Inquiry topic:

Why did Australia

enter World War II?
n Over the next two weeks we will
use historical sources of evidence
to look at:
n The outbreak of World War II in Europe.
n How Australias ties to Britain affected its
involvement in the war.
n How the Japanese threat forced changes
in Australias war effort and its alliances
with Great Britain and the USA.
Australias ties to Britain
n Although Australia became a nation in 1901, it
was still a part of the British Empire (later called
the Commonwealth.)
n Although it had a Prime Minister, the Queen or
King remained the ultimate power (and still
does).
n In World War I (1914-1918) Australia had no
choice but to enter the war - it had to follow
Britains instructions. Many lives were lost.
ANZAC legend born.
n By World War II (1939) little had changed -
Australia clung to Britains apron strings.
Why is Queen Victoria so prominent on this souvenir
of Australias Federation?

Enlistment
posters

Student Task: WWI
n Locate statistics, basic facts and other interesting
information relating to Australian involvement in World
War 1. Record these in your Discovery Diary under a
heading such as: Australian experiences in World War 1.
n Locate at least three primary sources (written, visual or
physical) of Australian experiences during World War I.
Try to find two very different perspectives (points of
view). Record these, with explanatory captions, in your
Discovery Diary under a sub-heading: Primary Sources.
n Search tips: Australian War Memorial site is a good
starting point. Or Google: Primary sources WWI
Australia. This is an Australian Army resource: http://www.army.gov.au/Our-
history/Primary-Materials/World-War-One-1914-to-1918
Australias foreign policy
n A countrys foreign policy is based on its
attitudes and actions towards other countries. It
includes trade, defence, aid, treaties,
relationships etc.
n Despite becoming a nation in 1901, Australia
still adopted most of Britains foreign policy
practices. Up to WWII it had no embassies
outside London.
n Its military weakness, geographical isolation,
small population, historical links to the
Motherland, economic dependance and overall
vulnerability meant Australia remained under
Britains umbrella. (Not always happily but
from a sense of obligation, tradition, duty or
necessity.)
n Can you work out what this primary source (a 1930s
cartoon) says about Australias relationship with
Britain?
n Hint: Look at the individual elements (words and
images) which make up this political cartoon. List the
elements which make sense to you.
n Hint 2: Start delving: Find out who Mr Chamberlain
was. Find out who Australias Prime Minister was in
1937.
n See if you can find a logo for HMV gramophones.
n How is the HMV logo similar to this cartoon?
Student task
Tune in with Britain
n Opposition leader Joe Lyons urged
Australians to follow Britains lead in his
election speech of December 1931. His theme
was Tune in with Britain. In parts of the
speech he said:
n What should be the policy and action of our Federal
Government? Surely it should be to adhere unfalteringly to
the principles and practices which have been tried and
proved throughout the British world, and which have been
perhaps the greatest factor in the building of our mighty
Empire. Our Party stands for Australia taking a fair share of
the mutual defence of the British Empire. I can give you no
better advice than to tune in with Britain. Trust the United
Australia Party as the British people trusted the United
British Party.... I firmly believe that Britain has set an example
which Australia will not hesitate to follow.
Corroborating
n The message in the cartoon of the koala
listening to the gramophone corroborates (or
supports) the message in the speech of
Opposition leader Joseph Lyons. Draw up a
table with two columns and enter the elements
from each source. Like this:
Student task
n Find out what happened in the Australian
elections of that year. Was Mr Lyons party
successful?
n Try to locate another primary source from the
1931-32 period which shows what the major
concerns of Australians and politicians was at
the time. Clue: The economy was important.
n Try to locate a speech or comment by Mr
Lyons rivals about their policies and concerns
for Australia at this time.
Explaining,
synthesising
n To synthesise is to bring several elements
together to create a new whole. Historians do
this in communicating their research.
n Your task is to write a short paragraph using the
koala cartoon, Mr Lyonss speech and what you
found in the previous task to explain:
n What was the nature of Australias foreign
policy in the early to mid 1930s?
n Enter your final copy in your Discovery Diary.
Britain will save us
n Australia did little to develop its own defence forces and
foreign policies because it believed the mighty British Empire
would shield it from attack. World War I only reinforced this
despite heavy Australian losses and general distrust for
British defence officers and politicians.
n League of Nations (later United Nations) promised
international peace. Deals were signed. Britain had a lot of
influence. Germany and others were punished for their WW1
actions.
n The Great Depression (late 1920s-1930s) meant most of the
governments energies, efforts and resources were devoted
to what was happening within Australia. Defence Forces
weakened.
n But by the mid to late 1930s, Japans aggressive takeovers in
Asia, and Germany and Italys increasing menace in Europe
had Australia worried.
Background: The Great
War
n World War I was by far the greatest conflict
ever to sweep the world.
n So many countries involved.
n So many battle fronts.
n So many lives lost and serious injuries.
n So much money spent.
n When it ended, most thought there could or
would never be another war like it.
Britains policies
n Even Britain, the greatest empire in the world,
turned away from militarism to pacifism in the
1920s, adopting a policy of appeasement.*
n The League of Nations devoted its efforts to
ensuring countries were more co-operative and
less aggressive, respecting boundaries and
rights.
n But WW1 left many countries, especially those
on the losing side or who lost territory, bitter
and determined to regain their pride and power.
The Treaty of Versailles heightened their
resentment.
n * See definitions on the next slide
n Some important terms:
n Pacifism: the belief that any violence, including war, is unjustifiable under any circumstances, and
that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.
n Militarism: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong
military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests.
n Policy of Appeasement:British Governments official plan to keep the
peace - to pull back from aggressive or provocative moves, especially involving Germany and other
countries with which it had poor relationships from WW1. British PM Chamberlain sought to negotiate
and compromise with German leader Adolf Hitler in an attempt to avoid another war.
n League of Nations: an association of countries established in 1919 by the Treaty of
Versailles to promote international cooperation and achieve international peace and security. It was powerless to
stop Italian, German, and Japanese expansionism leading to World War II and was replaced by the United
Nations in 1945.
n Treaty of Versailles: a treaty signed in 1919 that brought a formal end to World War
I.The treaty redivided the territory of the defeated Central Powers, restricted Germany's armed
forces, and established the League of Nations. It left Germany smarting under what it considered a
vindictive settlement while not sufficiently restricting its ability eventually to rearm and seek forcible
redress.
Adolf Hitlers rise
n Adolf Hitler rose to power
in Germany, convincing
his people that he had
the policies and the
passion to restore the
country to its former
glory.
n His policies, though,
became increasingly
aggressive and extreme,
including invading
neighbouring countries
and actively promoting
the idea of a supreme
white race. Jews, blacks,
Asians and others were
the object of hatred &
discrimination.
Student task
n Conduct some research into Adolf Hitler and
answer the following questions:
n Which party did he establish?
n When did this Party gain power in Germany?
n What did Germans and others think of Hitler in
the mid 1930s?
n What was the name of the book Hitler
published outlining his policies? List some of its
major points.
n What is the Aryan race? Explain Hitlers beliefs
about the need to protect the purity of this race.
Japan: Friend or foe?
n Much closer to Australia than Germany, Japan
emerged as a world power in the 1920s and
1930s.
n Japan invaded Manchuria and China and set its
sights on other Asian nations. It withdrew from
the League of Nations when it was criticised.
n Most Asian countries had been controlled by
European powers - the Dutch, Portuguese,
French, British for centuries (Imperialism).
n Interestingly, Australia was more worried by
Hitler than the Japanese, due largely to British-
controlled media informing Australians.
Japanese threat
n Australia could not get a clear answer from Britain
about whether it would come to its aid in the event of a
Japanese invasion.
n As a result, in August 1937 Australia adopted a three-
year Defence Force rebuilding program.
n Under this plan the Government set aside 43 million
pounds for new ships, planes and tanks.
Menzies elected
n Prime Minister Joseph Lyons died in April 1939
and Robert Menzies was elected. Many
doubted his abilities to lead Australia during
wartime.
n One of his first speeches: In the Pacific we face
primary responsibilities and primary risks...What Great
Britain calls the Far East is to us the near north....I have
become convinced that, in the Pacific, Australia must regard
herself as a principal, providing herself with her own
information and maintaining her own diplomatic contacts
with foreign powers.
n This is the first hint that even pro-Britain politicians
recognised that Australia needed its own foreign policy in
relation to the Asia-Pacific. Britain had other priorities.
Britain changes tack
n By the late 1930s Britain dropped its pacifist
approach, realising that Germany and Italy
posed major threats to world peace.
n Britain also lost faith in the ability of the League
of Nations to enforce decisions or treaties.
n Australia followed Britains lead:
n September 1, 1939, Hitlers Germany invaded Poland.
September 2, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany.
September 3, 1939, Australia declared war on Germany.

n y
Unity essential
n Australias decision to follow Britain
into war against Germany was part
of the belief that for the British
Empire to remain strong it was vital
that all member nations should
speak as one.
n This was especially important given
the rising power and influence of
Germany which had earlier invaded
Czechoslovakia.
Menzies
speech
Fellow Australians. It is my
melancholy duty to inform you
officially that ... Great Britain has
declared war upon Germany and
that, as a result, Australia is also at
war. It may be taken that Hitlers
ambition is not to unite all the
German people under one rule but to
bring under that rule as many
countries as can be subdued by
force. If this is to go on, there can be
no security in Europe and no peace
for the world. The right of
independent people to live their own
lives, honest dealing, the peaceful
settlement of differences, the
honouring of international obligations
- all these are at stake.
Student task
n Imagine you are a school student in September
1939 hearing a radio broadcast of Menzies
Declaration of War speech.
n In your Discover Diary, write a 200 word entry
capturing your feelings and those of people
around you. Use your imagination but make it
as realistic as possible. Perhaps your father
had been a soldier in WW1 or maybe an older
brother is keen to enlist. Your mother might
have painful memories of what happened to her
family in WW1.
Supporting Britain
n World War I.
n The outbreak of war
was met with wild
enthusiasm by many
Australians.
n Young men enlisted in
the adventure of a
lifetime.
n Great pride that the
new Australia had a
chance to help Mother
England.
n World War II.
n Greeted with sense of
duty not euphoria.
n Memories of WW1
death and destruction
still very real.
n Government did not
commit troops to
Europe for some time.
First duty was to
Australia.
Secondary sources
n Quality secondary sources, like those of historians and
researchers, can provide important perspectives on history,
making judgments based on a range of evidence.
n Historian M. McKernan in Australians in Wartime writes:
n Australia declared herself to be at war with Germany but
Menzies made it clear that troops would not be sent to Europe.
This satisfied some Australians but angered others. Debate about
Australian involvement in this war was complex and protracted.
There were some whose empire loyalty propelled them to an
unrestrained commitment of Australian troops and resources.
Others were more cautious, worried by the threat from Japan.
With the experience of 1914-1918 vividly before them, some were
very wary of involvement in war at all. These disputes persisted at
least until the entry of the Japanese at the end of 1941.
Corroborating sources
n Locate at least two other sources which
corroborate parts of McKernans overview of
Australian attitudes to the outbreak of World
War II.
n Identify the specific parts of each source which
support or contradict the other.
n Record the sources and the information in your
Discovery Diary. Also indicate whether it is
primary or secondary; written, spoken or visual.
n Correctly reference the source, using the
citation maker on the Libraryland wiki.
Defence force 1939
n Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) fleet of 165
combat aircraft - many old and unsuitable for
combat.
n Navy had just 15 vessels - two heavy cruisers,
four light cruisers and five destroyers.
n Regular army numbered just 3000. Reserves
totalled 80,000.
n Immediate task to recruit volunteers willing to
fight in Australias armed forces.
Why men enlisted
n After an initial rush, volunteers were much
slower to come forward than in World War 1.
Those who did come forward did so for three
main reasons:
n The need for a job after years of
unemployment during the depression.
n The desire to be like their fathers.
n The desire to support Britain and fight for
their country.
Primary sources:
Some thoughts of
enlisters
n It wasnt until the first day in the army you realised how
many had been on the bones of their arse, scrounging feeds
and living under the stigma of being unemployed.
n My father was an idol. He died from mustard gas poisoning.
Id like to try avenge his death.
n I had done some 25 jobs from leaving school to joining the
Armed Forces.
n The Empire has done a lot for us. We ought to help Britain
now.
Perspectives
n The thoughts of enlisting soldiers on the
previous slide show different perspectives or
points of view on the same issue.
n In historical inquiry it is always important to look
at different perspectives.
n Student task: Come up with several reasons
why it is important to consider different
perspectives. What problems might occur if
only one perspective is taken into account?
Student task
n Imagine you are a man
making a decision about
enlisting to fight for Australia
in the war.
n Consider his age,
background, occupation,
relationships, attitudes to war,
fears and other factors.
n Write a 200 to 300 word letter
to a friend or family member
outlining your point of view
and reasons for enlisting or
not enlisting.
The conscription
debate
n Conscription is the compulsory enrolment of
men in the armed forces, usually during war
time.
n Conscription was voted on several times during
World War 1 but rejected by the Australian
people.
n In WWII PM Menzies began with a scheme
where all single men turning 21 were called up
for three months military training.
n Many people felt the next step would be
compulsory overseas service if the war
escalated.
Britain looks shaky
n It wasnt long before the world and Australia
saw that Great Britain was not so great
against the might of Hitlers Germany and Italy.
n Hitler and his axis powers were attacking
parts of northern Africa, the Middle East,
Greece and then the Soviet Union.
n By the end of 1941 it was clear the war would
not end any time soon. Locate and examine
images of how the war impacted on Britain,
France and other countries.
n And in December 1941 Japan bombed the US
Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
n Find a map of the world showing the Axis and
Allies powers during WWII.
n Copy and paste this to your Discovery Diary.
n Write lists of:
n the main Axis Powers,
n the Allies and
n Neutral countries.
Student task
Japans aggression
n Japan knew that the European war gave it the
ideal opportunity to expand its empire.
n In the six months from December 1941 to May
1942 Japan launched attacks on Pearl Harbor,
Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the Malay
peninsula and the Philippines.
n Australia was alarmed at the rate of Japanese
aggression and its success.
n New PM John Curtin described the Japanese
threat as the gravest hour in our history.

n New
Student task
n Examine the map at
right. What does it tell
you about the rate of
growth of Japans
empire?
n Look at the inset map.
Explain why Australians
might have been
concerned about Japans
actions?
Australia turns to the
US
n The Japanese threat and
Australias inability to
defend itself triggered a
major shift in policy.
n Curtin declared that
Australias very survival
as an independent nation
lay with assistance from
the United States rather
than Great Britain.
n Student task: Try to work
out the message of the
cartoon.
Student task
n Develop a timeline of
the major events
affecting Australia and
the world during the
first two years of World
War II - 1939-1941.
n Start with Hitler
invading Poland,
September 1, 1939 and
end with the Japanese
bombing of Pearl
Harbor in December
1941.
n As well as the
date and year,
the event or
issue, and the
place, try to
locate an
appropriate
image to
support several
entries on your
timeline.