Australians at War
WWII
What countries were involved- Australia, Russia, USA, China, France, Poland, Canada, Greece, Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, New Zealand, Norway, Ethiopia, Brazil, Demark, Czechoslovakia, Luxembourg, Cuba, Mexico, Yugoslavia, India, Mongolia, Philippines, Germany, Japan, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Finland, Iraq, Thailand, Albania, Croatia, Slovakia, Burma, Vietnam
What was it over-
When- WWII: 1939-1945
Enviromental Features/Climate-
Why-Adolf Hitler the German leader slowly was invading other countries and Japan was invading other countries wanting power. Italy joined Germany after invaded Ethiopia
Leading up to the start of WWII-
Adolf Hitler, after an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the German government in 1923, eventually became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933. He abolished democracy, espousing a radical, racially motivated revision of the world order. It was at this time that it was predicted that a second Great War might take place because of Hitler's actions.
Italy started invations against Ethiopia - The Spanish started Civil wars - 1937 the Japanese invaded China, Mongolia and Soviet Union (Russia) - In 1938 Germany annexed Austria
WWII Begins-
Germany invades Poland and shortly, a couple of days after the British and France declare war against Hilter. Following the British's decision Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa also declare war. But after Japan and Russia came to a cease-fire Russia started invading Poland as well from the east side.
Kokoda-
The fight on the Kokoda track is one of the most significant battles of Australian war history. 625 Australians fell and thousands wounded as they trekked and fought on the narrow track. The Japanese were targeting Port Moresby, PNG which would open up a strategic attacking base upon Australia. The Japanese landed on the north cost of PNG near the town of Gona on the 21st of July 1942. The Japanese were around 40 kilometres off their target (Port Moresby) when the Australians forced the Japanese back the way they had come with a series of close engagements in the brutal conditions that the track had to offer. The Allied side consisted of 30 000 made up of Americans and Australians. The Japanese lost over half of the men they had taken with them. The battle was exhausting and tiring but the significance of this battle was very important as losing it could allow the Japanese to attack directly upon Australia.
Tobruk-
In Northern Africa the battle started 11th of April 1941 a German Field Marshall named Erwin Rommel attacked the base with tanks and ground soldiers.
The middle of Northern Africa (Libya) was an important battleground in WWII because i would allow the Australians to attack Europe from across the Mediterranean. The area also had oil supplies which would supply all their motorised transportation. Controlling oil supplies would often be a deciding factor of winning battles.
Rommel Left in defeat, he was surprised to be beaten on familiar grounds with the upper hand.
The Bombing of Darwin-
The Japanese attacked Darwin on the 19th of February 1942, the first wave lasted for 40 minutes with the bombs hitting Darwin Harbour, Navy Vessels, The RAAF Base, Oil Supplies, Civlian Houses and the Army Barracks. An estimated 680 bombs were dropped causing 200-300 causlties. Many aircraft at the RAAF base were wrecked and ships at Darwin Harbour were destroyed.
Australia had been concerned about the aggressive actions of Japan since the outbreak of World War II in Europe. The fear of a Japanese invasion of Australia seemed all the more real.
In January and February 1942, the Japanese seized the Malay Peninsula. When Singapore fell to Japan, Australia knew that it would be next.
Four days after Singapore fell to Japan, Darwin was hit by the two air raids.
Reference-
http://kokoda.commemoration.gov.au/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II
www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?ModuleId=10007306
The End of WWII-
The Germans ended their confict because of the suicide of Adolf Hitler which ended all Nazi attacks. Japan stayed in battle for a while longer when their home country was being invaded by America. Two of the worlds first Atomic Bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which flattened both cities as these bombs were equivalent to 40 000 tonnes of TNT. Japan's Emperor surrended on the 15th of August 1945.
