as they pushed Australian forces back

• Australian forces (in the beginning) were largely untrained and unexperienced. They were not supposed to be in active combat outside of Australia, and were sent to PNG on a technicality that considered PNG part of Australia

• Australians counter attacked and drove Japan by Nov 1942, heavy casualties.

Darwin Bombing  

• Japan bombed Darwin on 19 Feb 1942

• First ever attack on Australian Soil

• Japans Aim in bombing darwin was to weaken Allied military power, disrupt supply routes and scare Australia from fighting in the pacific war.

Sydney Midget Sub Attack

On the night of 31 May 1942, three Japanese midget submarines attacked Sydney Harbour.

• first got caught in anti-submarine nets and was scuttled by its crew.

• second fired two torpedoes, one sinking HMAS Kuttabul and killing 21 sailors, before escaping; its wreck was found in 2006.

  • third was detected and destroyed before launching its torpedoes.

POW EXPERIENCES

• over 22000 Australians became POWs after Singapore and Pacific battles

• conditions were inhumane - forced labour starvation, beatings, disease

• Thai burma railway: thousands died building supply lines for Japan

• 1 in 3 POWs under Japanese control died

• PTSD and trauma

• Poorly built huts

Homefront experiences - Government controls

• how the government managed peopls actions, opinions, and info during the war

• The National Security Act (1939) gave government control over industry, labour, and media.

• Introduced conscription, manpower direction, price controls, and censorship.

• Citizens required to work in essential industries or enlist.

Homefront experiences - Roles of Women

• Women replaced men in jobs: factories, transport, farms, offices.

• Joined military support services:

  • WAAAF – Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force

• Gained independence and new skills, challenged traditional gender roles.

• Led to greater gender equality after the war.

Homefront experiences - Rationing

• Began in 1942 → ensured fair distribution of food, fuel, and clothing.

• People used ration books and coupons to buy essentials.

• Encouraged sacrifice and unity — everyone contributed to the war effort.

• Promoted self-sufficiency (home gardens, recycling, etc.).

Homefront experiences - Censorship and Propaganda

• Media censorship hid bad news (casualties, defeats) to protect morale.

• Propaganda encouraged enlistment, women’s work, and national unity.

• Posters, films, and radio urged Australians to “Do your bit!”

• Boosted patriotism and public cooperation with war policies.