Year 10 · History · Historical knowledge and understanding
Australia and World War II
Learners examine the causes of World War II, Australian involvement in Europe, North Africa and the Pacific, the threat to Australia and the impact on the home front.
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Learning goals
Learners will
- Explain the main causes of World War II.
- Describe key events of Australia's war in the Pacific.
- Analyse changes on the Australian home front.
Success looks like
- I can explain at least two causes of World War II.
- I can explain the significance of the fall of Singapore, the bombing of Darwin and Kokoda.
- I can describe how the war changed life for women and civilians in Australia.
The big idea
Causes of World War II included resentment in Germany over the Treaty of Versailles (1919), the Great Depression, the rise of fascist dictatorships in Germany and Italy, Japanese expansion in Asia, and the failure of the League of Nations and of appeasement to stop aggression.
Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Britain and France declared war on 3 September, and that evening Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced that Australia was also at war.
Australians fought in North Africa (including the siege of Tobruk in 1941), Greece, Crete and the Middle East, and in the air war over Europe.
In December 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and British territories in Asia. On 15 February 1942, Singapore fell, and about 15,000 Australians became prisoners of war. Many died in brutal conditions, including on the Burma–Thailand Railway.
On 19 February 1942, Japanese aircraft bombed Darwin, killing over 230 people. It was the first of many air raids on northern Australia. Prime Minister John Curtin had already declared that Australia looked to the United States for support.
From July to November 1942, Australian troops fought the Japanese along the Kokoda Track in Papua, with vital support from Papuan carriers. Australians also defeated a Japanese landing at Milne Bay.
The home front became a total war effort. Food and clothing were rationed, women took on jobs previously done by men and joined the women's services, and people of enemy nationality were interned. First Nations people served in the forces and as labourers and coastwatchers, often for little or no pay.
Germany surrendered in May 1945. After atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan announced its surrender on 15 August 1945 and formally signed on 2 September 1945. Nearly one million Australians served and nearly 40,000 died.
Worked examples
Ranking causes
Which cause of World War II was most significant? Justify your answer.
- List causes: Treaty of Versailles, Depression, rise of dictators, failure of the League, appeasement.
- Consider which made the others possible: the Depression helped extremist parties gain support.
- Make a judgement and support it with evidence, while acknowledging other causes.
Answer: A justified judgement, e.g. 'The Depression was most significant because it enabled the rise of Hitler, which made war more likely.'
Significance of an event
Why was the fall of Singapore significant for Australia?
- Australia's defence relied on Britain's base at Singapore.
- Its fall showed Britain could not protect Australia.
- Australia turned towards the United States as its main ally.
Answer: It exposed Australia's vulnerability and accelerated a shift towards the United States.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which event started World War II in Europe?
Germany's invasion of Poland — Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939.
Who announced that Australia was at war in September 1939?
Robert Menzies — Robert Menzies was Prime Minister in 1939.
What was the Kokoda Track campaign?
Fighting against Japanese forces in Papua in 1942 — Kokoda was fought in Papua from July to November 1942.
What does rationing mean?
Limiting how much food and goods people can buy — Rationing shared scarce goods during the war.
Why did Australia turn to the United States in 1941–42?
Britain could no longer guarantee Australia's defence — British weakness in Asia, especially at Singapore, led Curtin to look to the US.
Which Australian city was bombed on 19 February 1942?
Darwin — Darwin was attacked by Japanese aircraft.
In what year did World War II end?
1945 — Japan formally surrendered on 2 September 1945.
Giving in to some demands of an aggressive power to avoid war is called ____.
appeasement — Britain and France followed a policy of appeasement in the 1930s.
Watch out for
- Many think Japan planned a full invasion of Australia. Historians generally conclude Japanese leaders considered but rejected invasion, aiming instead to isolate Australia; the threat felt very real at the time.
- Some believe the Kokoda campaign alone saved Australia. It was one of several important campaigns, alongside Milne Bay, the Coral Sea and Midway.
Tips for parents
- Ask older relatives about family experiences of the war, including migrant families whose stories may come from other countries.
- Discuss the contribution of First Nations servicepeople and Papuan carriers, using resources developed with those communities where possible.
- Some sources include distressing images, particularly about POWs and atomic bombs. Preview material first.
Go further
- Analyse a wartime propaganda poster: who made it, what message, which techniques?
- Research the experience of an internee, a land army worker or a POW and write a historical narrative.
- Investigate the history of a local memorial or honour board from World War II.